Suit up, dust off your baggy trousers and head back to Camden. The brand-new trailer for Take It Or Leave It is out now, offering a first look at the BFI’s sparkling new 4K restoration of Madness’ gloriously nutty 1981 big-screen debut. Watch here. Before the suits, the videos, the Top 10s: this is Madness before anyone knew the name.
Part mockumentary, part time capsule, entirely unrepeatable. Returning to UK and Ireland cinemas on 2nd October, before making its long-awaited Blu-ray debut on 19th October, Take It Or Leave It is the brilliantly chaotic, funny and unique story of how seven Camden mates became one of Britain’s best-loved bands. A Restoration World Premiere and Q&A with members of Madness will take place at BFI Southbank’s NFT1 on 30th September at 6.30pm.
Made at the height of Madness mania, the film throws out the rulebook. There’s no polished script, no actors pretending to be the band, just Suggs, Bedders, El Thommo, Chas Smash, Woody, Chrissy Boy and Barzo playing themselves, reliving the rows, laughs, line-up changes, lucky breaks and legendary gigs that gave birth to the unmistakable Nutty Sound.
Shot largely on location, including Camden’s legendary Dublin Castle, the film captures the streets, pubs and venues that shaped Madness, while the soundtrack is wall-to-wall classics including One Step Beyond, Night Boat to Cairo, My Girl, Baggy Trousers and Embarrassment.
To celebrate its return, the BFI Blu-ray/DVD Limited Edition is packed with brand-new extras, including newly filmed interviews with Suggs, Mark ‘Bedders’ Bedford and director Dave ‘Robbo’ Robinson looking back on the making of the film more than four decades on. Fans can also enjoy Robinson and Chris ‘Chrissy Boy’ Foreman’s classic audio commentary, nine iconic Madness music videos, a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration, the original 1981 trailer and the brand-new restoration trailer. First pressings also include an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Andrew Pulver and Johnny Mains, alongside Neil Tennant’s original review.
Released alongside the band’s third album, Seven, the film also features John Hasler, Andrew Chalk, Ian Tokins, Simon Birdsall and producer Clive Langer, all playing themselves.
Directed by Stiff Records founder Dave Robinson in his feature film debut, Take It Or Leave It was built around real events and improvised dialogue, with Madness even helping to fund the production. More than a rock film, it’s a snapshot of late-70s Camden and a celebration of the idea that a bunch of ordinary mates could start a band and end up making music history.
Rarely seen in cinemas since its original release, Take It Or Leave It now skanks back onto the big screen in a stunning new BFI 4K restoration created from the only surviving 35mm prints and presented with its original Dolby Stereo soundtrack. The release also marks the film’s first ever Blu-ray edition, following the success of the BFI’s acclaimed restorations of Dance Craze and Slade in Flame.
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