Name: Black Leather Jacket
Genre: Biography
Released: 1989-01-01
Rating: 7
Cast: Dennis Hopper, Michael Vartan, Wendy Abrams

I happened upon this title while watching uploads of TV continuity ripped from VHS on YouTube, which has been a great way to source old films and shows. Because much of the new output is simply too boring to watch, as shiny as it is. A quick search and there it was, its also a book which has a silly resell price but it is quite old.

Black Leather Jacket sets itself up to be a definitive documentary on the origins of the jacket, but its merely a long form 80's advertisement for leather jackets and the idea that it has a "bad boy image". About 70% of the show is simply padding of either fashion shows or depictions of leather jackets in movies, while rock music plays. There is also an odd omission of every other classic style of leather jacket, that isn't the perfecto. They treat the perfecto as the only leather jacket that has meaning, yet they don't even use its name. No bombers, cafe racers or truckers here. The main theme the documentary pushes is about the image of jacket, or rather the rebel image. But when wearers of these jackets are interviewed they all seem to be white middle class men who speak "proper" and are have bought into this "bad boy" image hype, so wear it as a form of dress up. There is nothing about the functionality of the jacket or even its limitations. They aren't exactly warm or waterproof, nor washable. The only genuinely interesting thing was when a seller of vintage leathers mentioned Ralph Lauren bought a 50's jacket from him. But the seller seemed oblivious as to the fact he was buying it to copy and sell at a profit. The seller thinking he had made a killing selling one for 1500 pounds. Where the show goes well off track is when it links leather jackets to the fetish scene. Which is a stretch to the say the least. The fact is black leather jackets have become so normalised they are more likely to be worn by mums on a night out over their dress. There is nothing bad boy or rebel about them anymore. You could cut this down to a ten or fifteen minute show if you cut out the padding. Its also more likely you would have a better informed doc by simply asking AI to cook one up. This may sit well with an aging rocker who wants their belief they are a bad boy like Brando in The Wild One reinforced. But its hardly worth your time.

The biography, or "biopic", is a genre that portrays the life story of a real person, often a notable individual or historical figure. They aim to provide a depiction of the subject's personal history, achievements, challenges, and impact on society.

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Based upon Mick Farren's book,'The Black Leather Jacket', this documentary explores the history of this garment from it's utilitarian beginnings through to it's 'bad boy' reputation and considers whether it has now become emasculated by pop culture.

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Black Leather Jacket

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