Tags
1980's, Diane Lane, Drama, Fee Waybill, Ladies and Gentlemen The Fabulous Stains, Laura Dern, Lou Adler, Marin Kanter, Music, Paul Cook, Paul Simonon, Ray Winstone, Steve Jones
Film Title
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains
Director
Lou Adler
Starring
- Diane Lane as Corinne Burns
- Ray Winstone as Billy
- Marin Kanter as Tracy Burns
- Laura Dern as Jessica McNeil
- Steve Jones as Steve
- Paul Cook as Danny
- Paul Simonon as Johnny
- Fee Waybill as Lou Corpse
A film that has developed into something of a cult hit, after being shelved back in the 80’s and gaining exposure later on television, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains is a gritty, backstage look at the rise of a punk band and the inevitable challenges of angst a d fall that follows. It’s not the best movie ever as passages don’t hold up as well as they might have once done, but it’s worthy of attention for its music and lead performance from Diane Lane.
Corinne Burns is an angry, aggressive and bored teenager, whose mother died of cancer a few months prior. She has no real direction in life and holds disdain for almost everything, which is witnessed we she is interviewed by local radio and accosts them. Yet when she sees up and coming punk band The Looters performing live as opening act for has been rockers The Metal Corpses, she is swept away by their attitude and observes them as a way out of her boring life. You see Corinne already has a band of sorts consisting of her sister Tracy and cousin Jessica(despite the fact that none of them have any real talent or practice in performing). With the two bands always at each other’s throats, The Stains are surprisingly signed to be another opening act and the girls set out on tour. On their first performance, their lack of experience shows and the audience lets them know it. But Corinne, now decked out in sheer red blouse, bikini briefs and hair resembling a skunk, lets her fury be heard to the audience. This could have been a disaster for them, yet Corinne’s tirade is picked up by many people as a rallying cry for young girls, thanks to news reporting and a shocked audience. Soon enough, The Stains are gaining major exposure, with young girls copying the look of the band, adopting a fierce rebellious streak and spouting the phrase ‘We don’t put out’. Yet times can chance very quickly in the business and audiences can become fickle, as well as the price of Corinne’s obnoxious ambition which starts to get the better of her and become very noticeable.
Lou Adler adds airs of authenticity to the film, stemming from his background as a music producer. He shoots scenes, particularly the performance segments with a good eye for the kinetic stage presence of the bands. Where The Fabulous Stains really scores is the depiction of influence on others, mainly fandom and the media’s portrayal of the band. The way it is explored is still as timely as today and shows how pernicious it can be and how you can be built up so high, that it’s a given that you will stumble. As an audience, people latch on to things and then drop them quickly, which is shown very well in this movie. On the flawed side, The Fabulous Stains can often veer from one scene to the next, without giving much thought for what came before it. However once the pace settles, things pick up and really take flight in the performance scenes as well as the media coverage parts that poses a double-edged sword for the band. It must also be noted that character development among the supporting part is a bit stilted, with no one particularly standing out. Then again, Corinne and her band are that memorable it more than makes sense and whenever they’re on screen, The Fabulous Stains is very accomplished and memorable. Those are the only real flaws to be found in this flick as the rest of it is pretty well mounted and deserving of the cult status it has attained.
Bringing ferocious bite and lashings of attitude is young Diane Lane in the lead role of front woman Corinne. Lane never softens the character to be overly sympathetic and this goes a long way to showing us how dissatisfied and angry the character is. Topped off with a memorable look, Diane Lane makes a hell of an impression as a wounded youth with one lacerating glare. A young Ray Winstone has the required mercurial tendencies for his part of the up and coming punk, whose band is overtaken by The Stains. The roles of the other members of The Stains are less well-defined, but still acted with assurance by Marin Kanter and Laura Dern. Adding another dimension to the picture is the casting of members of punk and rock staple bands The Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Tubes. The parts don’t require much acting, but their presence as performers is felt and appreciated when the performances roll around.
Dated though some of it is, The Fabulous Stains is a genuinely intriguing and at times very relevant look at the fickle nature of fame and the dissatisfaction of youth. Bolstered by some killer music and good work from Diane Lane, it’s good to see a movie like this getting more attention again.
mikeladano said:
This movie has some of my favourite punk musicians in it, but I’ve never heard of it? How?? Thanks for posting Vinnie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
From doing research, the studio didn’t quite know what to make or do with the movie so it was shelved. When it was getting shown on late night TV, it started to gain attention.
LikeLiked by 1 person
mikeladano said:
Funny thing Vinnie — last night I was working on a soundtrack review for another fictional band featuring real punk rockers in the movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Really? What an interesting coincidence.
LikeLiked by 2 people
mikeladano said:
Yup finishing it up right now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I’m gonna read it soon, just got to do a few things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
mikeladano said:
It’s not going up for a while yet so don’t worry. I’m probably going to do another full week of movie soundtrack reviews next week. I haven’t decided the order yet, but look for that come Monday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Thanks for the heads up.
LikeLike
vinnieh said:
And I’d love to know what you make of my playlist post. https://vinnieh.wordpress.com/2016/07/14/songs-to-make-love-to/
LikeLiked by 1 person
mikeladano said:
I’m on it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
beetleypete said:
Never heard of it mate. Good cast though, so should be well-worth a look.
Cheers, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
It’s well worth a look, if you have Netflix it is on there.
LikeLike
beetleypete said:
Netflix? An old codger like me? No chance mate. Maybe one day…
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
It’s really good Pete. And it always gets new movies on it.
LikeLike
beetleypete said:
I have never connected the TV to the Internet, and don’t enjoy watching films on the PC. But my step-kids watch Netflix all the time, so I might think about it. Maybe next year…
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I do prefer to watch things on TV, but Netflix is a good back up.
LikeLike
Bluebird4UDaily said:
I love Diane Lane, but this film got pass me too, it’s a must see for me.. Thank you for this post… Have a wonderful weekend, take care..
Laura
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Lane is a great actress and very gorgeous woman. I did a post a few days back of a sexy playlist that may interest you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bluebird4UDaily said:
Yes, Vinnieh she sure is on both accounts… I’ll have to go check out your playlist.. Thanks…
Laura 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I will watch Diane Lane in anything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
My hubby will love this, will look out for it for him. Cheers V-man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I found it on Netflix.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
Oh well we don’t have that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I’m sure it will be on DVD, hope you find it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fragglerocking said:
Cheers V-man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ninvoid99 said:
This is such an underrated film. Diane Lane was hot back then yet she would become even hotter as she got older. The fact that it has Steve Jones & Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols, Paul Simonon of the Clash, a young Ray Winstone, and Laura Dern. It’s such a fun film and certainly needs to be seen more by lots of people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Lame really has grown more beautiful as she has got older. Having real life musicians in the film added a lot of authenticity to it all.
LikeLike
alexraphael said:
I feel I should have heard of this. Awesome review as ever. I have such a crush on Diane lane.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I think everyone has a crush on Diane Lane, she’s exquisite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
alexraphael said:
An expression about a fine wine comes to mind ha
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
You took the words right out of my mouth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
alexraphael said:
How do you find these films btw? Do people tell you or you just keep looking and find things that catch your eye?
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
It’s often a mixture of the two Alex.
LikeLike
alexraphael said:
I’ll have a think and come back with a list 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I look forward to it Alex.
LikeLiked by 1 person
emmakwall said:
So was this a made for TV movie in the first instance? Looks very interesting. One for Cinema Parrot Disco maybe?! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
IT was Cinema Parrot Disco who informed me of this film.
LikeLiked by 1 person
emmakwall said:
No way really?! Impressive eh 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Very impressively.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I think this movie was made for cinema, the studio just didn’t really know who it would appeal to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
emmakwall said:
Me! Ha ha. I really am gonna search this one out. Maybe if I get lucky I’ll find it on youtube. Where did you watch it Vinnie?
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
I found it on Netflix.
LikeLiked by 1 person
emmakwall said:
I don’t have Netflix anymore! 😦 I can find someone’s to use though I’m sure, thanks brother.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
This may be a movie you find intriguing sister.
LikeLiked by 1 person
table9mutant said:
Emma knows me so well! ; ) 😘
LikeLiked by 2 people
vinnieh said:
Indeed she does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
emmakwall said:
Yay! 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
table9mutant said:
Nice review, Vinnie! Glad you checked this one out. Not a perfect film but Diane Lane is perfect, at least. I totally have a girl crush on her character. I liked the film’s messages on fame & female empowerment. The movie should be more well known than it is. : )
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
Diane Lane was fantastic, all attitude and snarling disdain. I seriously couldn’t believe this movie is not really well known. More people need to see it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
abbiosbiston said:
I really liked this and it shows you how immediately talented Diane Lane was.
LikeLiked by 1 person
vinnieh said:
It’s a good showcase for her talents that are still very much present today. I do love Diane Lane.
LikeLike
Pingback: Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains — vinnieh – JromoCompany.com
vinnieh said:
Thank you for the reblog.
LikeLike