Music at the Movies: QUADROPHENIA at The Screening Room

Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Phil Davis, Ray Winstone, Sting. Directed by Franc Roddam. 

One of the best British films ever made about growing up and being obsessed with music and the lifestyle that accompanies it. Director Franc Roddam worked closely with Pete Townshend to expand The Who’s rock opera into a partly autobiographical portrait of youth culture of the early Sixties. If you’ve ever wondered (or wanted to be reminded of) what it was like to be a teenager in that era, you won’t find a better (or a more enjoyable) depiction. Phil Daniels made his name as the tormented hero, South London Mod Jimmy and was never better, ably supported by a great ensemble cast. Poor Jimmy’s journey culminates in the sad discovery that all his teenage heroes have feet of clay, not least super-cool Mod gang leader ‘Ace Face’, played here with icy reserve by Sting. “Stunning performances, a streetwise script, great pacing and a superb soundtrack make this not only an anthem of the times but an enduring tale to boot,” said Empire.