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Revision as of 17:13, 14 April 2011

Jubilee
File:Jubileeposter.jpg
Directed byDerek Jarman
Written byDerek Jarman
Christopher Hobbs
Produced byHoward Malin
James Whaley
StarringJenny Runacre
Jordan
Nell Campbell
Linda Spurrier
Toyah Willcox
CinematographyPeter Middleton
Edited byNick Barnard
Tom Priestley
Music byChelsea
Suzi Pinns
Brian Eno
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Wayne County
Toyah Willcox
Adam Ant
Release dates
1977 (UK)
September 1979 (USA)
Running time
103 min.
Country United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Jubilee is a 1977 cult film directed by Derek Jarman. It stars Jenny Runacre, Ian Charleson, and a host of punk rockers. The title refers to the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 1977.

Plot

In Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth I (Runacre) is transported forward in time by the occultist John Dee (Richard O'Brien) through the spirit guide Ariel (a character from Shakespeare's The Tempest). Elizabeth arrives in the shattered Britain of the 1970s. Queen Elizabeth II is dead, killed in an arbitrary mugging, and Elizabeth I moves through the social and physical decay of the city observing the activities of a group of sporadic nihilists, including Amyl Nitrite (Jordan), Bod (Runacre in a dual role), Chaos (Hermine Demoriane), Crabs (Nell Campbell), and Mad (Toyah Willcox).

Numerous punk icons appear in the film including Jordan (a Malcolm McLaren protégé), Toyah Willcox, Nell Campbell, Adam Ant (born, Stuart Leslie Goddard), Demoriane and Wayne County. It features performances by Wayne County and Adam and the Ants. There are also cameo appearances by The Slits and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The film was scored by Brian Eno.

Influences

The film is heavily influenced by the 1970s punk aesthetic in its style and presentation. Shot in grainy colour, it is largely plotless and episodic.

Cast

Jenny Runacre Queen Elizabeth I / Bod
Nell Campbell Crabs (as Little Nell)
Toyah Willcox Mad
Jordan Amyl Nitrite
Hermine Demoriane Chaos
Ian Charleson Angel
Karl Johnson Sphinx
Linda Spurrier Viv
Neil Kennedy Max
Jack Birkett Borgia Ginz (as Orlando)
Jayne County Lounge Lizard (as Wayne County)
Richard O'Brien John Dee
David Brandon Ariel (as David Haughton)
Helen Wellington-Lloyd Lady in Waiting
Adam Ant Kid
Claire Davenport First Customs Lady
Donald Dunham Policeman
Iris Fry Bingo lady
Quinn Hawkins Boy
Barney James Policeman
Lindsay Kemp Cabaret performer
Ulla Larson-Styles Waitress
Howard Malin Schmeitzer
Luciana Martínez Escort to Borgia
William Merrow Maurice
Gene October Happy Days
Prudence Walters Escort to Borgia
Joyce Windsor Bingo Lady
Steven Severin Himself (as Siouxsie and the Banshees)
Duggie Fields Party-goer (uncredited)
Siouxsie Sioux (uncredited)

Reaction

The film had many critics in British punk circles. Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood manufactured a T-shirt on which was printed her homophobic open letter to Jarman denouncing the film and his misrepresentations of punk.[1] The film is now considered a cult classic, however, and was released by the Criterion Collection, a company that exclusively releases "contemporary classics" on DVDs.

References

  1. ^ Jubilee DVD extras, production diary