Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #810 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-08-07
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Special Edition
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 115 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Franc Roddam's terrifically energetic movie, set to music from the Who's Quadrophenia, is--at the very least, the best film ever based on a rock album (and, yes, that includes, Tommy, Pink Floyd: The Wall, and Jesus Christ Superstar). Actually, this tale of the battle between two early '60s youth subcultures--Mods and Rockers--in the seaside teenage wasteland of Brighton, England, isn't so much a cinematic "version" of the Who's 1979 double-record rock opera as it is a story based on the sequence of songs on the album. Quadrophenia is about that crucial time in teenhood when the lion's share of your sense of identity is tied up in the music you listen to, the clothes you wear, and the groups you hang out with. Jimmy (Phil Daniels) identifies himself with the sharp-dressing, scooter-riding Mods, who listen to American soul and British pop-rock (The Who themselves were once rather Mod). The Rockers, on the other hand, are leather-jacketed, black-booted, motorcycle-riding tough guys who listen primarily to classic American rock & roll. The film captures this minor pop-culture revolution perfectly. Look for Sting as a club-hopping slickster, who's shameful secret is that he's a hotel bellboy by day. --Jim Emerson

Synopsis
It's the Mods versus the Rockers in this striking adaptation of The Who's classic rock opera about alienated youth in the 1960s. The film follows Jimmy (Phil Daniels) an angry young man who feels that he can only achieve a sense of identity and meaning in life through his gang and Mod music. This edgy time capsule also features Sting (in his acting debut), Leslie Ash, and Ray Winstone. In addition to The Who songs such as 'Love, Reign O'er Me', 'The Real Me', and 'My Generation', the soundtrack includes R&B classics by James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and others.

Customer Reviews

Jimmy Is a Face
This remastered 2 disc set is absolutely brilliant in virtually all respects. The film print itself is wonderfully clean, the soundtrack is quite naturally fully engaging amd the acting is of the highest possible standard. It is quite easy to forget that those on the screen were actually earning a wage for their performances.

I won't bother explaining the plot. We all know it. Suffice to say that this is the very best ever presentation of this iconic cinematic masterpiece. The second disc features director Franc Roddam detailing the trials and tribulations of the production, also featured are quite lengthy and illumnating contributuions from Toyah, Phil Daniels and other key players.

This is an essential purchase. There is however one minor quibble. Given Pete Townshend's unquestionable genius couldn't he have done a Dolby 5.1 or even a DTS mix of the soundtrack for this release? I am sure there were good reasons why this was not possible but if only...........an opportunity missed.

At last...
This is what I've been waiting for. I've various copies of this movie, from the original video release through the region 2 and region 1 versions but although the extras that were gradually added were interesting, the film itself was still the original grainy print.

This 2 disc edition has a new digitised version of the film, crystal clear and properly formatted for widescreen.

The new extras are great, the making-of documentary contains some great interviews with the cast and the brief guide to the locations is quite interesting and will save you doing the Brighton tour.

Finally, the verbal sparring between Phil Daniels and Franc Roddam in the commentary is amusing and worth a listen. Even if you already have a copy of the film, this is probably still worth buying.

Quadrophenia
Had not seen the film since it was first released, it still has the same nostalgia and Ray Winstone's "interesting" hair, and sex in a back alley in Brighton nowadays may have a different connotation. One thing appeared missing in this version I am sure that there was a discussion between the two Mods who end up sleeping with the Rockers in which one asks "what kind of bike you got?" to which he replies "Harley Davidson" The reply is that if he a Harley he'd keep it in the front room. I am sure that was missing from this edition. As yet I have not watched the extras but am looking forward to the commentary version.