The Punk Rock Movie (1978)

There's no doubt about it. Punk was a sorely needed antidote to the pathetic drivel that made up (most of)the music of the mid to late 70's. Okay, I know you're going to bellyache about the rampant self destructive behavior of both the bands, as well as their audience, but the music (which in itself was born of boredom,anger,disillusionment,as well as rampant unemployment in the U.K. in the mid to late 70's)acted as an call to arms to a generation that was sick to death of the hyper slick,over produced dreck of the era. This film captures the spirit of the time with performances of some of the best (or worst,depending on your view of this kind of music & sub culture)talent that was out there (The Sex Pistols,The Clash,Generation X,with Billy Idol,Alternative TV, etc.). Besides the music,it also manages to capture a cinema verite window into the culture of the era,as well (there is some footage shot in Malcolm McLaren's shop,Sex). This film is a classic example of the whole kitchen sink, do it yourself (D.I.Y.) approach of the whole punk phenomena (it was shot on the old school Super 8 film stock, giving it a grainy,gritty look that does service to the films raw punk texture). This film is/was made available some years back on VHS (on an equally cheap & cheesy video stock quality that was sold in cut rate department stores for about five bucks). Perhaps it will one day resurface on DVD for a generation of punks who were not around back in the day.

I just got copy of this on DVD, and its worst quality video I've seen, its like EMI took the VHS version that was recorded on EP speed and transferred it to DVD. From looking at the video you can hardly see the faces on artists a lot of blurring and out of focus, looks like artist don't have eyes thats how bad it is. The sound track also is very bad, this could be that when they originally filmed it wasn't always good, a lot of songs on here you cant hardly hear the artist vocals just the music even at that the music still sounds like the Mic was down the hall, when the band on stage was playing. The only thing this video redeems from is you get to see a lot of punk bands from British wave in 70's, If your looking for at least good audio and video of British punk bands, there's a lot better then this out there in compilations out in DVDs with same bands on here, Like Old Grey Whistle Test or Rude Boy for Clash or Ramones Raw is a lot better.

Don Lett's Punk Rock Movie is just like the music it captures, crude but effective. Lett's (who would later become a member of Big Audio Dynamite) shot this movie on Super8mm. He was friends with many of the punk bands because he was their reggae connection (there was an interesting punk/reggae connection in London during that time). The footage of the Sex Pistols is priceless and worth the price of the tape itself. The Clash and the other major players are featured in this documentary. An interesting watch. I also recommend U.K. Decay as a follow up.Be on the look out for a young Shane Mac Gowan (The Pogues). He was a huge punk back in the late seventies before he re-invented himself as a hard edged Irish folk musician. He went on to combine the two elements and create a new sound.Highly recommended!

I was quite happy (and surprised) to pick this up for $3 at a Wal-Mart; granted, it was a "Goodtimes Home Video" recorded in EP mode, but still... Unlike some of the other early punk movies, this movie actually focuses on bands and their music. There are funny situations with the Sex Pistols (what punk movie doesn't have a funny Sex Pistols segment?), but that isn't the only thing it has to offer. Live performances by the Slits and Siouxsie and the Banshees are my favorite portions, with nothing else really being so dull that it isn't worth watching. Well, Billy Idol isn't that great, but it's interesting to see him pre-MTV, pre-stardom. The movie itself is pretty low quality; the film appears to be 8mm- when transferred, probably through a few video generations, to an EP tape, the quality is poor. I'm not sure how much blame should go to the "photographer" and how much should go to Goodtimes. I'm not sure I would recommend this movie to everyone; my former roommate was disenchanted with the Pistols' juvenile humor and with a segment with the band Eater wherein a pig's head is beaten with a hammer- but anyone interested in the history of punk is doing themselves a disservice by not watching this movie. (And anyone who considers themselves punk and aren't interested in punk's history... you don't know what you're missing.)