Quadrophenia

The cult classic film Quadrophenia about the 1964 Mods and Rockers is still drawing visitors to Brighton twenty five years after it was filmed there. It is shown every year at the city's Duke of York's cinema and on the cable TV channels, video and DVD sales are steady, and the BrightonWalks tours of all the locations attract fans from all over the world.

Based on the rock opera and 1973 double album of the same name by The Who, it tells the story of teenage Jimmy (Phil Daniels) and his Mod friends and their riotous exploits in Brighton and London. It captures the spirit of the times perfectly, and was the first feature film made by the then thirty-three year old Franc Roddam.

Pete Townsend had seen a BBC documentary on a disturbed boy by Roddam, and felt that he was the person to bring the story of the troubled Jimmy to life. Roddam is frequently asked to give lectures on Quadrophenia, which he describes as "a celebration of energy, the energy of youth. It speaks to generation after generation". It turned out to be an inspired choice of director, and so was the casting

Leslie Ash played Jimmy's girlfriend Steph, and Sting the leading Mod Ace; when given the role, his group Police had yet to have a hit record. Others included Mark Wingett, Timothy Spall, John Altman, Phil Davis, Ray Winstone and Toyah Wilcox. By speaking to some of the actors, extras, film crew and Franc Roddam, Glenda has an unrivaled store of information and anecdotes to share with those who join the tours.

The whole cast moved down to Brighton in September 1978 for two weeks filming, and took over the town. Toyah remembers it well "Brighton was like stepping onto a fast train with no glass in the windows...Brighton was buzzing with noise, energy and pent up anger". All the cast and the leading extras had bonded by weeks together in London, learning how to dance, how to scooters, and discussing the script before filming started.

The events shown in the film are based on those which happened in Brighton over the Whitsun Bank Holiday of May 1964 and which led to the town being in the headlines of all the national newspapers. The police had drafted in reinforcements from all over Sussex and Hampshire, and had a plan of action to keep the two groups separated where possible. In the event, an estimated 2,500 Mods and Rockers had clashes throughout Whit Monday, resulting in 50 arrests and special sittings of the magistrates. The local Evening Argus headlined it "The Battle of Brighton".

In the Quadrophenia walking tours, the real life events are illustrated with photos and articles.

The riot scenes on the beach were the first to be filmed in Brighton, and are extremely realistic. The leading actors were surrounded by stuntmen to protect them from injury, but the extras were just told to "go for it!"

Qualified tour guide Glenda Clarke conducts Quadrophenia walking tours each month in summer, going to all the locations and discussing all aspects of the film and the real life events. "A great variety of people come on the tour, all ages and from many different countries Some have seen the film once, others numerous times. Sometimes local people who saw the filming come along, and even Mods and Rockers who were involved in the 1964 battles. I've got to know lots of scooterists from all over the country, they sometimes combine a tour with a ride out to Brighton".

The Quadrophenia walking tour, which has been running for five years, follows the story of Jimmy and friends from the moment they arrive in town. "Luckily, most of the locations used still exist " said Glenda "although they are a surprise for some fans because a lot of information written about them is incorrect.

After meeting up on Madeira Drive the Mods visit a dancehall, from which Jimmy is thrown out. The locations used in the film are authentic because they were those that the Mods frequented in 1964. The building which housed the Florida Rooms where the Who used to play is still there, and was used in exterior shots. In recognition of the Who's association with the town, a Brighton and Hove bus carries their name. The Who also have a plaque at the Brighton Marina Walk of Fame.

The Mods have breakfast in a seafront cafe to which Jimmy returns towards the end of the film when he is high on drugs and in despair. The film shows various parts of the seafront, where Jimmy and friends shout the rallying cry "We are the Mods, we are the Mods!". They fight with Rockers in a cafe, and on the beach, and are pursued by the police up a side street. There, Jimmy and Steph disappear up an alleyway for a 'brief encounter'. The alleyway features on the cover of the film album and American DVD, and still receives a steady stream of visitors.

After being arrested and fined, Jimmy returns to London where everything goes wrong for him. His parents throw him out, he leaves his job, and mate Dave is now with Steph. The final straw is when his precious scooter is run over by a van. He then returns to Brighton to visit his old haunts.

The ultimate shock comes when Jimmy sees his hero, Ace, working as a hotel bellboy. He steals his Vespa scooter and heads for Beachy Head where the scooter goes flying off the cliff to a sudden ending and Roger Daltrey's cry "You stop dancing!" Such is the involvement in the film, most of the audience instinctively feel that Jimmy has gone with it. In fact he hasn't. The opening scene of the film shows Jimmy walking away from the cliff.

The film had mixed reviews when it was released in 1979, but has grown in popularity since and was re-released in a digitally remastered version exactly twenty years later. As Franc Roddam says, it speaks to generation after generation.

Quadrophenia guided walks :

Private group bookings at any time by arrangement.

Public walks (no booking required) first Saturday monthly April to September and 8, 16, 30 May. Depart 2pm from Brighton Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, The Lanes.

Full details and photo gallery at www.brightonwalks.com/quadrophenia. Tel/fax 01273 888596, info@brightonwalks.com

Copyright : G. Clarke

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