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The Decline of Western Civilization
Penelope Spheeris
(1980)
100min
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Review
Our Score
by
Robert Sellers
Penelope Spheeris's cult documentary takes an unflinching and non-judgemental look at the Los Angeles punk scene at the fag end of the 1970s. She blends live performances from anonymous bands such as Circle Jerks, Black Flag and Fear (who were a particular favourite of John Belushi) with revealing contributions from managers, fans and the group members themselves. While most use the camera as a mirror for their preening, some are surprisingly articulate about their lifestyle - the downside of which is illustrated in the interview with Darby Crash, lead singer of the Germs, who ended up on a mortuary slab before the film was even released. Spheeris had previously directed short films for US TV's cult comedy show
Saturday Night Live
, which made her the perfect choice to later direct
Wayne's World
. This is the first in a trilogy of rock documentaries made by Spheeris that, viewed today, seem like valuable cultural documents. But your granny won't like it.
Cast & Crew
TBC
Alice Bag Band
TBC
Black Flag
TBC
Catholic Discipline
TBC
Circle Jerks
TBC
Fear
TBC
Germs
Director
Penelope Spheeris
see more
Other Information
Language:
English
Colour
Available on:
DVD and Blu-ray
Full Episode Guide
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