169. Dance Craze; movie reviews

 

DANCE CRAZE

Cert 12A

88 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language, moderate sex references

Here's a novelty... I spent almost the entire 88 minutes of Dance Craze seeing if I could spot my 18-year-old self.

I was a regular at gigs at Coventry Tiffany's where all of the bands featured in Joe Massot's 1981 documentary played.

Thus, I may well have been in the crowds who were leaping around to the likes of The Specials, Selecter, The Beat and Madness.

I then wondered if I would have even recognised myself if I had been on screen.

I digress hugely.

Dance Craze is a wonderful step back in time for anyone who was into ska music back in the early 80s.

Cameras were on stage as the aforementioned bands - plus Bad Manners and The Bodysnatchers - played in front of relatively small, enthusiastic but sweaty audiences.

Until Terry Hall's recent death, the impact of 2-Tone music may have been largely forgotten but growing up in Coventry at that time was an adventure inspired by Jerry Dammers.

He gave us music for the multi-cultural generation and that is celebrated in Massot's movie.

The downside of the film is that it gives no explanation of the reasons for the 2-Tone explosion or its legacy. Indeed, it is as if the director doesn't realise the golden gem that he possesses.

That's a pity because today's music fans would appreciate it more if it had that context.

Never mind, I was very happy to return to my youth, even if I couldn't see myself attempting, and failing, to look cool while dancing in a style that I haven't been able to shake for 40 years.

Reasons to watch: Raw concert footage of classic bands

Reasons to avoid: Needs context

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? 2 Tone founder Jerry Dammers' initial plan was to combine punk rock with reggae, but the different tempos of the two types of music did not blend. Instead, he turned to ska which was faster than reggae and fused much better with punk.

The final word. Joe Dunton (cinematographer): "I asked if I could come on stage and make the film; they had not made a film before so they were not really anti-me at all. I said if they did not like the film we need not use it; thus we did not draw up contracts – we just took a chance." In70mm.com

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