Watch Stardust
- R
- 1974
- 1 hr 51 min
-
6.5 (1,191)
Stardust is a 1974 musical film that tells the story of the rise and fall of a rock and roll star, based on the life of David Bowie. The movie stars David Essex as Jim MacLaine, an aspiring musician from London's East End, who dreams of becoming a rock superstar. The film opens with Jim as a young boy, watching his father perform in a skiffle band. He is inspired by his father's performance, and from that moment on, he dreams of being a musician. As he grows older, Jim becomes a singer and guitarist and forms his own band, the Stray Cats.
The Stray Cats are struggling to make it in the music industry, playing gigs for peanuts and hoping for a lucky break. In the meantime, Jim has caught the eye of a beautiful girl named Sue (played by Rosalind Ayres), who is also a musician. They begin a passionate affair, but their relationship is threatened when Jim meets a record company executive named Mike (played by Adam Faith).
Mike offers Jim a recording contract but demands that he changes his image and sound to fit the current trends. Jim reluctantly agrees, and the Stray Cats become Stardust, a glitzy pop band complete with flashy outfits and dance routines. The band becomes an overnight sensation, but the success comes at a cost.
Jim becomes increasingly isolated from his friends and his old life, and his relationship with Sue falls apart. Stardust's music becomes more and more commercial, and Jim realizes that he has lost sight of his original dream of making meaningful music.
The film is set against the backdrop of the 1960s and 1970s music scene, and features a soundtrack of original songs and covers of classic rock hits. David Essex's performance as Jim is powerful and charismatic, and he delivers several memorable musical numbers.
Larry Hagman, known for his role as J.R. Ewing on the TV show Dallas, plays the villainous record executive Max Wolfe, who is determined to exploit Jim for his own gain. Adam Faith, a successful singer and actor, is excellent as Mike, the smooth-talking record executive who knows how to make Jim a star.
Stardust received mixed reviews upon its release, but has since gained a cult following for its portrayal of the music industry and its colorful characters. The film is a fascinating look at the rise of rock and roll and the commercialization of music in the 1970s, and is a must-see for fans of the era.
Overall, Stardust is a compelling drama with great music and strong performances. It's a nostalgic trip back to the golden age of rock and roll and a cautionary tale about the dangers of selling out for fame and fortune.
Stardust is a 1974 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.