Stardust: Une idole face à la foule

This film is very worthwhile. You can pick out all your fave 60's references from "concept", "rock opera", "managers", dodgy sexual politics and the whole drugs thing. It works so very well because it is not based on one band. Not the Beatles, not the Stones, not the Beach Boys, Tommy Shondell or anyone. It's affectionate and damning of the whole process. It works very well as a "This Is Spinal Tap" without being a lampoon of the music business. Knowing without being smart-ass. A broad covering of its genre without being in broad strokes.

As a very young viewer of this film at 19 in 1974 when this film was released, I saw it at the theater as there was no such thing as video tape in those days. David Essex performance had a profound effect on me as did the films plot in general. The deep insight into the life of a famous rock n roll star as can only be experienced by that individual was both riveting to me at the time and has been indelibly etched in my mind ever since. As a matter of fact i have been looking for a copy of this film on video ever since videos inception with no success to this day. A truly captivating and entertaining film if you can find it!

A great follow-up to "That'll Be The Day", the film that leads into this movie. I highly recommend this film to all fans of rock culture and David Essex. He proves he was not only a good singer, but a fairly accomplished actor as well. I have only seen this film about 30 times myself, but repeated viewings are recommended. The film is hard to find, but if you do, don't hesitate - just enjoy!

Stardust starts off beautifully. Jim McLaine (David Essex) is working at a carnival in England where business is slow that night, as it is Nov. 22, 1963. In the background is Neil Sedaka singing "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen". McLaine meets an old mate (Adam Faith) and tells him the little rock and roll band he's in needs a road manager. Faith sees opportunity and moulds the band known as the Stray Cats into a vehicle for Jim McLaine. There are so many great and true to life moments in this movie, the early recording sessions, Faith's behind the scenes manoeuvering, Larry Hagman arriving when the Stray Cats make it big to muscle in on things, and Jim McLaine's typical 1960's rock and roll odyssey. Essex and Faith are excellent (who says rockers can't act?) and it's a still relevent look at the "star maker machinery behind the popular songs". This picture is a sequel to That'll Be the Day, which is more about McLaine's coming of age in early 60's England, that is a great movie in it's own right, but the two can be watched independently of each other. Very highly recommended. Oh yes, the ending is as well directed, dramatic and atmospheric as the beginning. Great job Michael Apted!

The word 'uneven,' was never so appropriate. An excellent performance from Adam Faith and some good earthy dialogue, very real for the time, alongside some wooden delivery from others in places with all the clunky cliches of the rock bio. One odd thing thing is that relatively recent low-budget British films such as Teslstar and several others have created a 60s atmosphere and appearance so much better than was achieved for this film, made in 1974. I saw it on its original release and we noticed the jarring period-inappropriate extras and other stuff even then.

The film gets better though as it goes on, everyone seems more comfortable showing 70s people in 70s settings and the main character's gradual dislodgement from reality is well handled.