Quadrophenia (2001)

92% of users liked it
(8,279 ratings)

Set in 1964; Produced and released in 1979.

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… More Set in 1964; Produced and released in 1979.

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.

Rating, Runtime: R,
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts

On DVD: Mar 21, 2001

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

I loved this movie when I saw it on TV a couple years ago, but I'd really love to see it again because I can barely remember it.
Stephen M

Depicting the sort of youth subculture clashes that partially inspired Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange", "Quadrophenia" captures the authentic, intoxicating spirit of teenage rebellion that Kubrick, with his cool detachment and over-rehearsed… More
Depicting the sort of youth subculture clashes that partially inspired Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange", "Quadrophenia" captures the authentic, intoxicating spirit of teenage rebellion that Kubrick, with his cool detachment and over-rehearsed perfectionism, completely missed in his Burgess adaptation. By no means perfect, this is still a highpoint of '70s British cinema, and just about the only decent movie Sting had the good fortune to appear in. A pity, then, that the terminally underfunded British film industry forced so many of the enthusiastic cast to fritter away their talents in dreary sitcoms ("Three Up, Two Down", "Men Behaving Badly") and soap operas ("Eastenders", "The Bill"), a fate to which even Phil Daniels has lately succumbed. The contrived, simplistic plotting of the second half - particularly the chain of misfortune during which the hapless Jimmy (Daniels) loses his home, his job, his girlfriend, his mates, his scooter, his respect for the Ace Face (Sting) and, presumably, his life - is at odds with the film's admirably gritty realism. Ray Winstone is effectively cast against type as a sensitive Rocker, despite the fact that his character is little more than a hollow cipher, used to contrast old friendship with new enmity.
Cindy I

Watched this based on a fellow Flixter's recommendation and found it interesting. For those who don't know, it's the story of Jimmy, an angry, alienated young man in early 60's England who hangs with the "mods" and thus hates the "rockers".… More
Watched this based on a fellow Flixter's recommendation and found it interesting. For those who don't know, it's the story of Jimmy, an angry, alienated young man in early 60's England who hangs with the "mods" and thus hates the "rockers". There's more to it than that, but that's the nutshell. I'm not a big Who fan, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I might have, but it was still worth watching. Being an American, I would have benefitted by some subtitles -- the accents are very heavy. Brutal in places, and there's a bit of nudity and sexual activity, but it is in no way erotic. As a whole this is much better than that heap of trash called Tommy, also a Who rock opera but with almost no redeeming value. Sting has a small part as a cool-as-ice dancer all the ladies love in the clubs, but who is very different in the outside world. And a VERY young Ray Winstone makes a short but important contribution to the film as a rocker acquaintance of Jimmy's.
Lafe F

I didn't get what was happening. Nor did I care. The actor's accents were thick. There were hardly any Who songs to keep it floating. The characters were not likeable. The settings were murky. A failure.
Dr Blood

The greatest British youth film ever made. Even if you know nothing about mods or rockers in the 1960s, you can still identify with Jimmy's ultimate discovery that the world he is trying to belong to is just as empty and phony as the one he is rebelling against.
xGary X

Mod favourite and stalwart of british cinema, it has a great soundtrack and is a decent examination of the tribalism of youth culture. It's a little self important and pretentious in places (not unlike your average teenager in fact!) but it has some great moments, particularly… More
Mod favourite and stalwart of british cinema, it has a great soundtrack and is a decent examination of the tribalism of youth culture. It's a little self important and pretentious in places (not unlike your average teenager in fact!) but it has some great moments, particularly involving the relationship between childhood friends who find themselves "enemies".
Michael G

A little disappointing but it's got a good soundtrack.
Keith M

We are the mods, We are the mods, we are..we are...WE ARE THE MODS!@!@!
Barry L

I always wanted to be a rocker...their mopeds were too limp.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings