Pink Floyd The Wall (1982)

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

Roger Waters (album The Wall)
Roger Waters (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 August 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Pink Floyd The Wall. Now The Film.

Plot:

A troubled rock star descends into madness in the midst of his physical and social isolation from everyone.

Plot Keywords:

Anti Fascism | Violence | Very Little Dialogue | Pink Floyd | Anti Racism

Awards:

Won 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Bob Geldof	...	Pink
Christine Hargreaves	...	Pink's Mother
James Laurenson	...	J.A. Pinkerton (Pink's Father)
Eleanor David	...	Pink's Wife
Kevin McKeon	...	Young Pink
Bob Hoskins	...	Rock and Roll Manager
David Bingham	...	Little Pink
Jenny Wright	...	American Groupie
Alex McAvoy	...	Teacher
Ellis Dale	...	English Doctor
James Hazeldine	...	Lover
Ray Mort	...	Playground Father
Margery Mason	...	Teacher's Wife (as Marjorie Mason)
Robert Bridges	...	American Doctor
Michael Ensign	...	Hotel Manager

Also Known As:

The Wall

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | France:-16 (original rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (VHS rating) | Canada:18A (original rating) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Israel:PG | New Zealand:R16 (DVD rating) (2003) | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:(Banned) (1982-1991) | South Korea:18 (re-rating) (1999) (uncut) | South Korea:18 (video rating) (1991) (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Goldcrest Films International

Trivia:

Director Alan Parker walked out on this project many times, probably due to an ego clash with Roger Waters. Waters was annoyed at Parker, who didn't like the way that he wanted to make it a cult film. Pink Floyd's next album "The Final Cut" contains the following lyrics (written by Waters): "Not now John, we've gotta get on with the film show: Hollywood waits at the end of the rainbow. Who cares what it's about, as long as the kids go? So not now John I've gotta get on with the show." Parker refers to this film as "the most expensive student film ever made."

Goofs:

Continuity: The direction of the merry-go-round changes just before young Pink is put on it.

Quotes:

Pink: I'm waiting in this cell because I have to know... have I been guilty all this time?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Run Like Hell (2002) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)

The Wall is one of the best albums/movies ever done

What can you possibly say except that this movie is amazing?

"The Wall" is one of the few movies out there that has a powerful effect on the people are receptive to its message. Told with practically no dialogue, the only guide to the bizarre, frightening, and strange images is the incredible music by Pink Floyd, from their equally good double album. A considerable number of the songs were re-recorded for this movie, and one song (the heart-wrenching "When the Tigers Broke Free") was added. The new versions of the songs are sometimes worse than the album (Waiting for the Worms), and sometimes better (Mother, In the Flesh).

"The Wall" isn't a pleasant movie, nor is it a simplistic or banal movie. It is brutal, cynical, and disturbing, but it has moments of flesh-tingling beauty and an uplifting message in the end, if you persevere. I recommend both it and the album to anyone who enjoys a powerful movie. In my opinion, "The Wall," along with a few other albums, represents the pinnacle of rock music.