Follow up to That'll Be the Day has Jimmy Maclaine starting a band call the Stray Cats, rising to international success and then having it all go away. I originally saw this on HBO back in the late 1970's early 1980's and it hung with me ever since. Until I saw the film again I couldn't tell you anything about the film other than it had to do with a reclusive rock star. Seeing it again I find that its a good film but I'm at a loss to explain why I recall seeing it. A much better film than the one that preceded it, here was a story that I could relate to simple because the story of a band that comes together and breaks up is one I could relate to. I find that even the drama that carries over from the first film plays better here and less like a soap opera.(Though now having seen the first film I find that having the back story does help clarify somethings). I like the film and I'm glad that some 25 years on I got to see it again. I don't know if I need to see it again but it is a neat little time capsule and reflection of the music scene at a specific time and place (and less specific since the way groups and their leaders come together and break apart will always happen in ways close to this) Worth a look.
Review of Stardust
Stardust
(1974)
Follow up to That'll Be the Day outshines the earlier film and becomes a cautious tale for rock stars
10 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers