London, 1958. Youth culture is moving from jazz toward a new generation on the edge of rock and roll. Colin, an idealistic photographer, lives in the multicultural Notting Hill neighbourhood and is in love with Suzette, an aspiring fashion designer. As racism and fascist groups gain ground, Colin takes advertising work that clashes with his principles.

How it was made

Julien Temple, then best known for music videos, adapted Colin MacInnes's novel from a first draft by Don MacPherson that did not impress, and a later script by Richard Burridge. Financing combined Goldcrest, which put up around 2.5 million pounds, and Orion Pictures, which supplied about 2.5 million dollars, while Palace covered development costs. Temple admitted the book was hard to bring to the screen because its plot lacks drive.

Reception and legacy

It was screened out of competition at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival. Critics panned it and it flopped at the box office, although later reviews have been more favourable. Bowie's title song was a hit in the UK, spending nine weeks on the charts and peaking at number two. Its commercial failure is linked to the collapse of Goldcrest and Virgin's withdrawal from film production.

Stills

Trivia

Relative unknowns

Eddie O'Connell and Patsy Kensit were almost unknown when cast in the lead roles. According to Temple in a 2016 interview, the two did not get along especially well.

Music across decades

Temple wanted musicians representing music from the 1950s through the 1980s, and many of his contacts came from the music world.

More films by Julien Temple

Bullet1996

Earth Girls Are Easy1989

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle1980

The Filth and the Fury2000

Aria1987

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten2007

Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.