Flame (1975/I)

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
Barrie Houghton	...	Ron
A.J. Brown	...	Chairman of the Board
Susan Tebbs	...	Judy Seymour
Patrick Connor	...	Harold - Charlie's Boss
Anthony Roye	...	Sommers
Jimmy Gardner	...	Charlie's Dad
Sheila Raynor	...	Charlie's Mum
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reginald Bosanquet	...	Newsreader (uncredited)
Bill Dean	...	Club owner (uncredited)
Laurie Goode	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Nigel Terry	...	Assistant Disc Jockey (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Loncraine

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Andrew Birkin		screenplay
Dave Humphries		additional dialogue

Produced by
Gavrik Losey	....	producer

Cinematography by
Peter Hannan

Film Editing by
Michael Bradsell

Art Direction by
Brian Morris

Production Management
Garth Thomas	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roger Simons	....	assistant director

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Bloor	....	electrician
Roy Rodhouse	....	gaffer

Other crew
Zelda Barron	....	continuity
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot

Production Companies

• Goodtimes Enterprises
• Spouberry
• VPS-Goodtimes
• Visual Programme Systems

Distributors

• Shout! Factory (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Visual Programme Systems

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

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

Flaming good

I watched this film for the first time in around 30 years last night and was amazed at how well it stands up today.It is gritty,funny and has a good storyline.The direction by Richard Loncraine is crisp and the acting is pretty good throughout.

As the band Flame,Noddy,Jimmy,Dave and Don do a fair job as actors.Not Oscar winners but not bad at all.Tom Conti does well in his first major role as the oily manager and Johnny Shannon is convincing as their gangster like first manager.The best performance comes from Alan Lake as Jack.He is very good in every scene he is in and should have received more recognition for this role.

The film moves along at a good pace,never drags and will surprise many people with it's edginess and at times grim reality.I have seen quite a few music based films and this is most definitely right up there with the very best.It is now quite respected and this is deserved.It really should reach a much wider audience as it is a very good attempt at showing that it is not all a bed of roses when you achieve success.The soundtrack is great and there are also a couple of scenes that without a doubt influenced the makers of 'Spinal Tap',see if you can spot them.Well done Slade.They took a big risk by making a movie like this and although their career went downhill afterwards,this is a film they can be very proud of.