The only Moorcock book to make it to film, that I know of, and for years a hard film to find - reasons abound for this, but it was a real bitch to see until Network released that DVD a few years back. Of course, now it gets shown monthly on telly seemingly, but thats the way of the world.
Jerry, dear Jerry Cornelius, a role model for a certain type of person in small doses as you couldn't be like this all of the time. Jon Finch - crabby bastard extraordinare: = : = : = perfect casting as far as I'm concerned.
Plot? Well, its a retelling of Elric in its way, isn't it? With Jerry as Elric, Frank as Yyrkoon, Catherine as Cymoril and the family house being Imrryr. Plus some stuff about the perfect man, Ms Brunner as a..........well, I've never been quite sure what Ms Brunner is, frankly, computer programming, some irresponsible drink driving and Robert Fuests particular eye for good, weird, screen filling tableau:
(clearly one of those inflatable tunnel maze things that I used to run around in during summer holidays as a schoolkid. 10/10 for creative use, mind)
Still - Jerry. Cool as fuck, isn't he? Nothing more to be said there. Sheer class on that front in his Ossie Clark threads, locks and "fine, I'll drink instead" disassociative decorative attitudes. Sometimes tries a bit hard, but can't have everything, can we?
Seriously, what was Fuest able to put over people during this period? He made this, Phibes and Phibes Rises Again and they are clearly singular vision film making and all contributed to my personal tastes for cinematic look.
Speaking of LOOK, Magee. Wonderful MAGEE on top form pulls his astonishing form and out of nowhere..............."LOOK" at top volume - only Magee can do this correctly.
May try this next time I'm in a difficult meeting and need to command the room.
Admittedly, they don't quite follow the book - but, to be fair, the whole guitar stuff I'm quite happy to see dropped and the end never made much fuckin' sense anyway.
Fact is, film is here, its grade A and should be viewed, right?
Maybe paired with Le Frisson Des Vampires for full intoxication.
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