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| Ladies And Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains | 
 enlarge | Director: Lou Adler
Actors: Diane Lane, Ray Winstone, Laura Dern, Peter Donat, Barry Ford
Studio: Rhino Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $10.65
You Save: $9.30 (47%)
Buy New/Used from $8.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  (31 reviews)
Sales Rank: 7267
Format: Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Widescreen
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 88 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: RKOD511847D
UPC: 603497981779
EAN: 0603497981779
ASIN: B001B94JWE
Release Date: September 16, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: 1982
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FABULOUS STAINS never received a formal theatrical release and was only seen on late-night cable, poor-quality bootlegs, or on rare occasions at film festivals. Yet somehow this 1981 film about a trio of misfit teenage girls who start a punk band went on to inspire a generation of female rockers.
SHE CAN T FOOL ALL THE FANS ALL OF THE TIME . . .
Recently orphaned Corrine Third Degree Burns (a 14-year-old Diane Lane) enlists her cousin (Laura Dern) and sister (Marin Kanter) to launch a punk rock band, The Stains. Three rehearsals later, The Stains score the opening slot on a cross-country tour with aging metal act The Metal Corpses (led by Fee Waybill of The Tubes) and British punk rockers The Looters (real-life punk pioneers Paul Simonon from The Clash and Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols). The Stains meteoric rise (and equally lightening-quick fall) owes more to TV exposure than to talent.
Amazon.com
Some movies just stumble towards cult, mythic status; Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains is one of those magnificent accidents. Besides in-fighting, the few previews shown to the public were unanimously panned, Paramount was at a loss as to how to market it, and the movie had never been available on DVD (or VHS, for that matter). This has just compounded its status as a "lost" film, with the few people who have seen it being evangelical in their gossip about this pseudo punk 'n' roll documentary. Now that it?s here, was it worth the wait? Does it hold up over time? You bet it does. Orphaned girls (Diane Lane, Marin Kanter) along with their cousin (Laura Dern) channel their frustration into a band, The Stains. After a few gigs, the media picks up what they consider a novelty. This leads to a tour with The Looters--idealistic punks from London--and the Metal Corpses (headed by Fee Waybil of the Tubes in a perfectly oblivious performance). Head Looter takes head Stain under his wing, only to become disillusioned as he watches the American media, and by extension American teens, chose popularity over talent (as he sees it). Despite their differing views about how the movie should be handled, both the message of girl empowerment (screenwriter Nancy Dowd) and the idea that all great ideas become co-opted and watered-down (director Lou Adler) resonate throughout the film. The performances, while not uniformly great, work so well within the context of the documentary style that they have their own charm. And Diane Lane, as Stain leader Corinne "Third Degree" Burns, is simply outstanding, simmering with angst that bursts out at all the right points. A young Ray Winstone turns in a fine performance as the lead singer of the Looters, showing both contempt and sensitivity towards the fledgling Stains. Adding to its cult credentials, the rest of the Looters are played by Steve Jones and Paul Cook (Sex Pistols) and Paul Simenon (The Clash). With audio commentaries by not only director Adler, but stars Lane and Dern, this movie is not only great for any fans of Times Square and Rock 'n' Roll High School, but it?s a great addition to any library of music films in general. --Robert Arambel
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 White punks on dope December 23, 2008
Finally, we have a proper DVD release of this coveted, oft-bootlegged 1981 curio, which was initially shelved from theatrical distribution but managed to build a rabidly devoted cult base, thanks to several showings on USA Network's "Night Flight" back in the day. As a narrative, this effort from legendary record mogul turned (sort of) movie director Lou Adler would have benefited immensely from less script doctoring (screenwriter Nancy Dowd had her name removed from the project) but for punk/new wave nostalgia junkies, it's still a marvelous time capsule. Diane Lane plays a nihilistic mall rat who decides to break out of the `burbs by forming an all-female punk band called The Stains. Armed with a mission statement ("We don't put out!") and a stage look that appears to have been co-opted from Divine in Pink Flamingos, this proto riot-grrl outfit sets out to conquer the world (and learn to play their instruments along the way). Music biz/star maker machinery cliches abound, but it's still a guilty pleasure, particularly due to the real-life rock luminaries in the cast. Fee Waybill (surprisingly effective) and Vince Welnick of The Tubes are a hoot as a couple of washed up glam rockers. The fictional punk band, The Looters (fronted by none other than an angry young Ray Winstone) features the talents of Paul Simonon from The Clash and Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols. There's also a memorable cameo by Black Randy ("Who?") Well, he's exciting to "deep catalogue" geeks like me (what can I say?).
 Wow. December 14, 2008
When I saw this in the early 80's I thought it was great. Seeing it again, I find that it's not as good as I remember it; it's better. Diane Lane's performance is convincing and nuanced. The music is solid. The film has a raw, gritty feel to it that perfectly fits the story. Buy it.
Young, hard, and real November 23, 2008
Diane Lane is amazing. She is raw, and real and full of fire. This movie, as old as it is, is NEVER just phoned in. It shows the reality of touring on the bus, the reality of how rabid fans can be, and how things change quickly, and not for the better sometimes.
And there is Fee Wayback as a washed up rock star, still touring. If you want to see the reality of rock, and see Diane Lane, stunningly beautiful (as always), this is the movie! 5 stars!
25 years later.... November 21, 2008
Wow. The fact that I have not even SEEN this film for 25 years, and I still remember it, I think speaks volumes about the power that this film had at that time. I was 13, and I saw it on Night Flight. Taped it on the BETAMAX and watched it repeatedly until it accidentally got erased the next summer. Every 10 years or so I would be reminded of it and try to find it, and lo and behold, it's HERE! I am beside myself with nostalgia *sniff* and can't wait to see it again!!!!
FUN!!!!! November 3, 2008
Great movie, about time it's on DVD? Picture quality is a little weak, but it's an old movie, I doubt they remasted it. LOL!
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