We're the Stains, and we don't put out!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains, Lou Adler (1982)

caroline coons (who worked as a special consultant on this film) hit on the perfect outfit for the teenage girl: blouse/no bra, tights/panties/no pants, black high-heeled booties/red frilly socks. what i would have given to wear this when i was 15 (and now!) without the obvious consequences of wandering out in public sans bra/pants! how did edie sedgewick, blondie and the rest of them get away with it? bravery? the protection of wealth and fame? putting out?

anyway, here is 15 year old diane lane, looking the same (only infinitely radder) as corinne burns, aka third degree burns, who shouts from the stage "i'm perfect! but nobody in this shithole gets to have me, cause i don't put out."

you will most likely notice laura dern as her cousin jessica, christina lahti as her aunt linda, and, as the members of the band the looters - paul simonon from the clash, and steve jones and paul cook from the sex pistols.

you most likely will not recognize ray winstone as billy, the looter's frontman, dressing a bit like early joe strummer and talking like johnny rotten. but it's him - beowolf! the cockney uncle! the thug/first mate/police captain!

ladies and gentlemen, the fabulous stains may be the most joyful and adorable movie i've seen since up. it's also pretty fantastic as a feminist anthem, fashion spread, social satire, who's who of punk rock, and period piece. and, if for no other reason, you must watch til the end to catch of glimpse of steve jones wearing the coolest sweatshirt i've ever seen.