Absolute Beginners (1986)
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- PG-13
- 1h 48min
- Drama, Musical
- 18 Apr 1986 (USA)
- Movie
In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Patsy Kensit | ... |
Suzette
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Eddie O'Connell | ... |
Colin
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| David Bowie | ... |
Vendice Partners
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| James Fox | ... |
Henley of Mayfair
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| Ray Davies | ... |
Arthur
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Mandy Rice-Davies | ... |
Mum
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| Eve Ferret | ... |
Big Jill
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Tony Hippolyte | ... |
Mr Cool
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| Graham Fletcher-Cook | ... |
Wizard
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Joseph McKenna | ... |
Fabulous Hoplite
(as Joe McKenna)
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| Steven Berkoff | ... |
The Fanatic
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| Sade | ... |
Athene Duncannon
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| Edward Tudor-Pole | ... |
Ed the Ted
(as Tenpole Tudor)
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| Bruce Payne | ... |
Flikker
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Alan Freeman | ... |
Call-Me-Cobber
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| Anita Morris | ... |
Dido Lament
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| Paul Rhys | ... |
Dean Swift
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| Julian Firth | ... |
The Misery Kid
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Chris Pitt | ... |
Baby Boom
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| Lionel Blair | ... |
Harry Charms
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| Gary Beadle | ... |
Johnny Wonder
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| Robbie Coltrane | ... |
Mario
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| Jess Conrad | ... |
Cappuccino Man
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| Smiley Culture | ... |
D.J. Entertainer
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| Ronald Fraser | ... |
Amberley Drove
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| Slim Gaillard | ... |
Party Singer
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| Irene Handl | ... |
Mrs Larkin
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| Peter-Hugo Daly | ... |
Vern
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Amanda Jane Powell | ... |
Dorita
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| Johnny Shannon | ... |
Saltzman
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| Sylvia Syms | ... |
Cynthia Eve
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Ekow Abban | ... |
Santa Lucia Club Owner
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Robert Austin | ... |
Slim Brother
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Gerry Alexander | ... |
Ton-Up Vicar
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Jim Dunk | ... |
Slim Brother
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Johnny Edge | ... |
Trader Horn
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| Carmen Ejogo | ... |
Carmen
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Paul Fairminer | ... |
Eddie Sex
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Hugo First | ... |
Maltese Lodger
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| Pat Hartley | ... |
Ms Cool Snr
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Astley Harvey | ... |
Mr Cool Snr
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| Colin Jeavons | ... |
Pamphleteer
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Alfred Maron | ... |
Bert the Tailor
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G.B. Zoot Money | ... |
Chez Nobody Barman
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| Sandie Shaw | ... |
Baby Boom's Mum
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| Bruno Tonioli | ... |
Maltese Lodger
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Roland Alexander | ... |
Dancer
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Shaun Alexander | ... |
Dancer
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Ayo Antaeus | ... |
Dancer
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John Aron | ... |
Dancer
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Hoyle Baker | ... |
Dancer
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Chris Baldock | ... |
Dancer
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| Andrée Bernard | ... |
Dancer
(as Andree Bernard)
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Warren Bird | ... |
Dancer
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Richard Bodkin | ... |
Dancer
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Timothy Brennan | ... |
Dancer
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Mo Bright | ... |
Dancer
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Roland Brine | ... |
Dancer
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Kelvin Carter | ... |
Dancer
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Imogen Claire | ... |
Dancer
(as Imogen Clare)
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Clive Clarke | ... |
Dancer
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Kirsty Davide | ... |
Dancer
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Vince Debono | ... |
Dancer
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Dennis Elcock | ... |
Dancer
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Sylvia Ellis | ... |
Dancer
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King Masher Fontaine | ... |
Dancer
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Wayne Fowkes | ... |
Dancer
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David Foreman | ... |
Dancer
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Lucille Gaye | ... |
Dancer
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Elliot Gilbert | ... |
Dancer
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John Gordon | ... |
Dancer
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Lorna Gray | ... |
Dancer
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John Greaves | ... |
Dancer
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Robert Grimsey | ... |
Dancer
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| Robert Grose | ... |
Dancer
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Michael Ho | ... |
Dancer
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Isobel Hurll | ... |
Dancer
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Johnny Hutch | ... |
Dancer
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Kim St. James | ... |
Dancer
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Peter Jessup | ... |
Dancer
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Clive Johnson | ... |
Dancer
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Chua Kah Joo | ... |
Dancer
(as Chua-Kaa-Joo)
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Val Joeph | ... |
Dancer
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Trevor Kelly | ... |
Dancer
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Tony Kemp | ... |
Dancer
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Chrissie Kendall | ... |
Dancer
(as Chrissie Kendal)
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Olivia Komlosy | ... |
Dancer
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Viv Law | ... |
Dancer
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Madeleine Lawrence | ... |
Dancer
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Paul Leonard | ... |
Dancer
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Kenny Linden | ... |
Dancer
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| Tom Lock | ... |
Dancer
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Tricia Lockhart | ... |
Dancer
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Jerry Manley | ... |
Dancer
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Peyton Martin | ... |
Dancer
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Robin Martyne | ... |
Dancer
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Jack Migdalek | ... |
Dancer
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Bob Newent | ... |
Dancer
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Albin Pahernik | ... |
Dancer
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Neil Patterson | ... |
Dancer
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William Perrie | ... |
Dancer
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Shanti Ruchpaul | ... |
Dancer
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Corinne Russell | ... |
Dancer
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Les Saxon | ... |
Dancer
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Gary Sellars | ... |
Dancer
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Alan Spencer | ... |
Dancer
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Chris Sullivan | ... |
Dancer
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Paul Telford | ... |
Dancer
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Michele Thorne | ... |
Dancer
(as Michelle Thorne)
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Christina Thornton | ... |
Dancer
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Carl Trevors | ... |
Dancer
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Oke Wambu | ... |
Dancer
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Anthony Wellington | ... |
Dancer
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Elizabeth Wendon | ... |
Dancer
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John Willet | ... |
Dancer
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| Sabra Williams | ... |
Dancer
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Barrie J. Wilkinson | ... |
Dancer
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Glen Wilkinson | ... |
Dancer
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Barrie Young | ... |
Dancer
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David Morgan Young | ... |
Dancer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Alan Austen | ... |
Teddy Boy (uncredited)
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Roy Beck | ... |
Partygoer (uncredited)
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Ray Gange | ... |
Teddy Boy (uncredited)
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Lynne Hazelden | ... |
Teddy Girl (uncredited)
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Barrie Holland | ... |
Fashion Editor (uncredited)
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Deborah Leng | ... |
Unknown (uncredited)
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| Derek Lyons | ... |
Teddy Boy (uncredited)
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Peter Ross-Murray | ... |
Teddy Boy (uncredited)
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| Tina Simmons | ... |
Rock and Roll Dancer (uncredited)
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| Eric Sykes | ... |
Arcade Intendant (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Julien Temple | ||
Written by
| Colin MacInnes | ... | (based on the novel by) |
| Michael Hamlyn | ... | (developed for the screen by) (creator) |
| Richard Burridge | ... | (screenplay by) & |
| Christopher Wicking | ... | (screenplay by) and |
| Don MacPherson | ... | (screenplay by) (as Don Macpherson) |
| Terry Johnson | ... | (additional dialogue by) |
Produced by
| Chris Brown | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Al Clark | ... | executive producer |
| Robert Devereux | ... | executive producer |
| Nik Powell | ... | executive producer |
| David Wimbury | ... | associate producer |
| Stephen Woolley | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Gil Evans | ||
Cinematography by
| Oliver Stapleton | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Richard Bedford | ||
| Michael Bradsell | ||
| Gerry Hambling | ||
| Russell Lloyd | ||
Editorial Department
| Clive Barrett | ... | assistant editor |
| Paul Conway | ... | assistant editor |
| Stuart De Jong | ... | assistant editor |
| Mary Dockwrey | ... | second assistant editor |
| Helen Eley | ... | assistant editor |
| Leonard Green | ... | assistant editor |
| Mark Latimer | ... | assistant editor |
| Ian Moore | ... | second assistant editor |
| Andy Stears | ... | assistant editor |
| Kevin Phelan | ... | unit projectionist: Mercury Theatres, London (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Leonara Davis | ||
| Susie Figgis | ||
| Mary Selway | ||
Production Design by
| John Beard | ||
Art Direction by
| Stuart Rose | ||
| Ken Wheatley | ||
Costume Design by
| Sue Blane | ||
| David Perry | ||
Makeup Department
| Lynda Armstrong | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Elaine Bowerbank | ... | chief hair stylist |
| Peter Frampton | ... | chief makeup artist |
| Sue Love | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Daniel Parker | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Chris Taylor | ... | assistant hair stylist |
Production Management
| Peter Kohn | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Tony Aherne | ... | third assistant director |
| Ray Corbett | ... | assistant director |
| Kieron Phipps | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Peter Bryant | ... | supervising prop dresser |
| Bob Devine | ... | assistant construction manager |
| Richard Dicker | ... | supervising drape (as Dick Dicker) |
| Martin Hubbard | ... | carpenter |
| Geoff Kingsley | ... | construction manager |
| Ken Powell | ... | supervising plasterer |
| Adrian Start | ... | supervising painter |
| Peter Walpole | ... | prop buyer |
| Derek Whorlow | ... | supervising stagehand |
| Arthur Wicks | ... | property master |
| Joanne Woollard | ... | set dresser |
| Andrew Ackland-Snow | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Charles Cottrell | ... | scenic painter (uncredited) |
| Mark Fruin | ... | standby props (uncredited) |
| Steve Furneaux | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Barry Gibbs | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Emma Harrison | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
| Michael Law | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Darryl Paterson | ... | dressing props (uncredited) |
| Malcolm Walker | ... | construction crew (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Paul Cridlin | ... | sound maintenance |
| David Grimsdale | ... | sound editor |
| Derek Holding | ... | sound editor |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | dubbing mixer |
| David John | ... | sound mixer |
| Eddy Joseph | ... | sound editor |
| Howard Lanning | ... | sound editor |
| Matthew Launay | ... | boom operator |
| Tim Partridge | ... | dolby sound consultant (uncredited) |
| Lionel Strutt | ... | adr mixer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Andy Williams | ... | special effects technician |
| Chris Corbould | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
| Neil Corbould | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
| Stephen Hutchinson | ... | special effects trainee (uncredited) |
| Mark Meddings | ... | special effects supervisor (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| David Smith | ... | optical cameraman (uncredited) |
| Nick Wass | ... | Rostrum camera: titles (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Graham Attwood | ... | still photographer |
| Stuart Game | ... | camera loader |
| Frank Heeney | ... | gaffer |
| Colin Manning | ... | grip |
| Roger Mayne | ... | original period photography |
| David Morgan | ... | focus puller |
| Mike Proudfoot | ... | camera operator (as Michael Proudfoot) |
| Ronald Lenoir | ... | chargehand rigger (uncredited) |
| Carlos Melville | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Roger Burton | ... | costume consultant |
| Dougie Hawkes | ... | costume assistant |
| Barbara Rutter | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Joyce Stoneman | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Barbara Higgins | ... | costume maker (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Matthew Binns | ... | location unit manager |
Music Department
| Michael Clifford | ... | music editor |
| Gil Evans | ... | conductor / music arranger |
| Clive Langer | ... | music mixer / music producer |
| Cynthia Lole | ... | music coordinator |
| Don Mcpherson | ... | music coordinator |
| Colin Purbrook | ... | musical associate |
| Daniel Secunda | ... | music coordinator |
| Ray Williams | ... | executive music supervisor |
| Alan Wistanley | ... | music mixer / music producer |
| Iain Ballamy | ... | musician: reeds (uncredited) |
| Guy Barker | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Pete Beachill | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Harry Beckett | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| David Bedford | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Brian Bromberg | ... | musician: acoustic double bass (uncredited) |
| Stuart Brooks | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Martin Drew | ... | musician: drums (uncredited) |
| Slim Gaillard | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Malcolm Griffith | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Duncan Lamont | ... | musician: reeds (uncredited) |
| Chris Laurence | ... | musician: acoustic double bass (uncredited) |
| Henry Lowther | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Richard Pierce | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Jamie Talbot | ... | alto saxophone (uncredited) |
| Don Weller | ... | musician: tenor saxophone (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Mary Holdsworth | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Mark White | ... | transportation |
Additional Crew
| Tim Coghlan | ... | assistant to producer |
| Jennifer Collen-Smith | ... | unit publicist (as Jennifer Collen Smith) |
| Jane Cotton | ... | dance stage manager |
| Valerie Craig | ... | production coordinator |
| Tracy Drew | ... | title designer |
| Stewart Hadley | ... | crew |
| Ray Jones | ... | supervising rigger |
| Amanda Pirie | ... | assistant to director |
| Jenny Pollitt | ... | assistant to producer |
| David Saggs | ... | production accountant |
| Kathy Sykes | ... | production coordinator |
| Jonathan Thornton | ... | assistant choreographer |
| Sue Thornton | ... | assistant dance stage manager |
| David Toguri | ... | choreographer |
| John Porter | ... | worldwide distribution director (uncredited) |
| Jordan Stone | ... | set production assistant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Palace Pictures (1986) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Orion Pictures (1986) (United States) (theatrical)
- Sandrew Film & Teater AB (1986) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Canal+ (1988) (France) (tv)
- Concorde Film (1986) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Herald Film Company (1986) (Japan) (theatrical)
- National Film Development Corporation (1987) (India) (theatrical)
- Alfa-Panorama Film & Video (1992) (Finland) (VHS)
- Aquarius TV (2001) (Greece) (tv)
- Cannon Home Video (United States) (VHS)
- EuroVideo (2016) (Germany) (DVD)
- EuroVideo (2016) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- HBO/Cannon Video (United States) (VHS)
- Home Box Office (HBO) (United States) (tv)
- Image Entertainment (1987) (United States) (laserdisc)
- Karelia Food (1994) (Finland) (VHS)
- Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Nordisk Film (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
- Orion Home Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- Roadshow Home Video (1980) (Australia) (VHS)
- SubTV (2003) (Finland) (tv)
- TV3 (1990) (Finland) (tv)
- Twilight Time (2015) (United States) (Blu-ray) (video)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
- VCL Communications (1986) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Virgin Films and Video (1987) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Vértice 360 (2000) (Spain) (DVD)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Camera Effects (opticals)
- EMI America Records (original motion picture soundtrack available on)
- Lee Lighting (lighting)
- Mayflower Recording (adr recording)
- Peter Govey Film Opticals (titles)
- Samuelson Film Service (cameras)
- Samuelson Film Service (lenses)
- Twickenham Film Studios (post-production)
- Twickenham Film Studios (re-recording)
- Visual Icon (exclusive clip and still licensing)
- Westside Studio (music mixing facility)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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...
Written by Michael Brooke |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The music, the movement, the romance, the passion . . . all explodes on the BIG SCREEN. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The character of "Harry Charms" was based on a real-life British manager and impresario of the period, Larry Parnes, who was famous for hiring unknown singers and giving them extravagant stage names (his most famous client was Billy Fury). In 1960 he hired an unknown Liverpool band called The Beatles to accompany one of his lesser stars, Johnny Gentle, on a tour of Scotland, but he decided not to take the Beatles on as clients because he was only interested in handling solo singers, not groups. See more » |
| 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'). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Ray Davies: Quiet Life (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Santa Lucia See more » |
| Quotes |
Colin:
What, selling things to people who don't want them? Vendice: Never things, Colin. We don't sell things. We sell dreams. See more » |