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Absolute Beginners

  • 1986
  • PG-13
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
4K
YOUR RATING
Absolute Beginners (1986)
In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.
Play trailer0:38
1 Video
99+ Photos
Classic MusicalTeen DramaTeen RomanceDramaMusicalRomance

In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.In London in 1958, a young photographer seeks media stardom to keep the love of a beautiful, aspiring fashion designer.

  • Director
    • Julien Temple
  • Writers
    • Colin MacInnes
    • Richard Burridge
    • Christopher Wicking
  • Stars
    • Patsy Kensit
    • Eddie O'Connell
    • David Bowie
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Julien Temple
    • Writers
      • Colin MacInnes
      • Richard Burridge
      • Christopher Wicking
    • Stars
      • Patsy Kensit
      • Eddie O'Connell
      • David Bowie
    • 60User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 0:38
    Trailer

    Photos114

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    + 106
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    Top Cast99+

    Patsy Kensit
    Patsy Kensit
    • Suzette
    Eddie O'Connell
    Eddie O'Connell
    • Colin
    David Bowie
    David Bowie
    • Vendice Partners
    James Fox
    James Fox
    • Henley of Mayfair
    Ray Davies
    Ray Davies
    • Arthur
    Mandy Rice-Davies
    Mandy Rice-Davies
    • Mum
    Eve Ferret
    Eve Ferret
    • Big Jill
    Tony Hippolyte
    Tony Hippolyte
    • Mr Cool
    Graham Fletcher-Cook
    Graham Fletcher-Cook
    • Wizard
    Joseph McKenna
    Joseph McKenna
    • Fabulous Hoplite
    • (as Joe McKenna)
    Steven Berkoff
    Steven Berkoff
    • The Fanatic
    Sade
    Sade
    • Athene Duncannon
    Edward Tudor-Pole
    Edward Tudor-Pole
    • Ed the Ted
    • (as Tenpole Tudor)
    Bruce Payne
    Bruce Payne
    • Flikker
    Alan Freeman
    Alan Freeman
    • Call-Me-Cobber
    Anita Morris
    Anita Morris
    • Dido Lament
    Paul Rhys
    Paul Rhys
    • Dean Swift
    Julian Firth
    Julian Firth
    • The Misery Kid
    • Director
      • Julien Temple
    • Writers
      • Colin MacInnes
      • Richard Burridge
      • Christopher Wicking
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews60

    5.63.9K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Absolute Beginners' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer in West Side Story (1961)
    Classic Musical
    Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club (1985)
    Teen Drama
    John Cusack and Ione Skye in Say Anything (1989)
    Teen Romance
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)
    Musical
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      The character of "Harry Charms" was based on a real-life British manager and impresario of the period, Larry Parnes, who was famous for hiring unknown singers and giving them extravagant stage names (his most famous client was Billy Fury). In 1960 he hired an unknown Liverpool band called The Beatles to accompany one of his lesser stars, Johnny Gentle, on a tour of Scotland, but he decided not to take the Beatles on as clients because he was only interested in handling solo singers, not groups.
    • Goofs
      During the riot scenes, in one shot a double decker bus is on fire. In the next shot, it isn't burning. In the next shot, it is. (During the T.V. announcers speak to the viewing public about the 'race riots').
    • Quotes
      • Colin: What, selling things to people who don't want them?
      • Vendice: Never things, Colin. We don't sell things. We sell dreams.
    • Connections
      Edited into Ray Davies: Quiet Life (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Santa Lucia
      Performed and composed by Ekow Abban

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    Details

    • Release date
      • April 18, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Absolute Beginners - The Musical
    • Filming locations
      • Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(Soho Night Street set)
    • Production companies
      • Goldcrest Films International
      • Palace Pictures
      • Virgin
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Gross US & Canada
      • $930,211
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $83,743
      • Apr 20, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $930,211
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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