Quadrophenia (1979)

Editor's Note After essentially inventing the rock opera format, The Who followed the cult favorite TOMMY and numerous aborted rock-opera projects with the album QUADROPHENIA. This film version, directed by Franc Roddam, illuminated the feelings of disillusionment and confusion evident in songs such as "Love Reign O'er Me," "Dr. Jimmy," "The Real Me," and "Bellboy." The film follows the bitter battle between the Mods and the Rockers, two rival biker gangs. The story is seen through the eyes of Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels), an angry young man whose hatred of authority and mediocrity is matched only by his passion for rhythm and blues music. When the Mods and Rockers both arrive in Brighton on holiday a riot breaks out, landing Jimmy in prison with Ace (Sting in his acting debut), the idolized leader of the Mods. Jimmy returns to London where his parents kick him out and he loses his job. He then discovers Ace is working as a bootlicking bellboy, leaving Jimmy confused and enraged. He hijacks a scooter and rides to the cliff tops that act as a highly symbolic backdrop for the film's bleak conclusion.

	Phil Daniels
	Sting
	Ray Winstone
	Garry Cooper
	Mark Wingett
	Philip Davis
	Kate Williams
	Leslie Ash
	Toyah Wilcox
	Simon Holland - Art Director
	Dave Humphries - Writer
	Martin Stellman - Writer
	Mike Taylor - Editor
	Brian Tufano - Director of Photography
	Gillian Gregory - Choreographer
	Roy Baird - Producer
	The Who - Composer
	Franc Roddam - Director

Variety
"...An authentic piece of nostalgia....With a fine soundtrack by The Who which plays a strong integral part in the storytelling..." 05/02/1979

New York Times
"...Gritty and ragged and sometimes quite beautiful..." 11/02/1979 p.C6

Entertainment Weekly
"...[The film] retains its reeling us-versus-them urgency..." 10/05/2001 p.116

Total Film
"...This energetically bleak era-definer deserves another peek..." 08/01/2003 p.128

Mojo
"Brilliant '89 adaptation of Pete Townshend's homage to mid-''60s mod culture..." 12/01/2004 p.57

Sight and Sound
"Roddam translates the Who's rock opera into a vivid recreation of mid-1960s mod culture, preserving the clothes, music and Vespa scooters..." 12/01/2006 p.90