A Derek Jarman film that I did not quite get when it was shown on British TV in the early 1980’s (I was just too young for this film in the cinema in 1978). I saw it again about ten years ago and still did not quite get it! Maybe by 2020 it may just click in my mind…That music biz guy with the bug eyes always freaked me out with his decandant slur in his voice. Who was that guy? Did he do anything else? One for you Nic mate?
Anyway whether I understood the film or not, the soundtrack is the dogs bollocks. Buy the DVD and see the film for yourself, maybe you could let me know what was actually going on!
Nic
April 9, 2008 at 4:00 pmThe man is Jack Birkett, Penguin – a supremely twisted character!
He worked as a dancer and a mime under the name ‘The Great Orlando’ as part of Lindsay Kemp’s troupe, undertaking significant work on the stage (for directors like Jonathan Miller)…
With Kemp, he appeared in Bowie’s ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’ video, as well as films such as Jarman’s ‘The Tempest’ (as Caliban), Franc Roddam’s ‘The Bride’ ( a remake of ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ by the director of ‘Quadrophenia’ which features Sting – argh!), and a handful of Spanish films related to Lindsay Kemp…
He is also blind…
Here’s his myspace:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=159025951
‘Jubilee’ is a strange film to try to describe, because is generally eschews narrative in favour of incident and comment. The framing device of Elizabeth the 1st and Dr John Dee as time travellers watching events (possibly a nod to Virginia Woolf’s ‘Orlando’?) allows Jarman to undertake a discursive trip through a future dystopia whilst suggesting potential ways to escape from it although it is ultimately pessimistic about the possibilities)…
johng
April 10, 2008 at 9:53 ami nearley bought this last weekend so great to see it uploaded-thanks.
jubilee was shown on tv a few weeks ago at around 2 in the morning,well worth staying up for just to see gene october suffocated in a large piece of orange plastic sheeting!
jack birkett should stand as mayor of london-not nearley as scarey as the thought of boris johnston (he is a twisted character!)
Tony Puppy
April 10, 2008 at 10:16 amExcellent stuff.
Sean (u$a)
April 11, 2008 at 11:29 pmThere’s a scene where they watch ‘Siouxsie & the Banshees’ performing Love In A Void on the tube. For some reason the band didn’t want to be affiliated with the movie at the time so they’re not on the soundtrack. The Slits also have a funny short clip where they are fucking shit up in the streets and tie someone up against a pole.
Phil
June 2, 2008 at 8:10 pmThe Slits are also the backing band for Toyah in the recording studio scene
Graham Burnett
June 2, 2008 at 8:47 pmAs I mentioned on another thread, the girl in the background in the second picture down on the back cover (with the woman tied to a stake), the one grinning and wearing a black leather jacket, went to the same school as me, Cecil Jones in Southend on Sea. She was one of the very first original punks when the rest of us were still hippys into Yes and Genesis (1976) and was obviously recruited as an extra for the film. I saw her a couple of years ago at a school reunion do and asked her about being on the back cover of Jubilee – it was the first she’d heard of it – amazing that nobody else had mentioned this to her or that she hadn’t seen it herself at some point during the intervening 25 years! She said Derek Jarman was a ‘right twat’. I wouldn’t know myself. Liked his garden though.
Rita Jones
July 10, 2008 at 2:54 amHi, the link is dead. Can someone please repost this. Thank you.
Penguin • Post Author •
July 10, 2008 at 8:59 amAll links are dead at the mo, please refer to Music Downloads post for updates Rita. We are trying to get it all sorted.
Sam
July 10, 2008 at 4:25 pmThere was a strong rumour at the time that ‘Suzi Pinns’ was in fact Kate Bush. It certainly wasn’t Jordan!
Phil
July 11, 2008 at 4:50 pmHee hee Jorden miming to Kate Bush.