Babylon (film)
Encyclopedia
Babylon is a 1980
film that depicts the struggles of a Black British
working class musician. It stars Brinsley Forde
of the reggae
band, Aswad. It was co-written by Martin Stellman (writer of Quadrophenia
) and Franco Rosso who also directed it. It also starred Karl Howman
and Trevor Laird
. Music was scored by Dennis Bovell
.
Brinsley Forde plays a Deptford
garage-hand by day and a disco-dispenser by night. The film follows him as he loses his job as a car mechanic (Mel Smith
in a cameo as his racist boss), gets beaten up by racist police and falsely charged, forced to go on the run, falling out with his girlfriend and finally stabbing a racist neighbour in anger and frustration. The film finishes with a posse of policemen smashing down the doors of a music hall.
Babylon was filmed on the streets of Lewisham
and Brixton, London.
The film revolves around racism from police and thugs, violence against blacks, poverty and disillusion and lack of opportunities.
Songs are by Aswad, Johnny Clarke
, among others and even a tune by Jeff Wayne
(War Of The Worlds fame).
Produced by Diversity Music, National Film Finance Corporation
, Chrysalis Group
and Lee Electric (Lighting), the film is regarded as a classic.
1980 in film
- Events :* May 21 - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is released and is the biggest grosser of the year ....
film that depicts the struggles of a Black British
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
working class musician. It stars Brinsley Forde
Brinsley Forde
Brinsley Allan Forde is best known as the founding member of the reggae band, Aswad and as a child actor in the children's television series, Here Come the Double Deckers ....
of the reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band, Aswad. It was co-written by Martin Stellman (writer of Quadrophenia
Quadrophenia
Quadrophenia is the sixth studio album by English rock band The Who. Released on 19 October 1973 by Track and Polydor in the UK, and Track and MCA in the US, it is a double album, and the group's second rock opera...
) and Franco Rosso who also directed it. It also starred Karl Howman
Karl Howman
Karl Howman is an English actor and also a British voice-over artist.He is well known but notable to many television viewers for his work as Jacko in the mid-1980's and early-90's BBC TV sitcom Esmonde and Larbey's Brush Strokes and as the title character in the series Mulberry .However Howman first...
and Trevor Laird
Trevor Laird
Trevor Laird is an English actor.Born in London, Laird appeared in the 1979 film Quadrophenia as Ferdy, a drug supplier for the main character Jimmy. His breakthrough role was in the 1980 cult classic Babylon. He also appeared in the 1986 Doctor Who serial Mindwarp as the guard commander Frax...
. Music was scored by Dennis Bovell
Dennis Bovell
Dennis Bovell is a reggae guitarist, bass player and record producer. He was a member of the British reggae band Matumbi, and released dub-reggae records under his own name as well as the pseudonym 'Blackbeard'....
.
Brinsley Forde plays a Deptford
Deptford
Deptford is a district of south London, England, located on the south bank of the River Thames. It is named after a ford of the River Ravensbourne, and from the mid 16th century to the late 19th was home to Deptford Dockyard, the first of the Royal Navy Dockyards.Deptford and the docks are...
garage-hand by day and a disco-dispenser by night. The film follows him as he loses his job as a car mechanic (Mel Smith
Mel Smith
Melvin Kenneth "Mel" Smith is an English comedian, writer, film director, producer, and actor. He is most famous for his work on the sketch comedy shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones along with his comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones.- Early life :Smith's father, Kenneth, was born...
in a cameo as his racist boss), gets beaten up by racist police and falsely charged, forced to go on the run, falling out with his girlfriend and finally stabbing a racist neighbour in anger and frustration. The film finishes with a posse of policemen smashing down the doors of a music hall.
Babylon was filmed on the streets of Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
and Brixton, London.
The film revolves around racism from police and thugs, violence against blacks, poverty and disillusion and lack of opportunities.
Songs are by Aswad, Johnny Clarke
Johnny Clarke
Johnny Clarke , Whitfield Town, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae musician.-Biography:Clarke grew up in the Kingston ghetto of Whitfield Town. In 1971 he won a talent contest in Bull Bay, his prize a meeting with producer Clancy Eccles, with whom he recorded his first song, "God Made the Sea and the...
, among others and even a tune by Jeff Wayne
Jeff Wayne
Jeffry "Jeff" Wayne, born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, is a musician best known for Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, his musical version of H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds...
(War Of The Worlds fame).
Produced by Diversity Music, National Film Finance Corporation
National Film Finance Corporation
The National Film Finance Corporation was a film funding agency in the United Kingdom which operated from 1949 until it was wound up in 1985...
, Chrysalis Group
Chrysalis Group
Chrysalis Group is a UK media company. It was founded by Chris Wright, who remains chairman and was listed the 1,000th richest person in the UK in The Times Rich List 2009...
and Lee Electric (Lighting), the film is regarded as a classic.
Cast
- Brinsley FordeBrinsley FordeBrinsley Allan Forde is best known as the founding member of the reggae band, Aswad and as a child actor in the children's television series, Here Come the Double Deckers ....
as David, "Blue" - Karl HowmanKarl HowmanKarl Howman is an English actor and also a British voice-over artist.He is well known but notable to many television viewers for his work as Jacko in the mid-1980's and early-90's BBC TV sitcom Esmonde and Larbey's Brush Strokes and as the title character in the series Mulberry .However Howman first...
as Ronnie - Trevor LairdTrevor LairdTrevor Laird is an English actor.Born in London, Laird appeared in the 1979 film Quadrophenia as Ferdy, a drug supplier for the main character Jimmy. His breakthrough role was in the 1980 cult classic Babylon. He also appeared in the 1986 Doctor Who serial Mindwarp as the guard commander Frax...
as "Beefy" - Brian BovellBrian BovellBrian Bovell is an English actor.He has appeared regularly on television since 1980, as well as featuring in the cult film Babylon released the same year. He has also appeared in the play Where There Is Darkness in 1981, winning the 1982 London Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Supporting...
as "Spark" - Victor Romero Evans as "Lover"
- David N. Haynes as Errol
- Archie Pool as "Dreadhead"
- T-Bone Wilson as Wesley
- Mel SmithMel SmithMelvin Kenneth "Mel" Smith is an English comedian, writer, film director, producer, and actor. He is most famous for his work on the sketch comedy shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones along with his comedy partner Griff Rhys Jones.- Early life :Smith's father, Kenneth, was born...
as Alan - Beverly MichaelsBeverly MichaelsBeverly Michaels was an American-actress ; once called: "The Bad Side of Marilyn Monroe." Michaels was often compared to Monroe during the 1950s as were other Hollywood actresses like: Jayne Mansfield, Mamie Van Doren, Sheree North, Cleo Moore, Anita Ekberg, Joi Lansing, and Greta Thyssen; and...
as Elaine - Maggie SteedMaggie SteedMaggie Steed is an English actress and comedienne.-Youth:After studying drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, she left the theatre for several years.-Career:...
as Woman at Lockup Garage - Bill MoodyBill MoodyJudge William E. "Bill" Moody has served as the presiding judge of the 34th District Court in El Paso since 1986.For the Professional wrestling manager William Alvin "Bill" Moody, see Paul Bearer.-2010 Election:...
as Man on Balcony - Stefan Kalipha as Fat Larry
- Beverley Dublin as Sandra
- Granville Garner as Sandra's Father
- Mark MoneroMark MoneroMark Monero is a British actor. He has had various roles including parts in Babylon, Wilt, Prayer for the Dying, Sid and Nancy and remains best known for his role as Steve Elliot in the BBC soap opera EastEnders , although he has appeared in many other television and theatre roles.-Acting:Monero...
as Carlton - David CunninghamDavid CunninghamDavid Cunningham lives and works in London. Cunningham's work has ranged from pop music to gallery installations, including work for television, film, contemporary dance, and a number of collaborations with visual artists...
as Sir Watts - Cosmo Laidlaw as Rastaman
- Terence Dackombe as Thug
- Mikey Campbell as Promoter
- Angus Zeb as Doorman
- Wendell McKellar as Doorman
- Frank Sylvester as Weightlifter
- David Gant as Police Commissioner
- Michael Gunn as Detective at Door
- Harry MillerHarry MillerHarry Miller may refer to:*Harry Miller , American basketball player *Harry Miller , American college basketball coach at North Texas, Wichita State, Stephen F...
as Detective at Door - Yvonne Agard as Mrs. Watts
- Alan IgbonAlan IgbonAlan Igbon is a British actor.Of West African and Irish background, Igbon has been a familiar jobbing actor since his teenage years when he took the background part of inmate Meakin in the 1979 cinematic re-make of the controversial borstal film Scum, whose character memorably launched an...
as Rupert - Donovan Platt as William
- Charles Cork as CID Detective
- Gary WhelanGary WhelanGary Whelan is an Irish actor, known for his work on British television.Although born in Ireland, Gary relocated to London when he was ten years old.-Acting:He has portrayed several roles in the police force...
as CID Detective - Derek Broome as Bus Conductor
- Anthony Trent as Fence
- Patrick Worrall as Spooky
- Malcolm Frederick as Wolf
- Vilma HollingberyVilma HollingberyVilma Hollingbery is a British actress, born on 21 July 1932. She has appeared in many TV programs and films since the 1960s, and is known for her appearances as Claudia Wren in Psychoville, and has also appeared in in A Touch of Frost, the 1980 film Babylon, Doctor Who and The Bill, in which she...
as Woman in Street - Cynthia Powell as Mum
- King SoundsKing SoundsRoy Livingstone Plummer , better known as King Sounds, is a Jamaican reggae musician who released several albums from late 1970s onwards.-Biography:...
as Compere - Ann Duncan as Beefy's Girl