Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 31, 2023

Lou Adler's "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains" (1982) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include archival audio commentary by Diane Lane and Laura Dern; archival audio commentary by Lou Adler; new audio interview with actress Marin Kanter; vintage promotional materials for the film; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

During the late 1990s, I was in the Seattle area with a friend to see an unknown local group that supposedly sounded like another supergroup we both liked a lot. The supergroup was Mad Season. Its members were Layne Staley of Alice Chains, Mike McReady of Pearl Jam, Barret Martin of Screaming Trees, and John Baker Saunders. Mad Season produced only one album, Above, which in my humble opinion has some of the very best music to emerge from the local grunge scene. Ironically, Above is virtually impossible to describe as a grunge album. Had it emerged during the 1970s when psychedelic and dope rock was huge, it instantly would have acquired classic status. My friend believed so too, which is why when he compared the other group to Mad Season and invited me to see them performing, I instantly agreed to join him.

The club where the other group played was small but only half of it was full. I was not surprised because the show was during the week. The weekends were reserved for the bigger bands that attracted more people willing to spend more. However, this club was probably one of the biggest the band had been booked to play in because its members looked nervous when they appeared on the stage. Also, there was that unmistakable static that always reveals inexperience.

I found out what my friend meant that the group sounded like Mad Season about fifteen or so minutes late. Technically, the group did not perform like Mad Season but they sounded like they were very much in the zone. Their music was intimate and trippy, occasionally edgy too, but it was not grunge. A few decades earlier, a smart producer would have created a pretty good concept album with it. That night, I was convinced that it was only a matter of time before this group does an album for one of the many independent labels in the area. However, the band fell apart sometime after I and my friend it in the club. Why? Apparently, it had a few genuinely angry members that did not want to sell out and the rest did not want to waste their time playing only for local glory. I could be wrong but I do not think that the band ever recorded any of their original music.

Lou Adler’s Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains reminded me of this failed group from Seattle because it is about another group like it. Well, sort of. The Fabulous Stains comes from the fictional industrial town of Charleston, Pennsylvania, and is essentially a bunch of angry teenage girls that do a lot of bad punk poetry while trying to hit a couple of notes right. After their leader, Corinne (Diane Lane), pops up on the radar of traveling British punk ‘star’ Billy (Ray Winstone), The Fabulous Stains get a chance to perform as a supporting act for The Looters, but instead of making the best of it choose not to sell out and fall apart.

The only thing Adler’s film gets one hundred percent right is that the music industry has always had a way of transforming a rebellious group. If a true rebellious group did not reveal a willingness to change, the music industry promptly kneecapped it and replaced it with another group that would play by the rules. It is sad but true.

The rest of the material in Adler’s film is neither illuminating nor entertaining. It is very silly, unfocused, and oddly artificial, frequently resembling the type of uneven material that early casting sessions could produce. For example, while Lane and Winstone manage to stay energetic the overall quality of their acting is seriously disappointing. Their characters are supposed to connect and reject each other in ways that shape their personalities and reveal what keeps them angry, but the two simply go through situations that look completely staged and destroy their credibility. Also, the secondary characters played by Laura Dern and Marin Kanter are just not managed right, which is why they never seem to have a legit presence in the evolving drama.

At the right time, David Clennon’s promoter accurately describes Lane’s band: "You were just a concept, and you've blown the concept." But his statement sums up perfectly Adler’s film as well. It is easy to tell that there was some potential in it, quite promising too, but it is even easier to conclude that it was wasted.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Ladies and Gentlemen: The Fabulous Stains arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

The release is sourced from an older master that was supplied by Paramount Pictures. This master is not compromised by digital tinkering and as a result large portions of the film look quite good, but its age shows. For example, many close-ups boast pretty good delineation, clarity, and depth, but some wider panoramic shots are not as pleasing. Usually, it is because finer nuances and shadow definition are just not optimal, but in some areas the surface of these visuals reveals signs of aging as well. Interestingly, plenty of highlights hold up rather nicely. Color balance is good. However, saturation and balance can be improved. Some of the darker indoor footage can benefit the most from a fresh new 4K master with healthy ranges of primaries and supporting nuances. Image stability is good. I spotted a few tiny nicks, but there are no distracting large cuts, debris, warped or torn frames to report in our review. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the entire film with the LPCM 2.0 track. Some years ago, this track must have been remastered because it is very, very good. I did not detect any troubling anomalies and thought that it was very healthy. The dialog and the music were nicely balanced, too. Is there any room for improvement? It is possible that some cosmetic improvements can be introduced in some areas, but I think that the basics are as good as they could be.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - this archival audio commentary was recorded by director Lou Adler. The bulk of the information that is shared in the commentary addresses the casting process, the shooting of the film in Vancouver, particular lensing choices that were made, the music that was used, etc. There are some interesting comments about the punk/rock lifestyle and the many myths that defined it.

• Commentary Two - this archival audio commentary was recorded by Diane Lane and Laura Dern. The two actresses recall where and how different parts of the film were shot as well as their interactions with the rest of the cast and Lou Adler, and discuss their characters and dilemmas, how some of the funny and tragic overlap throughout the film, etc.

• Commentary Three - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Lee Gambin and musician/journalist Allison Wolfe.

• "I Don't Put Out: Punk, Anger, X Feminism" - this new video essay was created by critic Kat Ellinger. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• "Lizard Music: The Late Night Culture of The Fabulous Stains" - this new video essay was created by author Sara Marcus. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Interview with Marin Kanter - in this new audio interview, actress Marin Kanter (Tracy Burns) recalls her involvement with Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains. The interview is conducted by Lee Gambin. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• Interview with Debbie Rochon - in this new video interview, actress Debbie Rochon recalls how she ended up contributing to Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains and explains how the film changed her life. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Photo Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Contrary to claims made by various critics over the years, Ladies and Gentlemen: The Fabulous Stains is not a good film. Despite trying hard to say something meaningful, it looks very silly, unfocused, and oddly artificial, frequently resembling a collection of casting tests. I did not find it appealing even as a nostalgia fix. Via Vision Entertainment's release is sourced from an older but rather good organic master that was supplied by Paramount Pictures.