Mark Edward Heuck

Paramount -- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE FABULOUS STAINS

Dear Mr. Blythe,

I'm sure you are not familiar with many of the films that your company owns the rights to, and I'm also sure this would be one of them. But LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THE FABULOUS STIANS, is one that deserves your attention. This overlooked '81 satire on rock music, the only other directorial outing by Lou Adler, and an early starring vehicle for Diane Lane, Laura Dern, and Ray Winstone, has picked up a devoted cult of fans over the last 20 years. I was largely responsible for its recent revival at the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles, where we played it for four weeks worth of midnights, and also great reviews from the local critics.
I would direct you to a very well-written article on the film by director Sarah Jacobsen in the Beastie Boys-published magazine GRAND ROYAL, issue #6, or to episode 29 of John Pierson's SPLIT SCREEN program on IFC, for a more eloquent explanation of its significance. Or I could just use the quote from Courtney Love proclaiming it the best movie ever made, which we used to advertise the film during our engagement.
Since this film has never received even a VHS release, I think this could be a demonstration of the revivalist powers of DVD, much like Anchor Bay's issue of Universal's TWO-LANE BLACKTOP helped it find a new audience. By enlisting the services of director Adler, who has already done a great commentary on your UP IN SMOKE disc, and Ms. Jacobsen, who was able to get interviews with disgruntled screenwriter Nancy Dowd, you could have a great disc. By including missing scenes from it's prerelease incarnations as ALL WASHED UP and THE PROFESSIONALS, you could show the dramatic differences in its initial incarnation and how Adler was able to "save" the film in editing. A commentary track where Adler could face off against Dowd, debating the merits of each's vision would be most entertaining, like the contentious discussion between Steven Soderbergh and Lem Dobbs on the dvd of THE LIMEY. Perhaps also an isolated music score, since there has never been a commercial release of the excellent soundtrack that features members of The Tubes, The Clash, and Sex Pistols.
I'm sure at this time, this is a quixotic pursuit. But my conversations with Jacobsen have revealed that this is something Paramount has considered before. I would like to see them consider it again.
Thank you for all your serious and thoughtful replies to this forum.

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Martin Jeeves

Mark and Mr Blythe,

I would have to agree that this film (which was pretty much abandoned by Paramount theatrically in the early 1980's) is a real gem and a film that is increasingly gaining a large cult following thanks to word of mouth, TV screenings (VH1 and MTV I believe) and a few selected theatrical screenings. Bearing in mind the increasing interest in the film as well as the films stars now being 'hot', I think this could be a very worthwhile release. Please consider it and add it to the schedule or license it to Anchor Bay or someone else to distribute. A true gem worth seeking out if you can.

Thank you,

Martin.

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M.J.

Martin Jeeves

Paramount,

Do you think this title is a possibility for DVD sometime soon (next year maybe)? 2003?

Thanks,

Matthew Kiernan

I'm pretty sure the film was released on VHS once back in the mid-80's, but even if not, it seems to me that no new release could be a matter of soundtrack rights, the same problems that are plauging GREASE and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.

Just a guess. Personally speaking, I wouldn't mind seeing the film on disc, but I'm not holding my breath.

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Matthew Kiernan

LarryDavenport

It's funny how many Paramount titles are not getting done because of music rights.

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These chicks know how to party! - MoJo JoJo

Mark Edward Heuck

I think a novel way to help defray the costs of repaying for music rights on THE FABULOUS STAINS would be to approach some of the musicians that have been influenced by the movie, get their thoughts on camera for a great supplement, and get a small donation. I bet a lot of the better hard rock grrl bands like The Donnas and Le Tigre could put up a couple hundred bucks, and weird as it sounds, the money adds up as more people find and like the film.
Hey, it worked when Spike Lee needed post production money on MALCOLM X.

Mark Edward Heuck

Not that funny, I'm afraid. And not just limited to Paramount. The video revolution opened up a whole new can of worms in terms of music licensing. While I would like to believe altruistically that some artists are enjoying newfound revenue, it is more likely that record companies and ASCAP are the primary beneficiaries of this windfall. And as such, the heavies preventing films like STAINS, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, AMERICAN HOT WAX, and others from seeing video release. Also the forces that have given us heartbreaks like THE PRESIDENT'S ANALYST minus Barry McGuire's scene-appropriate assassination song, or the rescored DOGMA trailer on DVD, or indeed, kept classic trailers off of DVD.

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"As I looked back over my life, I realized that I enjoyed nothing--not art, not sex--more than going to the movies." -- Gore Vidal

Chad Parks

I would love to see this film. I became interested a few years ago, after a great article in Grand Royal magazine about the film, with interviews with most of the principals involved.

Martin Jeeves

I don't know whether any of you guys can help on this but I have a couple of queries regarding '….Stains'.

Firstly, what was the original aspect ratio of the film? Lou Adler used 2.35:1 for 'Cheech and Chong: Up In Smoke" but on my VHS copy the framing looks closer to 1.85:1. What aspect ratio was the film made in and what did you guys show it as at the Nuart?

Secondly, I know that not everyone, is a fan of the ending of the film, but personally I think it is great - the highlight even. The '…Stains' music video for 'Professionals' (used over the end credits) really rocks and it is so, so cool to see big name stars like Diane Lane and Laura Dern playing air guitars and dressed-up strutting their stuff. I think they actually do a great job. Laura Dern looks slightly different to how she does in the rest of the film, and Diane Lane looks every bit a 'rock star' as she does in the excellent 'Streets of Fire'. They all look like they a having so much fun. I really, really hope that this music video (in it's entirety) gets onto the DVD! Soo cooool!

Thirdly, I cannot for the life of me, work out why this film wasn't given a chance. It's just absolutely great. Everyone, I mean everyone who has seen this film loves it! I don't know anyone who dislikes it and it's huge cult status and a hopeful DVD release is throughly deserved.

Please if you know the answers to the above, please let me know.


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M.J.

Mark Edward Heuck

#1) The film was shot with an unmasked camera, and was thusly designed to be projected at 1.85:1 Adler's interest in CinemaScope apparently was a one-shot deal.

#2) I accept the ending, but it is one of the factors that made writer Nancy Dowd disown the film and take the Rob Morton pseudonym.