Slade in Flame Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Slade in Flame Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 22, 2025

Richard Loncraine's "Slade in Flame" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute. The supplemental features on it include new program with Tom Conti; new audio commentary by Richard Loncraine and film critic Mark Kermode; arhcival program with Noddy Holder; archival documentary about the production of the film; vintage promotional materials for the film; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Reigon-B "locked".

Black Country boys

If Richard Loncraine had just copied the blueprint that Richard Lester used a little over a decade earlier to doA Hard Day's Night, he would have delivered a vastly superior film. Slade in Flame is a misfire, it is a curious time capsule. However, it is also an odd film, easily leaving the impression that Loncraine could not quite figure out how to do it right.

Slade in Flame comes from the mid-'70s and follows closely the rise, triumph, and inevitable demise of a glam rock band from England’s second-biggest city, Birmingham. The band’s name is Flame, but its members are the guys from Slade, which was formed in Wolverhampton in the 1960s. While following Flame and telling their story, Loncraine borrows material from Slade’s story and, unintentionally but perhaps unsurprisingly, predicts Slade’s impending demise. Interestingly, the prophetic material is the least intriguing and easiest to forget. Even more interestingly, the same can be said about virtually all of the music material, which is quite a lot.

The quality material that makes Slade in Flame worth viewing features two utterly shameless, incredibly manipulative band managers, competing for Flame’s riches and, in the process, revealing how the industry they are part of operates. The more aggressive of the two, Robert Seymour (Tom Conti), openly declares that his goal is not to represent Flame, or any other band that seeks a relationship with him, but to create a successful product and exploit it on the marketplace as best as possible. Seymour then hires Flame’s former vocalist, Jack Daniels (Alan Lake), to steal the band’s record contract from their first manager, Ron Harding (Johnny Shannon), who is not in the same league as him.

In the second half, Flame gets the product treatment Seymour describes, and the more its members recognize the damage done to their image and music inside the reality in which they have been locked, the more unattractive their success becomes to them. Unable to agree on a strategy to exit their reality and regain their freedom, Flame’s members turn on each other and, following a lavish party, choose to split.

All footage showing the members of Slade—Noddy Holden (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Hill (lead guitar), Jim Lea (bass), and Don Powell (drums)—performing is pretty underwhelming. However, it reveals Slade as it was – a fine stage act that frequently went overboard with already overpolished performances. Despite its popularity, Slade’s music was notoriously inconsistent, and the live footage reveals this too.

Loncraine worked with Australian cinematographer Peter Hannan, who a decade later would lense Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, Insignificance, and Withnail and I.

The British Film Institute’s Blu-ray release celebrates the 50th anniversary of Slade in Flame and introduces an exclusive new 2K restoration, sourced from original 35mm materials, and completed at Silver Salt Restoration in London.

Slade in Flame Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.36:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Slade in Flame arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute.

The release introduces a very solid new 2K restoration, prepared at Silver Salt Restoration in London. I liked everything that I saw on my system. Several darker areas from indoor and nighttime footage should convey slightly better fine dark nuances, but delineation, clarity, and depth are still very pleasing. There are no traces of problematic digital adjustments. Grain is nicely exposed. In select areas, some fluctuations are noticeable, but they are introduced by the original cinematography, not poor digital work. Color reproduction and balance are very good. In fact, both are so convincing that I would not be surprised if the 2K master was sourced from an interpositive, or if an interpositive was referenced while it was finalized. Image stability is excellent. I did not notice any distracting surface imperfections to report in our review. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Slade in Flame Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

The quality of the lossless track is difficult to judge. In many areas, and not only during the stage acts, there are various fluctuations, affecting roundness and dynamic stability. I suspect all of these fluctuations are inherited because Richard Loncraine shot the film more or less like a documentary feature, but it could be that aging has contributed as well. Clarity and sharpness are still good, and there are no serious anomalies, so it is very easy to follow the dialog. However, I must warn that some of the accents that are heard throughout the film are quite thick.

Slade in Flame Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Make Way For Noddy - in this new program, Tom Conti recalls how the opportunity to be part of Slade in Flame came along and discusses his involvement with the film. Conti has some particularly interesting comments about Richard Loncraine's working methods -- Slade in Flame was his first feature films -- and his interactions with the members of Slade. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Noddy Holder - presented here is the full, uncut version of an archival program in which Noddy Holder recalls how the idea for Slade in Flame emerged and what it was like for Slade to work with Richard Loncraine and other cast members. Holder also comments on the tone and some of the themes of the film. Portions of this material were used in The Making of Slade in Flame. The program was produced in 2002. In English, not subtitled. (54 min).

• From a Spark to a Flame - this archival documentary takes a closer look at the production of Slade in Flame and features interviews with the members of Slade, Richard Loncraine, and Tom Conti. Also, there are some quite interesting comments about pirate radio during the 1970s. The documentary was produced in 2002. In English, not subtitled. (59 min).

• This Week: Men's Fashion - presented here is an amusing fashion short from the 1970s featuring Tommy Nutter, the rebel tailor of Savile Row. In English, not subtitled. (5 min).

• Trailer One - presented here is an original trailer for Slade in Flame. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Trailer Two - presented here is a recent trailer for the new 2K restoration of Slade in Flame. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Slade in Frame - presented here is a collection of promotional images from the Slade in Flame era. All images courtesy of Whild John Music Ltd. Silent. (3 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by Richard Loncraine and film critic Mark Kermode.

• Booklet - a 26-page illustrated booklet featuring writings on the film by Graham Rinaldi, Jay Rathbone, Barry Forshaw and Bob Stanley, as well as technical credits.

Slade in Flame Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In an archival program, Noddy Holder mentions that the original plan for Slade in Flame was to show what rock and roll was behind the scenes, not rehash more of the glitz and glamour that most of its fans believe it is all about. I think Slade in Flame does a pretty good job of revealing the other side of the often very ugly business that the guys from Slade became acquainted with very well. However, a decent portion of it is supposed to be a good music film, and this is where a lot does not work as it should. It is mostly because the guys from Slade are not great actors, but I think Richard Loncraine could have done a lot better, too. Regardless, Slade in Flame is an interesting time capsule that is worth spending a night with. This combo pack introduces a wonderful new 2K restoration of it, completed at Silver Salt Restoration in London. If you decide to pick it up for your library, please keep in mind that it is Region-B "locked". RECOMMENDED.