Quadrophenia: Our Generation sees Phil Daniels, Sting, Toyah Willcox, Leslie Ash and the rest of the cast look back at a definitive British film of 40 years ago
A weekend of programming to mark the 40th anniversary of cult movie Quadrophenia includes Quadrophenia: Our Generation, an excellent documentary in which first-time director Franc Roddam and cast members Sting, Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox and Ray Winstone share memories of making the film.
There are some great anecdotes – including a phone call to Malcolm McLaren about the possibility of the Sex Pistols’ John Lydon starring as Jimmy (the scooter-riding Mod eventually played by Phil Daniels), and The Who’s late drummer Keith Moon asking to co-direct – plus an interesting history of the Mod movement.
Phil told TV Times how he got the role. "I heard about the film when I was in a mud hut in Africa with Bob Hoskins filming Zulu Dawn!
"I came back to audition, but I wasn’t well and the euphoria surrounding the film passed me by.
"I got a second go, and a screen test and, all of a sudden, I was standing next to Pete Townshend [the guitarist from The Who] with the biggest smile on my face and a shirt with Vespa [the scooter brand] written on it!"
Also tonight, there’s a cast reunion for a read-through of the script (10pm) followed by a screening of the film (12.30am). Plus tomorrow, Bradley Wiggins on Mods (9pm).
TV Times rating: ****
Ian writes about TV and film for TV Times, What’s on TV and TV & Satellite Week magazines. He co-hosts the weekly TV streaming podcast, Bingewatch.
