If Our Love Song Could Fly Over Mountains

"Temple was keen to cover all angles and so found himself with a musical that looked as though it had been produced during the fifties (big sets, plenty of performers) but with choreography from The Rocky Horror Picture Show's David Toguri and tunes from the past three decades of British musical talent. Among the composers and performers were Jerry Dammers, Nick Lowe, Sade, The Style Council, Working Week, Ray Davies, Tenpole Tudor, Smiley Culture, Eighth Wonder (with Patsy Kensit) and, of course, David Bowie, all with new material. For a bit of authentic US jazz flavour Slim Gaillard put in an appearance, while Gil Evans was brought in to oversee the whole affair and compose the incidental score. You may find fault with the quality in places, but there's no doubting just how eclectic it is. Indeed, was there ever a stranger sight in British cinema during the eighties than Smiley Culture toasting atop Miles Davis' 'So What' in the aftermath of a race riot?"

Anthony Nield at The Quietus takes another look at the notorious movie Absolute Beginners.