One of the greatest cult films ever made, and regarded by many as responsible for the Mod / Rocker revival of 1979 & '80, this second film initiative by The Who was based upon their 1973 album and had an all-star cast including Phil Daniels, Lesley Ash, Sting, Michael Elphick and Toyah Willcox. East London, 1964: Jimmy Cooper, a young Mod who lives with his parents and sister, seems to have a great life. An office boy at an advertising company by day, he's out at night on his scooter with his mates and girlfriend Steph, dancing, fighting and popping amphetamines. But Jimmy suffers from mental health problems, which mean that his moods and temperament are very unstable- after a riot-filled trip to Brighton, during which he is arrested and ends up in court, he is thrown out by his parents, loses his friends, is rejected by Steph and becomes a social outcast. It is the beginning of a downward spiral of self-destruction which results in the film's ambiguous climax. Directed by Franc Roddam on a shoestring budget, the film included a number of clips that were edited before it's general release (including one where Jimmy's gang break into a chemist's shop one night and have fun playing with the condoms, and another where he and steph are depicted making love naked in a Brighton back alley). Phil Daniels went on to star with Hazel o'Connor the following year in her semi-autobiographical flim 'Breaking Glass'. Such is the everlasting impact of 'Quadrophenia' upon British society that it used to have it's own website up until about 10 years ago, and the famous Brighton back-alley is listed as a heritage site by the local authorities!!
Do You Remember Quadrophenia?
Do You Remember Quadrophenia?