TEEN ANGST IN MY PANTS: RARE TRAILERS FROM SOME FILMS OF NOTE

Here are a few trailers from some rare films that I personally suggest you watch, even if you're not into Punk music. The brash reality and candor of these films is a refreshing change from the contemporary fecal matter that the studios have been putting out. Most of these are available to see FULL LENGTH on you tube, if you don't mind lousy resolution, otherwise rent, buy or steal these wherever you see them.

QUADROPHENIA (dir. Franc Roddam 1979) Now available on region 1 DVD.
*HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Director Franc Roddam has brought us an array of young British acting talents who bring back London's nineteen-sixties Mods and Rockers. Set against the soundtrack of The Who's 1973 mighty concept album "Quadrophenia", Phil Daniels plays working-class Jimmy, the drug-induced Mod, who hates his job and is misunderstood by his parents. But by night, he comes alive, with the all-nighters, his pills and his scooter-riding friends. Always on a high, life can't get any better. Then there's the Brighton scooter run, where both Mods and Rockers converge, ending in the battle of the cults on Brighton Beach. What goes up must come down, and with Jimmy's come-down, his life is turned around, and so begins his downward spiral into paranoia and isolation, and the four-faceted mindset: Quadrophenia. With its extremely realistic language, violent overtones and classic sixties soundtrack, this illness is bound to be contagious. Come along for the ride.


SCUM (Dir. Alan Clarke 1979)
This is the hard and shocking story of life in a British Borstal for young offenders. Luckily the regime has changed since this film was made. The brutal regime made no attempt to reform or improve the inmates and actively encouraged a power struggle between the 'tough' new inmate and the 'old hands'. The film was originally made as a BBC play but it was banned before ever being shown. So 'Alan Clarke' and 'Roy Minton' got it re-made as a film. This is a tough and brutal film and should not be viewed lightly.


MEANTIME (Dir. Mike Leigh 1984)(TV)
An odd film, primarily looking at how the dole affects the underclass in Britain. Tim Roth(screen debut) stars as Colin, a slow and possibly retarded man living with his parents and brother in a housing project. He and his sarcastic manipulative brother(Phil Daniels from Quadrophenia) still behave like teenagers, living with their parents, harassing each other. The problem is that they are in their late teens or twenties. Neighborhood characters include Hayley, a young woman with a crush on Colin, and Coxy (Gary Oldman) a violent local skinhead who befriends Colin. Trouble ensues when their wealthy aunt gives Colin a job and his brother becomes jealous.
Since I couldn't find the proper trailer, this is the first part(of 11 on YouTube) to give you a taste of the flavor of the film.


DOA (Dir. by Lech Kowalski 1980)
Since I couldn't track down the actual trailer, this is actually the first part of the film that I found on You Tube.
I HIGHLY recommend this documentary on the early Punk scene. It has interviews from everyone who was part of the scene.
A brash, captivating documentary of punk music on and off stage. Focus is on the first U.S. tour (1978) of the Sex Pistols. Other groups shown are Dead Boys, Generation X (with Billy Idol), Rich Kids, X-Ray Specs, Sham 69, with additional music from The Clash, Iggy Pop and Augustus Pablo. Includes famous interview of Sid and Nancy in bed.


THE PUNK ROCK MOVIE (Dir. Don Letts 1978)
A revealing look into the bands comprising the 1978 London punk-rock scene, and a peek back-stage at the lives behind the facade. Includes performances and interviews by Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Eater, Wayne County, Billy Idol, Debbie Juvenile, Steven Severin, Joe Strummer, Johnny Thunders and other concurrent bands.


DECLINE OF THE WESTERN CIVILIZATION I (Dir. Penelope Spheeris 1981)
A documentary on the Los Angeles Punk scene filmed from December 1979 through May 1980)
This is an all-time classic. Everyone should see this at least once.



MADE IN BRITAIN (Dir. Alan Clarke 1982)(TV)
This is not so much a trailer(since I couldn't find it) But rather scenes cut together showcasing a bit of the film, set to The Expolited.
Synopsis:
The film follows a short period in the life of the 16 year old skinhead Trevor.Starting with a court appearance Trevor moves to an assessment centre where he continues to rant against authority.Refusing to sign the "contract" he goes on a trail of violent destruction in the job centre and on the streets of London.After a rampage on asian homes and ending up ramming into a police car outside a police station he finally ends up at his social workers home and gives himself up.The final confrontation with authority leaves no doubt that he is doomed to spend his life in jail at the mercy of authority.A docu style piece at 76 minutes this made for tv film introduces Tim Roth as an exeptional talent who went on to a great career .


SUBURBIA (Dir. Penelope Spheeris 1984)
When household tensions and a sense of worthlessness overcome Evan, he finds escape when he clings with the orphans of a throw-away society. The runaways hold on to each other like a family until a tragedy tears them apart.