Sid and Nancy (1986)

Morbid biographical story of Sid Vicious, bassist with British punk group the Sex Pistols, and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. When the Sex Pistols break up after their fateful US tour, ... See full summary »

Director:

Alex Cox

Writers:

Alex Cox (screenplay), Abbe Wool (screenplay)

Stars:

Gary Oldman, Chloe Webb, David Hayman

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 5 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Oldman	...	Sid Vicious
Chloe Webb	...	Nancy Spungen
David Hayman	...	Malcolm
Debby Bishop	...	Phoebe
Andrew Schofield	...	John
Xander Berkeley	...	Bowery Snax
Perry Benson	...	Paul
Tony London	...	Steve
Sandy Baron	...	Hotelier - U.S.A.
Sy Richardson	...	Methadone Caseworker
Edward Tudor-Pole	...	Hotelier - U.K.
Biff Yeager	...	Detective
Courtney Love	...	Gretchen
Rusty Blitz	...	Reporter
John Spaceley	...	Chelsea Resident

Storyline

Morbid biographical story of Sid Vicious, bassist with British punk group the Sex Pistols, and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen. When the Sex Pistols break up after their fateful US tour, Vicious attempts a solo career while in the grip of heroin addiction. One morning, Nancy is found stabbed to death and Sid is arrested for her murder.

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Plot Keywords:

sex pistols | sex | british | death | punk rock | 

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Taglines:

Love kills

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Alex Cox

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sid and Nancy: Love Kills

Filming Locations:

Bramley Arms Pub, Bramley Road, Notting Hill, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$2,826,523 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Initial Pictures, U.K. Productions Entity, Zenith Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the film's trailers was refused certification by the British Board of Film Classification

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Goofs

When Sid is being beaten up by three men on the railway tracks, Malcolm and one of the roadies come to his aid. After the roadie hits one of the guys, Malcolm walks up and points his hands/fingers in the shape of a gun. There is the sound of a gun being cocked and the men react as if it is a real gun. Malcolm even fires a shot from his "hand gun" into the man laying on the ground.

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Quotes

Sid: [in a taxi on the way to the airport] I wish we wasn't breaking up.
Phoebe: Well it's a bit late for that isn't it? Paul and Steve are flying to Rio, Malcom's in London, John's in New York.
Sid: Yeah, great. What am I gonna do?
Phoebe: Anything you like; you're a free agent now.
Sid: I'll go home; see Nancy.
Phoebe: Yeah, well do that.
Sid: Master Kung Fu.
Phoebe: Look try and get off the heroin OK? Come on promise.
Sid: Ok.
Phoebe: And cut back on the drinking all right?
[...]

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Crazy Credits

"And introducing the young Cat Vicious in the role of Smoky, Sid and Nancy's child."

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Connections

Referenced in Psych: Right Turn or Left for Dead (2013)

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Soundtracks

"I'm Not Your Stepping Stone"
Performed by Andrew Schofield, Glen Matlock, Dave McIntosh, James Stevenson
Written by Tommy Boyce (as Boyce) / Bobby Hart (as Hart)
© Screen Gems - EMI Music Ltd

User Reviews

Sid and Nancy (1986) , honest look at self destruction.

Finally upgraded from VHS to the special edition DVD of this Alex Cox film about the ill fated Sid Vicious & his honey Nancy Spungen.

Watched it twice in fact , just had to hear the commentary from Cox because he is a director who I admire for trying to tap into the conscious of the subject he tackles.

As an old punk myself it would be easy for me to be biased and lean with a nostalgic slant with the film, but truth is this film doesn't glamorise the duo because they are portrayed as the pathetic self destructive couple they were. The film perfectly captures the time frame of what is indisputably the music and cultural phenomenon known as Punk Rock, the only blight on this great piece of work is the ending, which as Cox agrees is far too romanticised after the harshness the viewer has just sat thru. Yet this film ranks as one of the most honest and frank music biography movies out on the market, and I urge anyone who stays away from it because of an aversion to Punk and it's offshoots to seek it out ASAP.

The acting from Gary Oldman & Chloe Webb is nothing short of amazing, the photography from Roger Deakins is very impressive......

...witness a scene as Vicious leaves a New Jersey prison and walks across a deserted scrap heap with New York prominent in the background, the twin towers cloaked in cloud . The direction is smart, funny, and handled perfectly {till that ending }, and the music arrangement is done adroitly by all involved, but I have to say that viewing it now and hearing Joe Strummer sing Love Kills at the closing credits gives me an added emotional kicker {SO YES A LITTLE BIAS HERE FROM ME }.

8/10