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Slade in Flame
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray B - United Kingdom - British Film Institute Review written by and copyright: James-Masaki Ryan (25th June 2025). |
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The Film
 "Slade in Flame" (1975) Following some shenanigans by two rival rock bands leads to them being arrested by the police for their disorder. Their cell time together leads to a more positive outcome, with members joining forces to start a new band altogether. Members Stoker (played by Noddy Holder), Paul (played by Jim Lea), Barry (played by Dave Hill) and Charlie (played by Don Powell) start playing some small gigs, and are scouted by an agency run by Robert Seymour (played by Tom Conti) who is looking to make them the next big thing. The band, now named “Flame” are off on a roll with hit songs, a large tour, and going from place to place to promote their songs as well as recording follow-up tunes. But the work is relentless and pressuring, leading toward internal conflicts and rivalry from outsiders as well. British hard rock band Slade made quite an impact in the UK music landscape in the early 1970s, with a series of #1 hit singles including “Coz I Luv You”, “Take Me Bak ‘Ome”, “Cum on Feel the Noize” as well as the #1 albums “Slayed?” and “Old New Borrowed and Blue”. Leaning toward the heavy hitting sounds of Led Zeppelin while adding the glam rock feel of David Bowie, their reign at the top of the charts led to the next step in their evolution, and that was a feature film starring the band. Originally there were script ideas of them in a light hearted comedy playing themselves in a story similar to “A Hard Day’s Night”, but the band felt it was not original and were not interested in comedy. There was also a proposal for a science fiction parody of “The Quatermass Experiment” entitled “The Quite-a-mess Experiment” though it was rejected as it did not have anything to do with music. Their producer Chas Chandler enlisted Goodtimes Enterprises, which produced the music based films “Performance” (1970), “That’ll Be the Day” (1973) and “Stardust” (1974). Television director Richard Loncraine and screenwriter Andrew Birken were tapped to creating a story to satisfy Slade’s demand which was fairly simple. They wanted a true-to-life film about rock stars and rock stardom. The glitz, the glamor, the rise, the fall, all in one. They did not want the film to be about their Slade and it was chosen that they would play a fictional band, and the stories and episodes incorporated came from both their real experiences on the road, as well as stories that they had heard from other bands. The title of the film is debatable, as “Slade in Flame” might be the title “Flame” with “Slade in…” as the prefix to state that they are starring in the film of that title, but many state that the title is “Slade in Flame”. Whichever the case, the film has Slade AS Flame, a fictional band that is slightly, but not completely mirrored on the band themselves. As the members had no experience in acting, Birken’s script made sure the band members were essentially playing slight exaggerations of themselves rather than full on characters. The lineup was mirrored as well, with Holder playing the vocalist, Hill the guitarist, Lea the bassist, and Powell the drummer. There was some concern with Powell, as he was in a serious car accident the year before which made him suffer from short term memory loss, making learning lines of dialogue and choreography very difficult. Another problem the production faced was the casting of Alan Lake as the larger than life rock star Jack Daniels. Lake was a heavy drinker in real life following his time in rehabilitation for an injured back. His rowdy first scene that was shot at a pub led to his immediate firing from the production, but only to be rehired when his wife, actress Diana Dors pleaded with the producers and promising that he would be clean for the rest of the production. The story itself is a fairly standard affair. Band rises to the top after hiccups and struggles. Management becomes greedy as their product begins to sell well, but leads to pressure for the band to do more. A balance between corporate success and artistic freedom, the episodes and scenes featured seem like cliches of the music industry that are all too familiar, shown in other feature films, documentaries, and VH1 TV specials. But when looking back at when the film was made, this was unlike anything else. Films starring music acts such as films with The Beatles or Elvis Presley were fun quirky adventures, musicals, or an all around fantasy, with many being absolute classics. But unless one was in the industry, they would not have known about the truth behind the scenes. Artists being treated like puppets and products, the greed behind agencies and labels to hype the next big thing and doing whatever it took to get ahead of the game. Band members having arguments and fights over the direction of their art and music, the changing trends in what was popular. What was shown in “Slade in Flame” was eye opening for its time with its realism, yet it was also one that had humor as well. There are a number of funny lines and moments right from the start, so it is not all the downs of the music business, but also the light with the fun in music itself. The members of Slade do a fine job playing the band in the film, though the standout comes from sage actor and newcomer to the screen Tom Conti. Playing the agent in charge of Flame, his second role on film showcased that he would have a lengthy career ahead of him as an actor, playing a role that was in a way unlikeable but still making him relatable and essential. He was not there because he liked the band or the music, but that he knew he had a product that could be bought and sold. Yet there is also his side as a family man and the toll that his job takes on his personal life. “Slade in Flame” does not always work though. There are a few live show moments captured, and while the band play naturally, the visuals do not do them justice. The cinematography by Peter Hannan is well done for the dramatic portions, but the live performances feel lackluster with its direction. A music documentary should highlight the band, the music, as well as the crowd but there is more emphasis on closeups than wide shots. The template for concert films were already laid down in documentaries such as “Monterey Pop”, “Woodstock”, and “Gimme Shelter” but not particularly here. “Slade in Flame” had newly produced music by the band and the band released the soundtrack album in November of 1974, two months prior to the film’s theatrical release in January 1975. As the story of “Flame” was placed in the late 1960s, the sound of the album reflected that rather than continuing in the band’s recent glam direction. Unlike their previous two albums, this did not hit the top of the charts, but debuted at #6. The album still went gold and had hit singles with “Far Far Away” hitting #2 and “How Does It Feel” reaching #15. The film itself had a fair reception from critics who were expecting it to be simple ear candy for the fans, but the fans were mixed as the film was bleaker than expected and many looked as the film as a reflection of the band rather than a statement about the industry. Slade's music career never quite recovered and only had some inconsistent minor hits in their late 70s and 80s career, with their 1987 album "You Boyz Make Big Noize" being their final studio album to date. They have performed on and off in subsequent years with differing lineups, though it has been decades since the original lineup performed together. They didn't have the same following across the Atlantic even though their albums were released in America. Their highest hit came very late in 1984, when their single "Run Runaway" reached #20 on the Billboard charts. This was hot off the heels of the American band Quiet Riot covering Slade's "Cum on Feel the Noize" which reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped their album "Metal Health" reach #1. Numerous bands have stated Slade being a major influence, with 90s alternative bands such as Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, and Manic Street Preachers all name checking the band. "Slade in Flame" also received better attention years down the line, and it is easy to see the influence it had on music themed film. It's hard to imagine what "This Is Spinal Tap" would have been like without it, as the band member being stuck in a prop on stage, the comically odd interviews, and the pressures felt from management and from band members were easily influenced from Slade's feature. The same goes for the grim reality of the music business and the toll it takes on the artists in numerous biopics such as "Get on Up", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and much more over the years. There are many that have done it better, but there is still a lot to love about "Slade in Flame" even with its flaws. Note this is a region B Blu-ray / region 2 PAL DVD set
Video
The BFI presents the film in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio in 1080p AVC MPEG-4. Original 35mm film materials were scanned and remastered by the BFI at 2K resolution for its 50th anniversary. The film looks absolutely fantastic in this presentation, with colors ranging from the colorful with the stage lighting and the costumes to the bleak and cold interiors of the corporate headquarters are well displayed. Damage marks have been almost entirely eliminated for a clean experience while still keeping the film grain intact for a natural appearance. Colors have been well balanced, the framing is in the correct theatrical aspect ratio, and is stable throughout. Another exceptional work on the restoration by the BFI. The film's runtime is 90:08
Audio
English LPCM 2.0 Mono The original mono track is presented in uncompressed form. The music is the most important element and the performance segments have been preserved well with a good balance between the vocals and the instruments in those scenes, without distortion or damage. Dialogue and effects for dramatic scenes are also well balanced, and the track sounds very clean with no instances of hiss, pops, or damage to be found. It may be slightly disappointing that a new stereo or surround mix was not created for the music segments, but thankfully the original mix has been restored well. An excellent job on the sound for this restoration. There are optional English HoH subtitles for the main feature.
Extras
DISC ONE (Blu-ray) Audio commentary with director Richard Loncraine and film critic Mark Kermode (2025) This new and exclusive commentary has Loncraine reflecting back on the film, from how he started on the project, behind the scenes information on specific shots, about the band, troubles during production, changes from the script, as well as information on his own career. Kermode has been a lifelong fan of the band and the film and shares a lot of great behind the scenes information as well as asking great questions to moderate the conversation. in English LPCM 2.0 without subtitles "Make Way For Noddy: Tom Conti Discusses Slade in Flame" 2025 interview (9:04) This new and exclusive interview with Conti has him discussing about being cast in the film for his second feature, not knowing the band or their music but growing to admire it, about his character as well as memories of the cast and crew. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.78:1, in English LPCM 2.0 without subtitles "The Making of Slade in Flame" 2007 documentary (58:25) This documentary includes separately conducted interviews with the found band members, Loncraine, and Conti discussing the making of the film. Discussed are about the on set production, about Lake and his antics, the casting of Conti, about the creation of the music cues, the premiere, and much more. While there is great information and well edited to present the stories told in a narrative form, it is not particularly well directed. The quality of the interviews are inconsistent. Some people sound like they are not properly miced so their voices sound distorted. Loncraine's face is out of focus while background remains sharp. Holder's interview is the best looking and best sounding (more on that below), but it is still a great watch for fans. Note this was first available on the Union Square UK DVD+CD release. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.78:1, in English LPCM 2.0 without subtitles 2002 interview with Noddy Holder conducted by Gary Crowley (53:31) This interview with Holder, conducted by presenter and DJ Gary Crowley is a lengthy one that looks at the making of the film. Discussed are about the initial scrapped ideas for the film, their idea of making a more realistic look behind the scenes of a rock band, the inspirations for the episodes, their first experience on a film set, about the actors, the darker tone, differences between the music industry over the years, the American premiere, and much more. Portions of this interview was used in the above documentary, and Holder is a brilliant speaker and very energetic looking back at the film with great stories to share. It is also well shot, well edited between the multiple camera setup between the two and also clear in sound. Note this was originally available on the Union Square UK DVD from 2002. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.78:1, in English LPCM 2.0 without subtitles "This Week: Men's Fashions" 1973 newsreel (4:52) Tommy Nutter was a tailor that reinvented the Savile Row suit and dressed three of the four Beatles on their iconic "Abbey Road" album cover. This short newsreel has an interview with Nutter on his designs and the changing fashion trends, as well as some oddly shot footage of young people dancing atop a moving truck without any concern for safety. Shot on film in black and white, the image and sound are quite good, though there are some blurry moments and some damage marks to be found. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.33:1, in English LPCM 2.0 without subtitles Original theatrical trailer (1:56) The original UK trailer is taken from a film source and looks quite good with sharpness and detail, though there are minor damage marks to be found and the colors lean towards red in this unrestored transfer. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 2.35:1, in English LPCM 2.0 without subtitles Trailer (2025) (1:14) The newly created trailer by the BFI for the film’s restoration, which shows much better colors and sharpness than the above trailer as it was created from the restored master. The trailer has been embedded below, courtesy of the BFI. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 2.39:1, in English LPCM 2.0 without subtitles Slade in Frame (Still Gallery) (2:12) A silent automated slideshow featuring promotional shots of the band, behind the scenes stills, promotional stills of the film, and poster art for the film and album. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4 DISC TWO (DVD Copy) We were not sent the DVD for review but the retail release includes a DVD copy of the film and the extras in the PAL format. Booklet The first pressing includes a 24 page booklet. First is an essay on the band and the film by Graham Rinaldi, film Studies lecturer, writer and Slade fan since 1971 as he discusses the band's career and information on the film. Next is "Look Not They Dun: A Potted History of Slade" by music writer and archivist J T Rathbone on the band's history. Then there is "Britain and the Beat: UK Pop Music Films in the UK" by writer Barry Forshaw on the history of music films featuring British artists. There are also full film credits, special features information, transfer information, acknowledgements, and stills. The film was first released on DVD in 2002 by Union Square in the UK, which had the Holder interview plus text and still extras. Unfortunately it had the film in a cropped 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The same cropped transfer was used for the US release in 2004 by Shout! Factory which also included the Holder interview. It was reissued in 2007 by Union Square, this time as a CD+DVD set with the remastered soundtrack and remastered film. It was presented properly in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, but drops the Holder interview and edits portions of the interview into the new documentary. This BFI Blu-ray release presents the film in HD for the first time, includes both the full interview and the documentary, plus new and exclusive extras making this easily the definitive release. Other notable clips: Mark Kermode reviews the film for its 50th anniversary Slade performing "Far Far Away" (1974) Slade performing "How Does It Feel" (1974)
Packaging
The first pressing includes an outer card slipcase with spot-gloss logo.
Overall
"Slade in Flame" is one of the earliest features to showcase the rise and fall of rock stars in a realistic light, and while there have been better depictions over the years, the charm of Slade playing a slightly exaggerated version of themselves on screen is an absolute highlight. The live sequences are a bit lacking, but fans should be delighted to see the band at their prime here, fully restored. The BFI's release is fantastic, with an excellent restoration and great new and vintage extras. Highly recommended. Amazon UK link
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