Main Cast: Rose Marie Klespitz, Rick Lee Parmentier, David Essex, Adam Faith, Larry Hagman, Rosalind Ayres
Release Year: 1974
Country: UK
Run Time: 113 minutes
Plot
Stardust was the sequel to That'll be the Day, a 1973 film à clef about the rise of a Beatles-like rock group. Real-life rock star David Essex plays singer Jim Maclaine (read: John Lennon), whose sudden rise to fame has enriched him beyond his wildest dreams. His perspective and sense of values skewered by sex, drugs, and booze, Maclaine becomes little more than a singing cipher, outwardly successful but hollow inside. Ironically, Keith Moon of the Who, whose own life paralleled the fictional Maclaine's in many ways, appears in a supporting role. Dave Edmunds, who appears in as Alex, co-wrote the film's pulsating musical score with Lord David Puttnam (the film's producer). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Picking up where That'll Be the Day left off, Stardust travels some now-familiar territory -- the empty life of a rock star -- but does so with a mixture of sincerity and cynicism that makes it score a notch above other similar films. Michael Apted's direction is a bit less gritty than Claude Whatham's on Day, giving Stardust a bit of a sheen that the earlier film lacked -- but this is entirely appropriate to the subject matter and reflects the somewhat unreal lifestyle that the characters begin to experience as things progress. And Apted does an excellent job of keeping the characters real even as their lives become increasingly removed from the mainstream. He's aided by a pair of topnotch performances from David Essex and Adam Faith (the latter in the role that Ringo Starr created in Day.) Faith is exceptional, at times stealing the movie with the spot-on interpretation of the kind of greedy, petty sleazebag manager that too many rock performers know. Essex's work is equally good, but as his character becomes increasingly remote and removed, the actor's contribution becomes easier to overlook. Elements of Stardust have been used in many film, so they don't have the impact they once did, but the bleakness infusing this film makes it stand out from others with similar stories. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Marty Wilde - Colin Day; Edward Byrnes - TV Interviewer; Charlotte Cornwell - Sally Potter; David Daker - Ralph Woods; Peter Duncan - Kevin; Michael Elphick; James Hazeldine - Brian; Richard Le Parmentier - Felix Hoffman; John Normington - Harrap; Dave Edmunds - Alex; Keith Moon - J.D. Clover; Paul Nicholas - Johnny; Ines Des Longchamps - Danielle; Anthony Naylor - Keith Nolan; Karl Howman - Stevie; Bobby Sparrow; Rose Marie Klespitz - Lucille; Rick Lee Parmentier - Felix Hoffman
Credit
Gavrik Losey - Associate Producer, Ruth Myers - Costume Designer, Zelda Barron - Continuity, Garth Thomas - First Assistant Director, Michael Apted - Director, Michael Bradsell - Editor, Dave Edmunds - Composer (Music Score), David Puttnam - Composer (Music Score), Dave Edmunds - Musical Arrangement, David Puttnam - Musical Arrangement, Dave Edmunds - Musical Direction/Supervision, David Puttnam - Musical Direction/Supervision, Anthony Richmond - Cinematographer, Sandy Lieberson - Producer, David Puttnam - Producer, Roy Baird - Producer, Ray Connolly - Screenwriter
Following on from the earlier film it is set in the mid 1960s/early 70's and follows the career of aspiring rock star Jim Maclaine. Maclaine has assembled a group of musicians and formed a band The Stray Cats, he seeks out his old friend Mike to become the band’s road manager. Mike quickly 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.
BAFTA Writers Guild of Great Britain for Best Original British Screenplay WINNER: Ray Connolly.
BAFTA Best Supporting Actor NOMINATED: Adam Faith.
Spin-off
An independent Radio Drama recording project was completed in 2008 entitled 'That'll be the Stardust!' which continues the story of Jimmy Maclaine jr. (son of Jim Maclaine). The website featuring the complete drama will soon be online (see external link below).
