Tramps! Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Tramps! Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 3, 2024

Director Kevin Hegge (“She Said Boom: The Story of the Fifth Column”) looks to go beyond punk and assorted mainstream culture movements with “Tramps,” which is being sold as a study of the New Romantic era in British style, but it doesn’t share much interest in the topic. The feature looks to head deeper into counterculture ways during the 1970s and early ‘80s, with Hegge creating more of a tribute than an offering of journalism, driven to highlight the “Blitz Kids” experience in London, where young people all powered up on arts education set out to alter scenes of the city with their imagination. “Tramps” captures a time and place vividly, and the helmer has access to charismatic people willing to share their memories and dreams, contributing to an overall understanding of creative ambition.

Rising up in the shadow of the Thatcher era, the youth of London were armed with a level of comfort in their personal expression. Art education was open and free to all, giving students a chance to explore themselves, especially those from a lower-class background. This empowerment is tracked throughout “Tramps,” as these kids found their way into the changing shape of London, working systems of squatting and clubbing to help form a community of sorts. Hegge has access to some of these participants, including Judy Blame, Mark Moore, and Princess Julia, with the interviewees detailing the rise of empowerment, largely fueled by queer scene support and visual pageantry. And this experimentation was developed in offerings of film, fashion, and performance art, with people like Boy George and Derek Jarman involved in the movement.

“Tramps” follows the formation of the Blitz Kids, who ruled their own nightclubs and eventually attracted media attention as the punk scene went mainstream. Hegge offers an overview of subcultures and promotional activities, and there’s time spent with defined characters, including Philip Sallon and Leigh Bowery. Subjects and interviewees are interesting to explore, with most sharing tales of community and invention, working to present themselves to others while investigating their own sense of self. Hegge largely avoids a slide into the New Romantics conversation, staying clear of the familiar to expand on the scene during its freshest years.

Tramps! Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Tramps" delivers strong detail on the interviewees, exploring broadness of style, with clothing fibrous. Skin particulars are clear, capturing the textures of age. Living spaces are also defined, showing off interior decoration achievements. Color is sharp, working with makeup and hair color to provide some brighter primaries, and personal style is distinct. Older footage and photography is cleaned up to a certain degree, offering some vivid hues with art and club imagery. Delineation is satisfactory.

Tramps! Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix secures crisp interview segments, with the witnesses and authorities delivering sharp thoughts and accents. Musical moods are common in the documentary, with much of the score immersive, utilizing the surrounds. Synth is clean, and low-end is somewhat responsive with heavier beats.

Tramps! Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (30 pages) contains a forward from director Kevin Hegge and essays by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Iain R. Webb.

• Commentary features director Kevin Hegge and moderator Jay Cheel.

• Extended Interview (117:19, HD) is a 2016 discussion of personal history with Judy Blame.

• Extended Interview (91:23, HD) is a dual conversation with Andrew Czezowski and Sue Carrington, shot in 2016.

• "Under the Influence" (18:27, HD) is a short film from director John Scarlett-Davis.

• Behind the Scenes (1:25, HD) is a brief makeup application clip from the making of "Under the Influence."

• And Trailer #1 (:31) and Trailer #2 (1:02) are included.

Tramps! Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Tramps" does go into mournful mode in its final act, becoming more of a tribute than an investigative piece, losing some momentum as it tries to be respectful to those who passed away or flamed out. Hegge shows some sensitivity, which is to be expected when dealing with art, but "Tramps" is most involving when drilling into the ideas and offerings that contributed to the Blitz Kids and their distinct areas of expression and, in some ways, revolution.