Breaking Glass

Breaking Glass is a 1980 British film starring Hazel O'Connor, Phil Daniels, and Jonathan Pryce. The film is remarkable in that it also featured in the cast (sometimes in small roles) actors who would eventually become major stars of film and television: Mark Wingett, Richard Griffiths, Mark Wing-Davey, Jim Broadbent, Ken Campbell, Gary Tibbs, Peter Hugo-Daly, Derek Thompson, Janine Duvitski, Michael Kitchen, Gary Olsen, Jonathan Lynn, Zoot Money, Gary Holton, and Jon Finch. The film was co-produced by Lady Diana's ex-boyfriend, Dodi Fayed and written and directed by Brian Gibson

Assessment

The film is often held out as being an example of punk rock, but by the time it was made, the punk craze had died down and New Wave was taking its place. This is reflected in the soundtrack, which is more melodic and refined, partly thanks to the involvement of veteran producer Tony Visconti. Visconti later claimed to have had difficulties with the recording due to O'Connor's lack of ability, however this is not apparent on the finished product. The music strongly features saxophones, played in the movie by Pryce's character. Pryce in fact learned all the saxophone parts, so the fingering is correct, but his playing was not used in the soundtrack.

Related Topics:
Punk rock - New Wave - Tony Visconti - Saxophone

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The film is also often cited as showing the mood of Mrs Thatcher's Britain, with a rebellious teenage underclass, public unrest, and racial or class tensions. However true this may be, the film was actually made before Mrs Thatcher was elected.

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