Stardust (1974)

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer:

Ray Connolly (written by)

Release Date:

24 April 1975 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Show me a boy who never wanted to be a rock star and I'll show you a liar.

Plot:

The rise and fall of the rock singer Jim Maclaine, in the mid 60s, with his manager, Mike, and his group, "The Stray Cats." |

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Rock Music | Singer | Sequel | Independent Film

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win

Cast

David Essex	...	Jim MacLaine
Adam Faith	...	Mike
Larry Hagman	...	Porter Lee Austin
Ines Des Longchamps	...	Danielle
Rosalind Ayres	...	Jeanette
Marty Wilde	...	Colin Day
Edd Byrnes	...	TV Interviewer
Keith Moon	...	J. D. Clover
Dave Edmunds	...	Alex
Paul Nicholas	...	Johnny
Karl Howman	...	Stevie
Richard LeParmentier	...	Felix Hoffman (as Richard Le Parmentier)
Peter Duncan	...	Kevin
John Normington	...	Harrap
David Daker	...	Ralph Woods

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor) | Color

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) | Mono (35 mm optical prints)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Sweden:11 | UK:15 (video rating) (1990) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

EMI Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Goodtimes Enterprises

Trivia:

Martin Balsam was first choice for the role of Porter Lee Austin.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The "Piano" they play is a Vox Continental organ and this model, single manual with drawbars in the middle and some presets, was only made in 1972-73.

Quotes:

Jim Maclaine: I remember you from New York.
TV Interviewer: It was nice of you to remember.
Jim Maclaine: I forgot to forget.

Movie Connections:

Follows That'll Be the Day (1973)

Soundtrack:

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

For all rock music fans

Follow up to That'll Be the Day. DVD review.

After leaving his wife and kid Essex joins a rock band, becomes famous in America, and then moves to Spain as a recluse.

Better directed than the first movie but Essex's character is less interesting. It's difficult to figure out what's going on in his head. The best scene was at his mother's funeral - his ex-wife tells him not to attend the burial! The story is predictable and follows the pattern of countless successful bands - sign to a label, record a hit, tour America, split up, have a solo career, do something artistic (rock opera), retire, and then attempt a comeback. Fast moving movie that features the great Adam Faith as the friend - Essex's posh girlfriend thinks Faith is gay. However, the most interesting part of the movie was the contrast between the negative, cynical, working-class English musicians and the the positive, profit-loving, open-minded Americans.

Stardust is one of the best rock-band movies ever.