Arena (An Absurd Notion)
Encyclopedia
Arena is a concept concert video filmed during the course of Duran Duran
's 1984 Sing Blue Silver
North America
n Tour in support of the album Seven and the Ragged Tiger
.
thought it might be fun to play around with the origins of the band's name (the 1968 film Barbarella
), and added a storyline and some surreal elements that are woven around and through the footage of the band playing on stage.
The film's villain, the evil Dr. Durand Durand (played by Milo O'Shea
, reprising his role from Barbarella) has crash landed on Earth and is surprised and confused to find teenagers chanting his name. When he discovers that they are not chanting for him, but for an upstart pop group, he sets up shop beneath the concert arena and attempts to wreak havoc on the band that stole his name. Of course, he and his henchmen fail at every turn and Duran Duran continue to perform, seemingly unaware of the evil doctor's plans.
The video also included Russell Mulcahy
's long-form video for "The Wild Boys
". It was meant to be a teaser for a full-length feature film of the same name, based on the 1971 novel The Wild Boys: A Book Of The Dead
by William S. Burroughs
. However, that film was never made.
The expensive sets for the conceptual portions of Arena and "The Wild Boys" were built in the massive 007 Stage
at Pinewood Studios
. some were also filmed at the nec, Birmingham where free tickets were given to fans.
Young actress Jennifer Connelly
appears, walking across an empty stage, in one segment of the video.
A picture book of the movie, Arena: The Book (ISBN 0-9510118-1-2), was released in 1985.
A live album, also called Arena, was released in late 1984. It featured the two singles "The Wild Boys" and "Save a Prayer (Live)". The video for "Save a Prayer (Live)" is included as a DVD extra on the 2004 Arena DVD release.
The DVD
for Arena was released in April 2004 and includes as an extra The Making of Arena behind the scenes documentary that was originally released as a separate videotape.
A 2-in-1 DVD set with both Arena and Sing Blue Silver has also been released by EMI.
concerts that were filmed for Arena (An Absurd Notion) were also edited to form the one-hour As the Lights Go Down concert video.
As the Lights Go Down is essentially the Arena video with only the music, although the live footage for many songs was edited differently. This version was never released on any consumer video format and only broadcast, first on Cinemax
, later on MTV
and other TV channels.
Running Time: 60 minutes
Running Time: 49 minutes
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
's 1984 Sing Blue Silver
Sing Blue Silver
Sing Blue Silver is a documentary about Duran Duran's 1983-1984 World Tour directed by Michael Collins. A sixty-minute edited version of the documentary was aired on MTV under the title Blue Silver....
North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n Tour in support of the album Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Seven and the Ragged Tiger is the third studio album by English pop rock band Duran Duran, released globally in November 1983. It would prove to be the last studio album for the band's original lineup until 2004's Astronaut....
.
Background
Instead of releasing a straight concert video, Duran Duran and director Russell MulcahyRussell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy is an Australian film director. His work is easily recognized by his use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights.- Music videos :...
thought it might be fun to play around with the origins of the band's name (the 1968 film Barbarella
Barbarella (film)
Barbarella is a 1968 Franco-Italian science fiction film based on Jean-Claude Forrest's French Barbarella comics. The film was directed by Roger Vadim and stars Jane Fonda, who was Vadim's wife at the time.-Plot:...
), and added a storyline and some surreal elements that are woven around and through the footage of the band playing on stage.
The film's villain, the evil Dr. Durand Durand (played by Milo O'Shea
Milo O'Shea
-Early life:He was born and raised in Dublin and educated by the Christian Brothers at Synge Street, along with his friend Donal Donnelly.He was discovered in the 1950s by Harry Dillon, who ran the "37 Theatre Club" on the top floor of his shop The Swiss Gem Company, 51 Lower O'Connell Street...
, reprising his role from Barbarella) has crash landed on Earth and is surprised and confused to find teenagers chanting his name. When he discovers that they are not chanting for him, but for an upstart pop group, he sets up shop beneath the concert arena and attempts to wreak havoc on the band that stole his name. Of course, he and his henchmen fail at every turn and Duran Duran continue to perform, seemingly unaware of the evil doctor's plans.
The video also included Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy is an Australian film director. His work is easily recognized by his use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights.- Music videos :...
's long-form video for "The Wild Boys
The Wild Boys (song)
"The Wild Boys" is the twelfth single by Duran Duran, released in October 1984.The song was the only studio track on the live album Arena, and was produced by Nile Rodgers, who had previously remixed the single "The Reflex"...
". It was meant to be a teaser for a full-length feature film of the same name, based on the 1971 novel The Wild Boys: A Book Of The Dead
The Wild Boys (novel)
The Wild Boys is a novel written by Beat Generation author William S. Burroughs. It was first published in 1971 by Grove Press.-Introduction:...
by William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
. However, that film was never made.
The expensive sets for the conceptual portions of Arena and "The Wild Boys" were built in the massive 007 Stage
007 Stage
The Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage is one of the largest silent stages in the world. It is located at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, and named after the famous James Bond film producer Albert R...
at Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
. some were also filmed at the nec, Birmingham where free tickets were given to fans.
Young actress Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Lynn Connelly is an American film actress, who began her career as a child model. She appeared in magazine, newspaper and television advertising, before making her motion picture debut in the 1984 crime film Once Upon a Time in America...
appears, walking across an empty stage, in one segment of the video.
A picture book of the movie, Arena: The Book (ISBN 0-9510118-1-2), was released in 1985.
A live album, also called Arena, was released in late 1984. It featured the two singles "The Wild Boys" and "Save a Prayer (Live)". The video for "Save a Prayer (Live)" is included as a DVD extra on the 2004 Arena DVD release.
The DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
for Arena was released in April 2004 and includes as an extra The Making of Arena behind the scenes documentary that was originally released as a separate videotape.
A 2-in-1 DVD set with both Arena and Sing Blue Silver has also been released by EMI.
As The Lights Go Down
The Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
concerts that were filmed for Arena (An Absurd Notion) were also edited to form the one-hour As the Lights Go Down concert video.
As the Lights Go Down is essentially the Arena video with only the music, although the live footage for many songs was edited differently. This version was never released on any consumer video format and only broadcast, first on Cinemax
Cinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
, later on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and other TV channels.
Arena (An Absurd Notion)
- The Return Of Duran Duran (the story of Dr. Duran and the band)
- "Is There Something I Should Know?Is There Something I Should Know?"Is There Something I Should Know?" is the eighth single by Duran Duran, released on 19 March 1983.The song was released as a stand-alone single and became the band's first UK number one record. It debuted in the #1 position on the UK Singles Chart on 26 March 1983...
" - "Hungry Like The WolfHungry Like the Wolf"Hungry Like the Wolf" is a song by the British New Wave band Duran Duran. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Colin Thurston for the group's second studio album Rio . The song was released in May 1982 as the band's fifth single in the United Kingdom...
" - "Union Of The SnakeUnion of the Snake"Union of the Snake" is the ninth single by Duran Duran, released on 17 October 1983."Union of the Snake" was the lead single from the band's third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger and preceded its release by one month...
" - "Save a PrayerSave A Prayer"Save a Prayer" is the sixth single by Duran Duran, released on 9 August 1982.The song was the third single from the band's second album Rio...
" - "The Wild BoysThe Wild BoysThe title The Wild Boys may refer to:* The Wild Boys , a 1971 novel by William S. Burroughs* The Wild Boys , a 1984 single by Duran Duran, named after the novel* Wild Boys, a 2011 Australian TV series from the Seven Network...
" (7-minute version video) - "Planet EarthPlanet EarthPlanet Earth may refer to:* Earth, the third planet from the Sun* Planet Earth , a 2006 BBC documentary series* Planet Earth , a 1974 sci-fi TV movie...
" - "Careless MemoriesCareless Memories"Careless Memories" is the second single by Duran Duran, released on 20 April 1981.The band's debut single "Planet Earth" had been a Top 20 hit, so it was regarded as a major setback when "Careless Memories" stalled at #37 in the UK charts, particularly as it was to herald the June release of the...
" - "Girls On FilmGirls on Film"Girls on Film" is the third single by Duran Duran, released on 13 July 1981.The single became Duran Duran's Top 10 breakthrough in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at Number 5 in August 1981...
" - "The ReflexThe Reflex"The Reflex" is the eleventh single by Duran Duran, released worldwide on 16 April 1984.The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger.-Song history:...
" (a remix version of the song with chained girls and ugly monsters) - "RioRio (song)"Rio" is the seventh single by Duran Duran, released on 1 November 1982.The song was the fourth, final, and title single lifted from the band's album of the same name, and was edited for its release...
"
Running Time: 60 minutes
The Making of Arena
- Introduction
- Concepts and windmills
- Costumes, choreography and make-up
- Hanging around with robots
- Milo and stilts
- Blowing it all up
Running Time: 49 minutes
Extras
- Arena TV ad
- Arena trailer
- Arena video mix
- "Save A Prayer (Live)"
- Simon Le Bon interview