The nameless thing had different guises in different cities, Scallies, Perry Boys, Chaps, Herberts, Dressers, Lads....but it would be the term "Casual" that would become enshrined in folk lore to encapsulate the volatile mix of football, fighting, style and music that made up the emerging terrace culture. They were the last of the strutting sawdust Caesars, sharp minds and sharp clothes that turned the terraces into a catwalk.
Cass Pennant and Mick Kelly have produced an exhilarating and extensive portrait of Britain's last great street cult, a largely ignored, misunderstood mass movement that kick started a menswear revolution and spawned a global culture.
This film takes you on a journey through a hitherto unseen world of legendary shops and labels, pivotal moments, influences, rare trainers and classic clothes. Tales of daring do, mass shop lifting, taxing and jibbing are told by the grafters and trend setters who blagged their way around Europe following their teams and scouring out ever more elusive and exotic labels.
Through an exhausting list of over 50 interviews, the northern and southern strands of the tale are entwined to weave an intricate picture of the cult's origins and the different regional influences and looks. The impact of the mod revival and the Gabicci chic of the reggae and soul fraternity in the south are covered admirably by Paolo Hewitt, Garry Bushel and Bob Morris amongst others, their insight demonstrates the immediate connection between the Casual and the Mod, an attention to detail, an obsession for style and a defined sense of one up man-ship.
Back up North, narrator and contributor, Peter Hooton details the birth of a movement in late 70s Liverpool, a peculiar sub division of Bowie and Post Punk footie fans who wore straight Lois jeans, Fred Perry polo shirts, Slazenger v necks and Stan Smith or Samba trainers. This unique look was topped off by a Bowie/Bryan Ferry inspired haircut known as the "wedge" that would become the iconic casual hairstyle. Ian Hough, Tony Graham, Phil Thornton and Gio Goi supremo, Chris Donnelly are just some of the Mancs who lay open the myths of the city's Perry boys and a vibrant scene that would be key to the Madchester and rave era later in the decade.
Industry insiders from Fila and Adidas as well as retailers, 80s Casual Classics give us an insight behind the labels and collectors open up their wardrobes to show off some mouth watering collections of classic casual cloth. The now legendary shops Wade -Smith's and Stuart's are both profiled, memories from the owners and customers shed light on these two icons of the era.The tale comes full circle as we see how casuals across the world look to Britain for its styles. A far cry from the days of Scousers liberating clothes from the continent and brighten up the drab high streets of the UK
The real beauty of the film though lies in the personal stories of casuals from Motherwell to Portsmouth... each has their own journey and take on what it meant for them being a casual. Rich tales of the "Lacoste Lefties" boycotting Burberry from Cardiff's Johnny Owens, Riaz Khan tells of finding acceptance at Leicester as an Asian casual while Bev Thompson gives an eloquent account of how being a casual gave her a sense of empowerment, acceptance and identity as a second generation black woman living in Britain. Awaydays are recounted by lads from Pompey to Leeds with an infectious tongue in cheek vigour that typifies the movement.
This is a hidden social history that could so easily have been lost forever, if it were not for this fascinating and entertaining film. The DVD comes packed with over an hour of extra footage and interviews that chronicle, the lads, the look, the legacy and other tales and aspects of terrace culture but you still come away wanting more.
This is a film not only for those that lived it but for anyone with an interest in fashion, popular culture, football or social commentary.
