Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Absolute Beginners

  • 19861986
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
David Bowie, Patsy Kensit, Eddie O'Connell, and Sade in Absolute Beginners (1986)
In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.
Play trailer0:38
1 Video
49 Photos
  • Drama
  • Musical
  • Romance

In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.

IMDb RATING
5.5/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Julien Temple
  • Writers
    • Colin MacInnes(based on the novel by)
    • Michael Hamlyn(developed for the screen by)
    • Richard Burridge(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Patsy Kensit
    • Eddie O'Connell
    • David Bowie
Top credits
  • Director
    • Julien Temple
  • Writers
    • Colin MacInnes(based on the novel by)
    • Michael Hamlyn(developed for the screen by)
    • Richard Burridge(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Patsy Kensit
    • Eddie O'Connell
    • David Bowie
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 53User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:38
    Trailer

    Photos49

    Patsy Kensit and Eddie O'Connell in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    Patsy Kensit and Eddie O'Connell in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    Patsy Kensit at an event for Absolute Beginners (1986)
    A1
    David Bowie, Patsy Kensit, Eddie O'Connell, and Sade in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    David Bowie and Patsy Kensit in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    David Bowie, Patsy Kensit, and Eddie O'Connell in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    David Bowie, Patsy Kensit, and Eddie O'Connell in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    Patsy Kensit and Eddie O'Connell in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    Patsy Kensit, Eddie O'Connell, and Sade in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    David Bowie, Patsy Kensit, and Eddie O'Connell in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    Edward Tudor-Pole in Absolute Beginners (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Patsy Kensit
    Patsy Kensit
    • Suzetteas Suzette
    Eddie O'Connell
    • Colinas Colin
    David Bowie
    David Bowie
    • Vendice Partnersas Vendice Partners
    James Fox
    James Fox
    • Henley of Mayfairas Henley of Mayfair
    Ray Davies
    Ray Davies
    • Arthuras Arthur
    Mandy Rice-Davies
    • Mumas Mum
    Eve Ferret
    Eve Ferret
    • Big Jillas Big Jill
    Tony Hippolyte
    • Mr. Coolas Mr. Cool
    Graham Fletcher-Cook
    Graham Fletcher-Cook
    • Wizardas Wizard
    Joseph McKenna
    • Fabulous Hopliteas Fabulous Hoplite
    • (as Joe McKenna)
    Steven Berkoff
    Steven Berkoff
    • The Fanaticas The Fanatic
    Sade
    Sade
    • Athene Duncannonas Athene Duncannon
    • (as Sade Adu)
    Edward Tudor-Pole
    Edward Tudor-Pole
    • Ed the Tedas Ed the Ted
    • (as Tenpole Tudor)
    Bruce Payne
    Bruce Payne
    • Flikkeras Flikker
    Alan Freeman
    • Call-Me-Cobberas Call-Me-Cobber
    Anita Morris
    Anita Morris
    • Dido Lamentas Dido Lament
    Paul Rhys
    Paul Rhys
    • Dean Swiftas Dean Swift
    Julian Firth
    Julian Firth
    • The Misery Kidas The Misery Kid
    • Director
      • Julien Temple
    • Writers
      • Colin MacInnes(based on the novel by)
      • Michael Hamlyn(developed for the screen by)
      • Richard Burridge(screenplay by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Grass Is Greener
    6.5
    The Grass Is Greener
    Mahler
    6.9
    Mahler
    Everything Goes Wrong
    6.9
    Everything Goes Wrong
    Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?
    6.1
    Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?
    Hue and Cry
    6.8
    Hue and Cry
    Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins
    6.4
    Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins
    Earth Girls Are Easy
    5.4
    Earth Girls Are Easy
    The Man Who Fell to Earth
    6.6
    The Man Who Fell to Earth
    Foxes
    6.1
    Foxes
    F/X2
    5.8
    F/X2
    Bonjour Tristesse
    6.9
    Bonjour Tristesse
    High Hopes
    7.4
    High Hopes

    Storyline

    Edit
    A musical adaptation of Colin MacInnes' novel about life in late 1950s London. Nineteen-year-old photographer Colin is hopelessly in love with model Crepe Suzette, but her relationships are strictly connected with her progress in the fashion world. So Colin gets involved with a pop promoter and tries to crack the big time. Meanwhile, racial tension is brewing in Colin's Notting Hill housing estate... —Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>
    • race riot
    • year 1958
    • kissing
    • foreplay
    • apology
    • 160 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The music, the movement, the romance, the passion . . . all explodes on the BIG SCREEN.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Musical
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • PG-13
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After submitting the film for a 15 certificate producer Stephen Woolley was contacted by the BBFC and told that Patsy Kensit had revealed a nipple in one of the film's scenes. Despite Woolley's assurance that this was not the case because Kensit had been insistent during filming about not revealing her body, UK censor James Ferman painstakingly trawled through the movie using a BBFC "freeze frame" machine until he was finally convinced that the original information was incorrect. Only then did he grant the film an uncut certificate.
    • Goofs
      During the riot scenes, in one shot a double decker bus is on fire. In the next shot, it isn't burning. In the next shot, it is. (During the T.V. announcers speak to the viewing public about the 'race riots').
    • Quotes

      Colin: What, selling things to people who don't want them?

      Vendice: Never things, Colin. We don't sell things. We sell dreams.

    • Connections
      Edited into Ray Davies: Quiet Life (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Santa Lucia
      Performed and composed by Ekow Abban

    User reviews53

    Review
    Top review
    3/10
    Half baked nonsense on very expensive sets.
    Recreation of 1950's (London) Soho and the up-and-coming people. Based on a cult novel.

    Julian Temple is a video director. No more, no less. Give him 15 million dollars and he will make you a 15 million dollar pop video. Here he forgets that two minutes with people that can't really act is one thing - but two hours? What was he thinking of. Besides who are the audience? Who cares about a book that was well remembered way-back-when. The usual London story of the chancer taking his chance.

    What could really drag this film even further down? Oh I know, third rate songs that sound like they were made up on the spot. David Bowie crones the film title over and over a few times and that is the highlight. The soundtrack album is clay pigeon material.

    There is one good thing though. Good recreation of period Soho. Shame they couldn't think of anything to put in front of it.
    helpful•12
    5
    • Pedro_H
    • Feb 8, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 18, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Absolute Beginners - The Musical
    • Filming locations
      • Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Goldcrest Films International
      • Palace Pictures
      • Virgin
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $930,211
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $83,743
      • Apr 20, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $930,211
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    ‘The Souvenir Part II’ Film Review: Gentle British Drama Is Haunted by the Past
    ‘The Souvenir Part II’ Film Review: Gentle British Drama Is Haunted by the Past
    Jul 8The Wrap
    Julien Temple: 'People who are considered difficult are very rich subjects for a film'
    Julien Temple: 'People who are considered difficult are very rich subjects for a film'
    Nov 29The Guardian - Film News

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    David Bowie, Patsy Kensit, Eddie O'Connell, and Sade in Absolute Beginners (1986)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Absolute Beginners (1986) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.