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Dance Craze
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray B - United Kingdom - British Film Institute Review written by and copyright: James-Masaki Ryan (25th March 2023). |
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The Film
 "Dance Craze" (1981) Ska music originated in Jamaica in the 1950s, combining Caribbean and Jamaican folk with jazz and R&B with a unique twist by emphasizing the bass riff on the off beat. Continuing its popularity in the island country through the decades and eventually evolving into reggae music, the ska genre found a new audience with a revival across the Atlantic in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. Rather than repeating the sane formula of records of twenty years prior, the second wave combined elements of punk rock with the Jamaican rhythms, forming a multicultural crossover feel. These young bands featured a mix of black and white musicians and singers, helped bridge a cultural divide between immigrant culture and the Caucasian majority with common ground in a sound that had truthful social messages while also being uplifting and fun. "Dance Craze" is a concert documentary that captures the movement at its start and its most energetic, featuring live performances by legendary groups Bad Manners, The Beat, The Bodysnatchers, Madness, The Selecter, and The Specials at their finest hour. Filmmaker Joe Massot was notable for a number of music films such as "Wonderwall" (1968) and "The Song Remains the Same" (1976). He was introduced to the second wave of ska through his son, who suggested that his father should make a documentary on the band Madness. Their 1979 debut album "One Step Beyond..." peaked at #2 on the UK charts, with three of their singles hitting the top ten on the charts. But the project became much more than just a look at one band, instead looking at the whole movement by documenting a number of British acts that were making their names and songs heard for the youthful crowds. The Specials also released their debut album in 1979, and Bad Manners, The Beat, and The Selecter released their debuts the following year - all of which hit the top 10 on the British charts. The Bodysnatchers and their two singles from 1980 also hit the UK singles chart. To capture the bands performing on stage in a unique form, cinematographer Joe Dunton didn't go the common 16mm route that a number of small budget concert documentaries had done, but instead using a little known format called Super 35 and using Steadicam operators for the live shows. Super 35 was a format that used the entire 35mm frame for the image, instead of using the left side of the frame for the audio track. This would essentially give a better sharper image for the negative which would not have any synchronized audio, as that would be recorded through the concert venue soundboards on tape. While 35mm cameras would be heavier than the versatile and small 16mm cameras, the invention of the Steadicam in the 1970s made larger 35mm camera rigs much lighter and camera operators could move much more smoothly in motion which was another key. Instead of capturing the band from afar in the stands or in solitary camera positions far from the stage, the camera operators would be right on stage with the band, capturing angles that were the band's perspective looking out towards the audience. There were multiple cameras to capture the performances, with operators on stage, within the crowds, and elsewhere to intercut the edited footage. The bands were new to having their concerts filmed and all were young and eager to the new and experimental experience, and thankfully it was fully documented by Massot's crew over a number of shows by the various bands in 1980. Interestingly the film starts off with some dated 1950s footage with transatlantic narration before kicking off with "Nite Klub" by The Specials with a slow bassline and keyboards and horns. But things get lud and fast with the vocals kicking in. Packed crowds are right up close to the stage with heads bobbing, hands clapping, and the performers dancing to the beat. "The Prince" by the stylish Madness is the next cue, followed by the screamy vocals from Bad Manners performing "Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu". It's not just sweaty men on stage performing, as the next performance is by the all female The Bodysnatchers with their song "007 Shanty Town". This is followed by the female led The Selector with "Three Minute Hero". The Beat (known as The English Beat in America and The British Beat in Australia) have two performances back to back, with "Ranking Full Stop" and "Big Shot". These performances are not in any chronological order and are captured at differing venues over differing nights in the UK, with the exception of The Beat, who were filmed in America in New Jersey. Many more great songs are performed, including an interesting cover of "Swan Lake" by Madness, The Selecter's "On My Radio" (which was sampled by Basement Jaxx in excellent form for their song "Same Old Show"), the beyond classic "Mirror in the Bathroom" by The Beat and many more. There is no footage of behind the scenes of the concerts, no interviews with the bands or audience members, and is almost entirely comprised of indoor concert footage. There are the odd vintage newsreels that take up some space which shows how difference in youth culture from decades prior which can bring some laughs and a break from the show like an intermission. This is not a documentary to look at the genre's history with explanation by others. Instead the bands speak for themselves with their socially conscious lyrics and upbeat music reaching new and excited crowds. The audio from the shows were mixed at the legendary Abbey Road studio with The Specials' Jerry Dammers supervising the mix. For the film's released, there were two separate prints made - a standard 35mm version which had stereo audio and a 70mm blowup version which had 6-track surround audio. With the Super 35 format, blowing the image up to 70mm would look much better than blowup from a standard 35mm shot feature, and the large film format's multiple audio tracks could give the concert film a much fuller aural experience for equipped theaters. The film was released on February 19th, 1981 in the United Kingdom, and on April 23rd, 1982 in the United States. During this time, Bad Manners, The Beat, Madness, The Selecter and The Specials had two albums out, with some having silver, gold, and platinum certifications. The Bodysnatchers unfortunately disbanded after only two singles released, though members formed the pop-rock band The Belle Stars soonafter. The second wave ska movement didn't last a long time, as the 1980s saw the rise of synth pop and new wave taking the airwaves and spreading much further with worldwide audiences. There were a number of crossover hits from The Beat and Madness hitting the American charts, though their influence on the country's music scene would be very small in the scope of the music business. "Dance Craze" wasn't particularly a huge hit theatrically, though it has certainly gained a cult following with ska audiences over the years and has become a legendary documentary, while also being obscure due to its unavailability. Chrysalis Records, which produced the feature and released the original soundtrack album in 1981 issued the film on VHS in the United States and the United Kingdom in 1988. Since then there was a third ska wave in the late 1990s, this time in America with bands like Sublime, Reel Big Fish, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and many more taking over the alternative rock music scene with major success. It's been a quarter century since the last ska movement, though there have been a number of bands that have carried the torch throughout the years, including second wave bands. Bad Manners, The Beat, Madness, The Selecter and The Specials have performed and released music in the twenty-first century with some member changes here and there. As for "Dance Craze", the soundtrack was reissued on CD in 1989, and in later years on reissued vinyl in 2014 and in 2020 with half-speed mastering for Record Store Day. There have been some differences with the tracklisting for the soundtrack album in the differing editions. As for the film, it was stuck on standard definition video for decades. A restoration of the film and the music was undertaken by Chrysalis Records and the BFI for theatrical reissue in 2023 and for the first time ever, on Blu-ray and DVD. In addition, Chrysalis Records is reissuing the soundtrack album in an expanded 3-disc form on CD and on vinyl with the newly remastered stereo audio. There is huge nostalgic value in "Dance Craze" for old school ska music fans, yet it still retains the power and energy for newcomers with an unmatched sound that still feels fresh and undated. Note this is a region B Blu-ray / region 2/7/8 PAL DVD set
Video
The BFI presents the film in the theatrical 1.66:1 aspect ratio in 1080p AVC on the Blu-ray and in anamorphic widescreen PAL on the DVD. The film was shot in Super 35mm and unfortunately the negatives are considered lost. The best surviving element, which was a lone surviving 70mm print belonging to cinematographer Joe Dunton was scanned and remastered in 4K resolution for this restoration. While there was some wear and color fading, the restoration gives it new life by repairing and removing damage such as scratches and speckles while also balancing and boosting the colors. As much of the film is made up of indoor concert footage which has an everchanging rotation of colored spotlights on the band and the crowds with greens, blues, and reds shining down, there are rarely any places that feature a natural color scheme. While there may be some fade and faces may sometimes seem paleor discolored, the image is well balanced throughout. When it gets to vintage newsreel footage that is intercut at certain points, there is some weakness to be seen with sharpness and damage marks, though these are left as is rather than fully restoring the older material. Film grain is kept intact with the restoration, leaving a filmic look without any digital sharpening. Fans and newcomers should be more than pleased with this restoration. It is absolutely astonishing how great it looks in motion. The film's runtime on the Blu-ray is 88:34 and on the DVD is 85:02 accounting for 4% PAL speedup. 
Note the screenshots are from the standard definition DVD
Audio
Blu-ray: English Dolby Atmos English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo DVD: English Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo The film was released with stereo audio for 35mm film prints and 6-track surround for 70mm film prints. Rather than restoring the live music tracks from the film print's optical track, the original multi-channel master tapes of the concert audio were remastered by Chrysalis Records, with three different mixes. A stereo track, a 5.1 track to mimic the 6-track surround, and a newly created Dolby Atmos mix. The 2.0 and 5.1 mixes are available on both discs, with lossless audio on the Blu-ray and lossy audio on the DVD. The Dolby Atmos mix is exclusive to the Blu-ray as it is not able to be handled on the standard definition format. The restored and remixed audio tracks are absolutely great, as they are coming directly from the soundboards and are well synchronized with the image, giving a healthy workout for the speakers with each mix. The stereo mix is quite good with a lot of separation between the left and right speakers for each song. The 5.1 spreads out the music much more, giving the rear channels a good chance to shine. The Dolby Atmos mix gives an even fuller mix with the additional surrounds and overhead effects. There are no added effects or distracting moments to speak of with the directional sound mixes, with vocals coming mostly from the front channels and the surrounds used for other instruments and echoes. As it is a full blown concert feature, it's recommended to crank it loud and give some power to the speakers. As for the vintage footage, the audio can sound a bit lower in quality but that is to be expected. As an essential with any concert film on DVD or Blu-ray, the chapter selection menu is separated by song. There are optional English HoH subtitles in a white font for the main feature. They caption all the song lyrics and are well timed and easy to read.
Extras
This is a dual format release with the film and extras on the Blu-ray in HD and repeated on the DVD in SD PAL. DISC ONE (Blu-ray) "Rudies Come Back" 1980 BBC2 Arena episode (34:07) This episode of "Arena" which aired on March 12th, 1980 features NME journalist Adrian Thrills traveling to Coventry to have a look at the rising second wave of ska music. He meets The Selecter at the recording studio as they are recording "Three Minute Hero" and they are interviewed afterward. There is also a meeting with The Specials at their so-called office where things are not the most organized or serious. There are discussions of the multicultural aspect of the genre, the rude boy culture, and much more including some live concert footage. From the bands. The first fourteen minutes of the episode is embedded below, courtesy of the BBC Archive. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in English LPCM 2.0 without subtitles Alternate and Unused Songs - "Carry Go Bring Come" by The Selecter (3:15) - "One Step Beyond" by Madness (2:34) - "Do Nothing" by The Specials (3:43) - "Night Boat to Cairo" by Madness (3:12) - "Enjoy Yourself" by The Specials (3:57) Presented here are additional performances that were left on the cutting room floor, and sadly not in the best of shape. Some are taken from standard video transferred sources, while others seem to be from the original film source. They have not been remastered, though they are in a fairly watchable state. The audio is in mono for all the songs and they are a bit on the flat side. It should be noted, that the review copy Blu-ray and DVD had two additional songs in this section, but sadly had to be removed from the retail release: - "The Magnificent Seven" by Bad Manners (1:00 - Blu-ray / 0:58 - DVD) - "Fatty Fatty" by Bad Manners (2:16, Blu-ray - 2:11 - DVD) It’s most likely these were removed at the last minute due to rights issues with the band, though note that their performances in the film itself have not been altered. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4, in 1.33:1, in English LPCM 2.0 without subtitles Restoration Demo (1:45) This silent featurette includes comparison shots of a 35mm print, the 70mm print used for the restoration, and differences in before and after restoration to showcase the work that was done for the film. It is all too short and as it is silent, it does not go into the sound restoration at all. in 1080p AVC MPEG-4 DISC TWO (DVD) "Rudies Come Back" 1980 BBC2 Arena episode (32:45) Alternate and Unused Songs - "Carry Go Bring Come" by The Selecter (3:07) - "One Step Beyond" by Madness (2:28) - "Do Nothing" by The Specials (3:34) - "Night Boat to Cairo" by Madness (3:04) - "Enjoy Yourself" by The Specials (3:48) Restoration Demo (1:41) The film and the extras are repeated on the DVD copy in standard definition. As stated above the DVD review copy has the two additional unused songs which will not be on the retail release. Booklet A 20 page booklet is included with the first pressing. First is the essay "Three Minute Hero" by editor, writer and genre researcher Johnny Mains with background information on the film, the genre and the time period. The original press release from 1981 is reprinted with film information and biographies of the bands featured. There are also full film credits, special features information, transfer information, acknowledgements, and stills. It's wonderful that the BBC documentary and deleted scenes have been included, though it's unfortunate that no new extras such as retropective interviews with band members or cinematographer Joe Dunton. It would have been interesting to hear their thoughts and feelings as well as stories from the time period. As mentioned, the newly remastered and expanded soundtrack album is also being released in conjunction with this Blu-ray and DVD release (with my copy on the way, which an unboxing will be featured eventually on our Facebook page). Other notable clips: Newly created trailer by the BFI. A clip of the film courtesy of the BFI. Introduction and Q&A with Joe Dunton and editor Tony Sloman at a 70mm screening at Widescreen Weekend 2011 at the Pictureville Cinema at the National Media Museum. They have some great stories to tell including some behind the scenes information, hopes for a Blu-ray release, the reception and more. Joe Dunton introducing the film's screening in 35mm in 2013 at the Egyptian Theater. He encourages the audience to get up and dance, and again he talks of hoping the film would get a Blu-ray release, which would happen a decade later with this release.
Packaging
The initial pressing comes with a slipcase.
Overall
"Dance Craze" is an amazing snapshot of a number of bands at their youthful prime with pure energetic performances and bold cinematography taking audiences right on stage with them. Chysalis Records and the BFI's 4K restoration is a revelation, looking absolutely wonderful with the colorful and vibrant visuals as well as having a powerful Dolby Atmos track to fully immerse the viewers with the music. A good selection of extras and an excellent presentation makes this absolutely recommended.
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