I have it on DVD but hadn’t watched it in years, so I dug it out again this past weekend and it was almost like seeing it for the first time. And I’m sure there’s been threads here about the film, but I couldn’t find one.
The first half hour or so was totally baffling to me. I almost turned it off. But then Mick comes to the rescue, and then things do get interesting. And wow - it’s Mick at his most decadent really, right? And then we have Anita adding to the naughty fun. It’s very much of its time (and of course you have Roeg on board, although I still prefer The Man Who Fell to Earth, which as strange as that one is, is actually more coherent plot wise IMO). Interesting to see some reviews calling it a ‘masterpiece.’ Not sure I’d go that far. Probably pretty groundbreaking - perhaps even shocking - for its time. And Mick does have some stunning scenes - my favorite being him with the guitar as ‘come into my kitchen’ blues man.
What are your thoughts folks? And if you have never seen it, do hunt it down - and stick with it.

I do see it as a masterpiece. One of the first things I had to do was to disassociate myself from "my" Mick Jagger, the lead singer for the Stones. And take him as one of the actors.
and it also took repeated viewings. But more than anything it was the books I read on it. McCabe's book, Cammell's, and also the guy, the gangster, who helped out on the film. Can't recall his name.

Last time I watched it, I realized how much it seemed like a David Lynch film. Definitely an influence on him. It's a fascinating film. The soundtrack is as essential as any of the Stones' classic 1960s recordings. I love the film, but I need a bit of time before I'm ready to see it again. Of all the films that followed in the wake of A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, this one is the furthest out. In many ways it's a crime film more than anything else. It's psychological noir.

Masterpiece. Great to watch if you're ripped.

I saw it when it first came out & I found it hard to separate Mick the STONES lead singer from the actor....but since then I bought the dvd and have watched it many times...it is a very clever, dark psychological thriller, well done, especially for 1970! The soundtrack is brilliant with Ry Cooder showing off some of his best stuff. Mick is the perfect Turner....the reclusive, washed-up rock star...and Anita...well, she plays the whore...not much of a stretch for her! Donald Camell must have had a fun time directing that cast! It IS a must see film!

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Silver Dagger
Masterpiece. Great to watch if you're ripped.

I shall take this prescription over the weekend and report back on my findings

Memo from Turner is an outstanding track. Pretty sure it was released as a single...but the sales were not great (an omen for Mick's future solo efforts?).
Perhaps the Marketing wasnt great and of course the film's release was delayed.
Of all the film's main participants it was Nic Roeg whose career really took off and who produced some consistently high quality films over the next four decades.
Oh, and Ry Cooder hasn't done too bad either.

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mickschix

Anita...well, she plays the whore...not much of a stretch for her!

I agree with your other comments on the film, which I love, but come on . . .

ROCKMAN

ROCKMAN

great movie

Aquamarine, just calling it like I see it regarding Anita. I believe the Stones would have been much better off without her interference....she caused a lot of problems between Keith & Brian, played one off the other, played the victim card...I don't know what her objective was really but she was not a positive influence in any regard...in my honest opinion. That period was, obviously a very decadent one, they lived by the motto " anything goes", one drug bust after another and there was Anita..right in the middle of things. I know the Stones were far from saints but I often wondered what would have gone done had they never met her. She maybe suited their lifestyle then but I always thought she took SLEAZY to a whole new level.

It's on TV in the UK on TCM HD on Monday

There is no doubt that Anita was a very important person, as far as the group's history goes. I look forward to a detailed and balance biography in due course. One that doesnt just focus on the well documented Keith years, but her years post Keith as she struggled but eventually overcame her various addictions.

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mickschix
Aquamarine, just calling it like I see it regarding Anita. I believe the Stones would have been much better off without her interference....she caused a lot of problems between Keith & Brian, played one off the other, played the victim card...I don't know what her objective was really but she was not a positive influence in any regard...in my honest opinion. That period was, obviously a very decadent one, they lived by the motto " anything goes", one drug bust after another and there was Anita..right in the middle of things. I know the Stones were far from saints but I often wondered what would have gone done had they never met her. She maybe suited their lifestyle then but I always thought she took SLEAZY to a whole new level.

And then she shot a young boy.

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Rockman

I imagine the sight of a polar bear rug today would cause an outrage.

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mickschix
Aquamarine, just calling it like I see it regarding Anita. I believe the Stones would have been much better off without her interference....she caused a lot of problems between Keith & Brian, played one off the other, played the victim card...I don't know what her objective was really but she was not a positive influence in any regard...in my honest opinion. That period was, obviously a very decadent one, they lived by the motto " anything goes", one drug bust after another and there was Anita..right in the middle of things. I know the Stones were far from saints but I often wondered what would have gone done had they never met her. She maybe suited their lifestyle then but I always thought she took SLEAZY to a whole new level.

Wow. I totally disagree with this. "Played the victim card" ??? When did she do that? She was an inspiration at that time, as far I'm concerned. Some of the Stones music at that time just simply wouldn't be the same without her. But she's a whore in your opinion, apparently.

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exhpart

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mickschix
Aquamarine, just calling it like I see it regarding Anita. I believe the Stones would have been much better off without her interference....she caused a lot of problems between Keith & Brian, played one off the other, played the victim card...I don't know what her objective was really but she was not a positive influence in any regard...in my honest opinion. That period was, obviously a very decadent one, they lived by the motto " anything goes", one drug bust after another and there was Anita..right in the middle of things. I know the Stones were far from saints but I often wondered what would have gone done had they never met her. She maybe suited their lifestyle then but I always thought she took SLEAZY to a whole new level.

And then she shot a young boy.

Ha, most would not say that, and I don't think there's any evidence ... but still, one must wonder!

There are these infamous British crime brothers, the Kray twins. I read that James Fox studied them and went to the same boxing club as them and hung out in the bars that they frequented to develop his character. There are some recent movies about them and they are quite good.

Wikipedia: After the imprisonment of the Kray twins, the film culture developed a new breed of nattily attired businessmen taking over narcotics, pornography, prostitution, and real estate.[64] The Kray twins were a large influence on the depiction of the original gangster in American filmography.[65]

The Krays (1990), film biopic starring Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp as Ronnie and Martin Kemp as Reggie, respectively depicting Forties and Fifties criminality with verisimilitude.[64]
The Rise of the Krays (2015) a low budget film starring Simon Cotton as Ronnie and Kevin Leslie as Reggie[21]
Legend (2015), a biopic starring Tom Hardy as both Ronnie and Reggie[66]
The Fall of the Krays (2016) a low budget sequel to the earlier 2015 film, again starring Simon Cotton as Ronnie and Kevin Leslie as Reggie[21]
In addition to films explicitly about the twins, James Fox met Ronnie whilst the twins were held at HM Prison Brixton as part of his research for his role in the 1970 film Performance, and Richard Burton visited Ronnie at Broadmoor as part of his preparation for his role as a violent gangster in the 1971 film Villain.

I have always liked Memo from Turner. Even though it is a song relating to a fictional character in a fiction film, it is just so dangerous and edgy, and it rocks. It has a disturbing vibe, just like the film is disturbing.

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The Sicilian

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Rockman

I imagine the sight of a polar bear rug today would cause an outrage.

And a scantily clad woman on said polar bear rug along with a man sitting next to her in a chair smoking a cigarette would cause viral mass hysteria.

….. damn polar-bears theyre so
good at breathing in... holding their breathe and laying still …. posers ….



ROCKMAN

Maybe its Keith inside the bear, keeping a watchful eye on the action.

Interesting that each Stone was at their definitive best when they were with Anita.

Floodonthepage, yup, I stand by my opinion. I AM entitled to my opinion, am I not?? She ran to Keith when Brian was using her as a punching bag, and later used Mick to make Keith jealous when she slept with Mick during Performance....I saw her as a user who was clever at manipulating most of the band members. Fine if you disagree! She had them under her spell...does she get a medal because they wrote a few songs with her in mind...not in my book! I still believe her influence was NOT healthy!

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MileHigh

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The Sicilian

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Rockman

I imagine the sight of a polar bear rug today would cause an outrage.

And a scantily clad woman on said polar bear rug along with a man sitting next to her in a chair smoking a cigarette would cause viral mass hysteria.

Man, how times change: I look at that picture and I ask myself "How did they heat that place?" haha..

…. Where's His Majesty ????

what are thee books beside the bed ….. ????????????



ROCKMAN

The smaller one is THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER.

….. awwww come on Rocky …
From down here they all look the same size ...



ROCKMAN

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jlowe
Memo from Turner is an outstanding track. Pretty sure it was released as a single...but the sales were not great (an omen for Mick's future solo efforts?).

Outstanding it certainly is. I love it. There was a period when I heard it on the radio and forgot the name and I searched through tons of Stones songs at Keno's then pulling them up and playing them on YouTube looking for it until finally finding it after a crazy google search.

……………….



ROCKMAN



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019-12-25 09:12 by Rockman.