Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1981)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Lou Adler

Writer:

Nancy Dowd (written by)

Release Date:

October 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

She can't fool all the fans all of the time ...

Plot:

Corrine Burns retreats far into plans for her band, The Fabulous Stains, after her mother's death. So...

Plot Keywords:

Punk | Cult | Rock Band | Punk Rock | Female Nudity

Cast

Diane Lane	...	Corinne Burns
Ray Winstone	...	Billy - Vocals for The Looters
Peter Donat	...	Harley Dennis
David Clennon	...	Dave Robell - The Agent
John Lehne	...	Stu McGrath
Cynthia Sikes	...	Alicia Meeker
Laura Dern	...	Jessica McNeil
Marin Kanter	...	Tracy Burns
Paul Cook	...	Danny - Drummer for The Looters
Steve Jones	...	Steve - Guitarist for The Looters
Barry Ford	...	Lawnboy
Paul Simonon	...	Johnny - Bassist for The Looters
Fee Waybill	...	Lou Corpse - Vocals for The Metal Corpses (as John 'Fee' Waybill)
Christine Lahti	...	Aunt Linda
Janet Wright	...	Brenda - Aunt Linda's Friend

Also Known As:

All Washed Up (USA) (original script title)
The Professionals (USA) (pre-release title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Barclays Mercantile Industrial Finance

Trivia:

Nancy Dowd was inspired to write the script after she saw the Ramones perform live in concert.

Quotes:

Dave Robell: What you were was a concept and you've blown the concept.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Making of 'Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains' (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Curfew

a real Flight by Night

With Diane Lane's beautiful, astonishing, must-get-the-Oscar turn in Unfaithful (since the last thing I really remember seeing her before that was Lady Beware, and if I were to bother reviewing that, my summary would be Viewer Beware, or more unkindly, Lady Beware The Between-Meal Snacks), I remembered seeing this film on the late lamented Night Flight, when it still showed uncut, uncensored, banned, obscure videos and films relating to rock and roll. Ah the good old days of early cable...

This film is a must-see, not just for Diane Lane fans, but for any rock film fan. It is a bit contrived in some parts, but brutally honest in others, and seemed to confront every '80's rock dream - from Tiffany to MTV to Madonna..and beyond - Britney and Xtina, anyone?

Many other reviews here say all there is to say about the film, since I have only seen it that one time, and can't add anything particularly pithy about it. The fact that I remember it all these years later, after just being reminded of the abysmal failure which was Streets of Fire, makes me want to see the Stains play again.

There are scenes I still remember vividly, and while some of the movie will seem forced and a bit dated even for the time it was released, it has a certain honesty that stayed with me all these years - mostly due to a powerful and honest performance by a very young Diane Lane. The same honesty and power she shows in Unfaithful...

A real shame that this movie is not available for home viewing, and should be released on dvd and vhs at a time when Lane is hopefully going to walk away with an Oscar.