Review of Quadrophenia (1979) by Rick B — 04 Nov 2009

"I've heard there a few mods abaht!!", "Some rockers have given 'Spider' a right kickin'!!", "Looked good from back there mate!" (to 'Chalky' immediately after going over the handlebars of his scooter!) The movie is extremely quotable & the finest film of all time.

.. bar none!!! Largely based upon experiences of young mods from West London in the mid-1960s, this is the greatest cinematic exploration of style-conscious, disillusioned, disenfranchised & distracted youth and their all-consuking search for their own thrill-fulfilment & an alternative to mainstream society.

With a fantastic soundtrack from Pete Townshend's finest Lp (a double at that!), scooters, 1960s youth culture, a young Leslie Ash and classic scooters, what more could you want from a film?! Also includes some of the most realistic street & beach fighting you'll see in any film (credit to producer, Franc Roddam) & starred actual members of Dorset Modraphenics & Leeds scooter clubs (which admittedly also resulted in the repeated anachronism of 1970s & 1980s P-range Vespa models & late-1960s built Lambrettas in a film set in 1964!).

Many of the cast are now household names on the back of this film - and Phil Daniels provided a vague update of his role as Jimmy Cooper for Blur's "Parklie". Last word goes to Jimmy's stepdad, played by GB TV legend, Michael Elphick: "Is that how ya play the guitar now then? Bunch o' louts!" EPIC!!