Flame (1975/I)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Richard Loncraine

Writers:

Andrew Birkin (screenplay)
Dave Humphries (additional dialogue)

Release Date:

2004 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Drama

Plot:

Light the Rock n' Roll spark with a Flame in the guise of Dave, Noddy, Jim and Don and their showcase of the rise and demise of rock band Flame...

Plot Keywords:

Midlands | Independent Film

Cast

Don Powell	...	Charlie
Jim Lea	...	Paul
Noddy Holder	...	Stoker
Dave Hill	...	Barry
Tom Conti	...	Robert Seymour
Alan Lake	...	Jack Daniels
Johnny Shannon	...	Ron Harding
Kenneth Colley	...	Tony Devlin
Anthony Allen	...	Russell
Sara Clee	...	Angie
Nina Thomas	...	Julie
Michael Coles	...	Roy Priest
Rosko	...	Himself
Tommy Vance	...	Ricky Storm
John Dicks	...	Lenny

Also Known As:

Slade in Flame (International: English title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Goodtimes Enterprises

Wham Bam Thank You Glam

The British Glam Rock kings of the 1970's never quite made the impact they should have in the states. Probably David Bowie is the only one of the bunch that most Americans have even heard of. The Sweet had only a few hits. Marc Bolan only managed one Top 40 record. Now that's a shame. Roxy Music was a cult group. Status Quo is virtually unheard of; a one-hit wonder whose only hit was their first single from 1967, "Listen to the Flower People," er, I mean, "Pictures of Matchstick Men." Slade shifted some LPs, but had no hit singles. But they did make this film, which can finally now be seen here in the USA on DVD. Interesting to watch from the American perspective, but anyone who's at all a fan of such British cultural touchstones as The Beatles or Monty Python should find plenty to enjoy here.

The group acquits themselves as actors quite well in this somewhat true-to-life tale of a rock band's rise and fall in England. The story starts in the mid/late 1960's, which helps to separate the real life Slade from the fictional Flame.

Although somewhat of a gritty drama, there are a large number of hilarious anecdotes (which all supposedly really happened, though not to Slade but to different bands) about the singer getting stuck on stage in a coffin (Spinal Tap pod incident, anyone?), the attack on the pirate radio station, and dealings with posh types on a train and shopping for a Rolls-Royce at a snooty dealership.

Overall, one of the better rock and roll films, if one of the lesser heralded ones. Worth watching for rock music fans or fans of 60's/70's pop culture. Just listen carefully, fellow Americans! You'll have a hard time sussing out some of the dialog with those Midlands accents. In fact, Noddy Holder said that when the film showed in St. Louis in the 70's, it was actually subtitled! Too bad that option is not provided on this DVD, but other than that, I don't have much to complain about here.