Pop Music Movies

I found Mark Kermode's in depth look at British Comedy to be subpar.

Pop Music Movies is a return to form. It is not movie musicals, more the influence of pop stars making movies.

Bill Haley might have sung Rock Around the Clock in the Blackboard Jungle.

It was Elvis who showed his acting chops in his early movies. The later ones were formulaic knock offs. Kermode contrasts Viva Las Vegas with The Beatles first venture into movies. A Hard Day's Night that both came out in the same year.

Kermode is genuinely sad that Colonel Tom Parker stopped Elvis from appearing in the mid 1970s remake of A Star is Born.

The 1970s had glam rock going to the movies. Slade in Flame is a satirical and cynical look at the music industry. Kermode has described the film as the Citizen Kane of rock musicals.

Not to be outdone, rivals Mud sang Tiger Feet in a slightly surreal and futuristic Never too Young to Rock.

David Bowie meanwhile threw himself lock, stock and barrel in non musical movies such as The Man Who Fell to Earth and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence.

The 1980s saw music movies take a different turn. Footloose and Flashdance saw music movies as a means to launch hit songs. Prince took the idea up when he made Purple Rain. A hit album following a hit film.

In the 1990s it was full circle as The Spice Girl movie was heavily inspired by The Beatles.

This was Kermode on top form.