Performance
Cast: James Fox (Chas), Mick Jagger (Turner), Anita Pallenberg (Pherber), Michèle Breton (Lucy (as Michele Breton)), Ann Sidney (Dana), John Bindon (Moody), Stanley Meadows (Rosebloom), Allan Cuthbertson (The Lawyer), Anthony Morton (Dennis (as Antony Morton)), Johnny Shannon (Harry Flowers), Anthony Valentine (Joey Maddocks), Kenneth Colley (Tony Farrell (as Ken Colley)), John Sterland (The Chauffeur), Laraine Wickens (Lorraine), Billy Murray (Thug 1 (uncredited))
Keywords: Gangster, Superstar, Lie, Pornographic Film, Rock Star, Photograph, Reading, Sex, Bedsheet, Jury, Shared Bath, Gay Magazine, Musician, Guitarist, Paris France, World's Fair, Panties, Throwing Knife, Rock 'n' Roll, Telephone Call, Milkman, Restaurant, Mirror, Song, Phone Booth, Mother Son Relationship, Dover, On The Run, Candle, Sexuality, Knife, Christmas, Secretary, Torture, Tea, Barber, Cafe, Unconsciousness, S&M, Dancing, Camera, Eyebrow Pencil, Female Nudity, Self Discovery, Hair Dryer, Shot In Head, Gym, Cutting Hair, Magic, Bare Breasts, Visa, Photographer, Cult Favorite, Nightclub, Tokyo Japan, Railway Station, Porn Magazine, Death, Kicking, Feather, Paint Sprayer, Bath, Hand On Crotch, Eyeglasses, Paint, Guitar, Washing Hair, Drug Use, Liar, Subjective Camera, Computer, Show Business, Cornflakes, Conspiracy, Boogeyman, Singing, Role Reversal, Hair Dye, Fraud, Boxer, Postcard, Overheard Conversation, Lawyer, Policeman, Breaking Mirror, Recording Studio, Caftan, Shaving, Lover, Shaving Head, Organized Crime, Solicitor, Whipping Scars, Intercom, Dancer, Make Up, Passport, Cigar Smoking, Pouring Acid On Car, Taxicab, Money, Nonlinear Timeline, Father Son Relationship, Rubber Gloves, Courtroom, Weightlifting, Criminal, Nudity, Bar, Intimidation, Waitress, Collector, Berlin Germany, Wig, Businessman, Boy, Listening To Music, Surrealism, Gun, Neon Light, Food, Madness, Heroin, Rice Crispies, Freckles, Beating, Bachelor, Psychedelic, Hamburg Germany, Chauffeur, Bartender, Tied Up, Escape, Hide Out, Cuff Links, Communist, Male Nudity, Shot Through Bedsheet, Refuge, Gay Subtext, Throwing Paint On Wall, Girl, Scotch, Bicycle, New York City, Drinking, Threesome, Greenhouse, Drink, King Of Tuscany, Blackmail, Whiskey, Muscle Magazine, Court, Undressing, Blood, Police, Guilt, Book, Watching Movie, Kiss Of Life, Choking, Bullet, Record Player, Cereal, Liverpool, Bathtub, Retirement, Tripping, Rock Music, Lesbian, Violence, Hypodermic Needle, Ferrari, Fake Moustache, Hallucinogenic, Juggler, Fly, Breaking Window, Male Female Relationship, Acid, Underwear, Elevator, Bathroom, Airplane, Punching Bag, Whistling, Basement, Singer, Vandalizing Car, Cigarette Smoking, Terrorism, Business Manager, Jim Morrison, Hallucination, Door Bell, Persona, Whipping, Mushroom, Exotica, Murder, Drug Trip, Vandalism, Fight, Gender Disguise, Red Dye, Androgyny, Subpoena, Toilet, Polaroid Camera, Husband Wife Relationship, Painting Hair, Microphone, Terrorist, Business, Shooting, Black Leather Jacket
Summary: Chas, a violent and psychotic East London gangster needs a place to lie low after a hit that should never have been carried out. He finds the perfect cover in the form of guest house run by the mysterious Mr. Turner, a one-time rock superstar, who is looking for the right spark to rekindle his faded talent.
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Keith Richards was so angry about the sex scenes between Mick Jagger and his girlfriend Pallenberg that he refused to play while the Stones recorded "Memo from Turner" for the soundtrack. Ry Cooder filled in, giving the song its signature slide guitar accompaniment.
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According to a recent book on Donald Cammell, Anthony Valentine is said to have not only disliked working on the film, but the film as well.
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Most of the audience walked out of the first preview screening. The release was delayed for two years while it was re-edited three times. Editor Frank Mazzola used montage of images and time jumps which later became his trademark style.
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The sex scenes between Mick Jagger and Anita Pallenberg upset Jagger's fellow The Rolling Stones member Keith Richards. Richards, who was Pallenberg's lover at the time, was reported to have lurked outside the set in a foul mood. Pallenberg had previously been the partner of another Stones member, Brian Jones, who, according to Alex Cox (presenter of BBC2's Moviedrome), partly inspired the character of Turner.
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Anita Pallenberg replaced the pregnant Marianne Faithfull.
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The film was partly inspired by the writer Jorge Borges (in particular the theme of identity crisis); references to Borges abound, including his portrait near the end of the film.
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Tuesday Weld was supposed to play Pherber and Mia Farrow was up for the part of Lucy, but they were both injured before filming started and had to be replaced.
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Marlon Brando was originally offered the role of the criminal, but he declined.
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Was filmed in 1968, but vaulted for 2 years by its distributor, Warner Bros
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Turner's address in the film is 81 Powis Square. Exterior shots were actually filmed at number 25 Powis Square, whilst interior shooting was done at 15 Lowndes Square, Knightsbridge, the house of Leonard Plugge. The neighbours of the latter address were paid to go on holiday for the duration of the shoot, during which time the cast lived in the house.
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Director Donald Cammell arranged for James Fox to spend time with real East London gangsters to help prepare his character.
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At a test screening in Santa Monica in March 1970, one Warner executive's wife vomited with shock in response to the film and paying customers had to be offered their money back.
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Some of the 16mm footage of sex scenes were so explict that the film processing lab refused to develop it, referring to obscenity laws, and instead went on destroying it with hammer and chisel.
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The scene in which Chas is escorted out of Powis Square by thugs has one shot which has been reversed; if you look carefully you'll see a boy walking backward and cars driving in reverse.
Release Date: Monday, August 3, 1970
Budget: $750,000
Rating: 6.9
Votes: 2,443
Featured in: Indie Sex: Extremes