Review of Performance

Introduction

After a hit on Chas (James Fox) went wrong, in which he killed his attackers, he became a marked man and had to go into hiding from mob boss Harry Flowers. Chas takes refuge in the sprawling house inhabited by reclusive rock star Turner (Mick Jagger) and his girlfriends Pherber and Lucy (Anita Pallenberg and Michèle Breton).

`Performance` is the result of an unlikely collaboration between three people making their first forays into the film industry: co-directors Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg and Sanford Lieberson, who represented The Rolling Stones and Cammell.

Whilst living in Paris on the left bank, Donald Cammell became disillusioned with art and switched his focus to film. He penned a screenplay for `Performance` and returned to the UK, where he settled in London during the `swinging sixties`. He met up with David Litvinoff, who was part of the London underworld and knew the Kray twins. Cammell and Litvinoff shut themselves in a flat and finalised the script for a film about a gangster who moves in with a reclusive rock star. When Lieberson became involved, he thought that he could produce the film, as he knew the writer/co-director and someone who could play Turner - Mick Jagger.

The casting of Chas was more difficult and the role was first offered to Marlon Brando, who turned it down. James Fox was an unlikely choice, as he was predominantly known for playing upper-class characters, not unlike himself. In order to transform Fox into a believable gangster, Litvinoff sent him to south London; a couple of months later, Fox appeared with a different accent, different walk, different wardrobe and was Chas.

With a convincing gangster, a real-life rock star and a rock star`s girlfriend, Anita Pallenberg (who was dating Keith Richards and had previously gone out with Brian Jones), the principal cast was assembled and filming in London during the late `60s added the final ingredient.

Video

Presented in anamorphic 1.78:1, `Performance` looks excellent and you wouldn`t know that the film was nearly 40 years old. The colours are bright and the transfer as a whole is sharp, showcasing Nicolas Roeg`s visual flair. Frank Mazzola`s jazz influenced rapid cross-cutting is breathtaking to watch, and it`s interesting to note that this was done in post-production after Roeg had left for Australia to film `Walkabout`.

Audio

The only soundtrack option is the original DD mono English, which is perfectly clear and does a good job of presenting the Moog-synthesizer produced soundtrack, as well as the dialogue. With so much psychedelia about, the subtitles, which are clear and free from errors, emphasise the wordplay.

Features

After thirty years, plus a theatrical re-release three years ago, it`s a shame that there aren`t more extra features available - a commentary would have been more than welcome.

The `Influence and Controversy` retrospective has contributions from such people as Sanford Lieberson, Anita Pallenberg, Donald Cammell`s brother David and Colin MacCabe, professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Running at 25 minutes, this is a well assembled and informative piece that tells you just about all you need to know about the film, although it`s a shame that Nicolas Roeg was not interviewed.

The `Memo from Turner` is an interesting 5-minute feature, obviously a publicity piece for the film, focusing on Mick Jagger`s involvement in `Performance`.

There is also the original theatrical trailer.

Conclusion

The 1960s are famed for the relaxation of society after the restrictive and austere `50s and the mainstream use of recreational drugs, free love and rock `n` roll. `Performance` arguably encapsulates the spirit of the `60s, with gangsters, drugs, sex, music, literature, art and Mick Jagger.

Jagger is surprisingly good in `Performance`, although the role is perhaps not too much of a challenge, as he is playing a rock star not entirely dissimilar to himself. James Fox is a revelation as the menacing gangster, playing so far against type that it`s difficult to think that his casting was considered risky. Similarly, the casting of Johnny Shannon as Harry Flowers was another gamble that paid off, as Shannon had never acted before.

A `Marmite` film, as cult films are, you`ll either love it or hate it, but I think this hallucinatory and audacious film is brilliant and is even better with repeat viewings.