Stardust (1974 film)
| Stardust | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster by Arnaldo Putzu | |
| Directed by | Michael Apted |
| Produced by |
David Puttnam Sanford Lieberson |
| Written by | Ray Connolly |
| Starring |
David Essex Adam Faith |
| Cinematography | Anthony B. Richmond |
| Edited by | Michael Bradsell |
| Distributed by |
EMI Films (UK) Columbia Pictures (U.S.) |
Release date |
24 October 1974 (UK) 12 November 1975 (U.S.) |
Running time | 111 min. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £555,000[1] |
Stardust is a 1974 British musical drama film directed by Michael Apted and starring David Essex and Adam Faith. The film is the sequel to the 1973 film That'll Be the Day. Its tagline is: "Show me a boy who never wanted to be a rock star and I'll show you a liar."
Plot
Following on from the events in the late 1950s/early 1960s of That'll Be the Day, the characters Jim Maclaine, Jeanette and J.D. have moved into the mid 1960s/early 1970s and the growing career of aspiring rock star MacLaine. MacLaine has assembled a group of musicians and formed the band the Stray Cats, he seeks out his old friend Mike to become the band’s road manager. Mike acquires a new van, accommodation and a recording session for the group. MacLaine soon becomes a massive star and is plunged into the centre of media attention. He indulges in casual sex and heavy drug use and the film documents the detrimental effects of this success on MacLaine and his relationship with his friends and colleagues. In particular, MacLaine’s long-standing friendship with manager Mike is now soured by money and success.
Characters
By the end of the Stardust, the timeline has roughly caught up to the 1974 release of the film. Many of the characters were played by British musicians who had lived/were living through the era portrayed in the film including Essex, Faith, Marty Wilde, Keith Moon, Dave Edmunds and Paul Nicholas.
Main cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| David Essex | Jim MacLaine |
| Adam Faith | Mike Menary |
| Larry Hagman | Porter Lee Austin |
| Ines Des Longchamps | Danielle |
| Rosalind Ayres | Jeanette |
| Marty Wilde | Colin Day |
| Edd Byrnes | TV Interviewer |
| Keith Moon | J. D. Clover |
| Dave Edmunds | Alex |
| Paul Nicholas | Johnny |
| Karl Howman | Stevie |
| Richard LeParmentier | Felix Hoffman |
| Peter Duncan | Kevin |
| John Normington | Ronald Harrap |
| James Hazeldine | Brian |
| David Daker | Ralph Woods |
| Anthony Naylor | Keith Nolan |
| Charlotte Cornwell | Sally Potter |
| Rose Marie Klespitz | Lucille |
| David Jacobs | Himself |
| Donald Sumpter | TV Producer |
| Bobby Sparrow | Blonde 1 |
| Claire Russell | Blonde 2 |
Reception
The film was a hit at the box office and by 1985 had earned an estimated £525,000 in profit.[1][2]
Awards and nominations
BAFTA Writers' Guild of Great Britain for Best Original British Screenplay WINNER: Ray Connolly.
BAFTA Best Supporting Actor NOMINATED: Adam Faith.
Soundtrack
The Stardust (soundtrack) was released in October on Ronco Records to coincide with the opening.
References
- 1 2 Alexander Walker, National Heroes: British Cinema in the Seventies and Eighties, Harrap, 1985 p 79
- ↑ Harper, Sue (2011). British Film Culture in the 1970s: The Boundaries of Pleasure: The Boundaries of Pleasure. Edinburgh University Press. p. 211.