Rude Boy is a 1980 British film directed by Jack Hazan and David Mingay and filmed in 1978 and early 1979. The film, part fiction, part rockumentary, tells the story of Ray Gange, a young Clash fan who leaves his dead-end job in a sleazy Soho sex shop to become a roadie for the band. The film also includes extensive footage of the Clash at a Rock Against Racism concert at Victoria Park, on their On Parole and Sort It Out tours, and in the studio recording the album Give 'Em Enough Rope. The film was named after the rude boy subculture and over the years won a cult following.

Release and reception

It was publicly released in the UK in March 1980 with limited screenings, primarily at independent art cinemas. Although meeting with a generally unfavourable critical response, the film won the Honorable Mention, and was nominated for the Golden Bear, at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival in 1980. It was re-released on DVD the UK in 2003 by Fremantle Media with a number of special features including interviews with 'Rude Boy' lead actor Ray Gange, the Clash's road manager Johnny Green and film makers Jack Hazan and David Mingay. There was a Blu-ray release of the film in 2015.

Clash reaction

Although initially interested in the film, after having seen the rough cut the members of The Clash became so disenchanted with it that, for its official cinema release, they had Better Badges make badges stating 'I don't want Rude Boy Clash Film'. Joe Strummer told Melody Maker in 1980: "It wasn't any good. We didn't like what they were doing with the black people, because they were showing them dipping into pockets and then they were shown being done for something and that was their only role in the film ... Who wants to propagate that? That's what the right wing use, 'all blacks are muggers' which is a load of rubbish. After that rough showing I've never seen it since and nor have any of the Clash." Strummer added that the band had no further contact with directors Dave Mingay and Jack Hazan after the film was shot, and never received any payments from them.

Cast

The cast included (in alphabetical order):

Songs performed

Instrumental version of album track; title song Performed by The Clash at Barbarellas, Birmingham on 1 May 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed by The Clash at Rehearsal Rehearsals; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed live by The Clash at Open Air Carnival, Victoria Park, London on 30 April 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed live by The Clash at Open Air Carnival, Victoria Park, London on 30 April 1978 and featuring Jimmy Pursey from Sham 69 on vocals; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed live by The Clash at the Apollo, Glasgow on 4 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed live by The Clash at the Apollo, Glasgow on 4 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed live by The Clash at the Apollo, Glasgow on 4 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed live by The Clash at the Apollo, Glasgow on 4 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed live by The Clash at the Civic Music Hall, Aberdeen on 5 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed live by The Clash at the Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline on 6 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed by The Clash at Wessex Studios. Performed by The Clash at Wessex Studios. Performed by The Clash at the Music Machine, Camden, London on 27 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed by The Clash at the Music Machine, Camden, London on 27 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed by The Clash at the Music Machine, Camden, London on 27 July 1978; audio tracks re-recorded at Wessex Studios. Performed solo by Joe Strummer at Rehearsal Studio. Performed solo by Joe Strummer at Rehearsal Studio. Performed live by The Clash at The Lyceum, West End, London on 28 December. A brief extract is heard toward the end of the film, which sounds like an unfinished take of the London Calling song.