Slade in Flame (PG) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

Slade in Flame at The Revival House Perth

In early 1960s Britain, four working-class musicians—Stoker (Noddy Holder), Paul (Jim Lea), Barry (Dave Hill), and Charlie (Don Powell)—form a band called Flame and dream of escaping their dead-end jobs. When slick manager Robert Seymour (Tom Conti) spots their raw talent at a local gig, he promises to make them stars. Seymour secures them a recording contract, television appearances, and a grueling tour schedule, but the reality of the music business proves far uglier than their dreams. The band discovers their manager has locked them into exploitative contracts, their record label cares only about manufactured hits, and success brings internal tensions that threaten to destroy their friendship. As Stoker becomes disillusioned watching their artistic vision compromised for commercial gain, Flame must decide whether stardom is worth the cost to their integrity and brotherhood.

Director Richard Loncraine's 1975 film shattered the mold of musical biopics, using rock band Slade to tell a brutally honest story about music industry exploitation. Rather than the typical rags-to-riches fantasy, the film presents a kitchen-sink realism portrait of working-class lads chewed up by the star-making machinery. Slade themselves prove surprisingly effective actors, bringing authenticity to their characters' struggles and betrayals. The cinematography captures the grim beauty of industrial England and the tawdry glamour of package tours and television studios. The film's greatest strength is its refusal to romanticize the music business—managers, promoters, and label executives are presented as parasites extracting value from artists. While Slade performs several numbers, these serve the narrative rather than existing as promotional vehicles. It's a cult classic that influenced later music films with its unflinching look at how the industry exploits artistic passion.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Sunday, May 10th at 6:00PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: PG (The content is mild in impact)

Slade's gritty music industry exposé refuses to romanticize stardom—experience this brutally honest cult classic in 35mm film.

Presented by: The Revival House Perth