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Marianne Faithfull.

MichaelB wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 6:48 pm
Marianne Faithfull.

Beyond her incredible musical output, she was a very underrated actress, and I love her Ophelia in Tony Richardson’s misunderstood and neglected Hamlet, which transposed their minimalist stage production to a very avant-garde film

Her autobiography is a must-read

Sounds like time to listen to her version of The Ballad of Lucy Jordan in tribute, which is used in Dusan Makavejev's Montenegro. She also does a beautiful song at the opening of Geogre Sluizer's Crimetime which was co-written by Faithfull with Angelo Badalamenti (Here's the full version along with Sleep)

Derek Jarman did a good video for that, as well as for Broken English. Probably give the
whole album a spin tonight.

JSC wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:13 pm Derek Jarman did a good video for that, as well as for Broken English. Probably give the
whole album a spin tonight.

I was just about to post that

In terms of films, of course Faithfull's big one is the starring role in Jack Cardiff's 1968 Girl On A Motorcycle (aka Naked Under Leather). But she also had a big starring role in 2007's older woman-turned-sex worker film Irina Palm (NSFW!)

I was trying to think of some other films she was in. I remember her being in Kenneth Anger's Lucifer Rising as well as
a nice cameo in Godard's Made in USA. It was pretty disconcerting to see her in Ghost Story (1974) where she
looks deathly ill through most of it.

They Come At Night, the song she wrote on the night of the Bataclan terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015.

Also Sara Driver’s When Pigs Fly, probably my personal favorite among Faithfull’s film appearances.

Broken English is tremendous, the deluxe edition released overseas is worth tracking down, but she continued to make excellent albums throughout her career - Easy Come, Easy Go from 2009 is a particular favorite.

I love her live album, Blazing Away (featuring the recently departed Garth Hudson). I have such a vivid memory of hearing it the first time and just sitting there riveted for the whole thing.

dadaistnun wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:51 am I love her live album, Blazing Away (featuring the recently departed Garth Hudson). I have such a vivid memory of hearing it the first time and just sitting there riveted for the whole thing.

There's also a video for those who haven't seen it. (Sadly, it's in need of a new digital master, but this is a fairly decent transfer of an old video copy.)

Just checked IMDB and forgot she was in Marie Antoinette & Dune. But my favorite would be her guest appearance on Absolutely Fabulous.
Never stopped listening to Broken English since I first heard the title track on the radio when it first came out. The only consideration is which mix to play. 4 copies of the deluxe edition left available on discogs.

colinr0380 wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:06 pm Sounds like time to listen to her version of The Ballad of Lucy Jordan in tribute, which is used in Dusan Makavejev's Montenegro.

It's a very long time since I saw Montenegro, and I don't remember the song in it. However, thanks to its use in another film, I have images from Thelma & Louise in my head every time I hear it. I first heard the song on Radio 1 on one of Sunday night's request shows hosted by Anne Nightingale (RIP).

I may be wrong after all this time but I think it plays over Montenegro's final scene and end credits.

colinr0380 wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:49 pmI may be wrong after all this time but I think it plays over Montenegro's final scene and end credits.

It’s 100% used at the very start as the credits begin

I stand corrected!

I was lucky enough to see Marianne Faithful live in concert at the Sydney Opera House in January 2010.

She had come to Australia to appear in a 'Festival of Sydney' stage presentation of 'Rogue's Gallery' which also included Tim Robbins & Peter Garrett. The festival has been held in January for decades now.

Rogue's Gallery premiered to amongst the worst publicity ever when the next day after the presentation the media was reporting about furious theatregoers storming out of the show. It all sounded like a completely misguided experience for all.

As Marianne was in Sydney in January for Rogue's Gallery she held a one off concert at the Sydney Opera House. We had purchased tickets a few months before (we had great seats). My hubby is a huge fan of Marianne whilst I never had any opinion one way or the other.

Her solo show was a day or two after the Rogue's Gallery debacle and boy did was she nervous and uneasy during the first 20 minutes of her concert. Given the hostile reception to one can hardly blame her. However, she need to have been as the audience loved her and she delivered an outstanding concert performance. One of the best I've ever seen, and that is coming from someone not invested in her.

RIP - a real trooper and talent....

dadaistnun wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 3:51 am I love her live album, Blazing Away (featuring the recently departed Garth Hudson). I have such a vivid memory of hearing it the first time and just sitting there riveted for the whole thing.

Unfortunately the CD & Lp cut out some of the performance. I'd love to see a remastering of the film for blu-ray (or even UHD) for the complete audio, as well as better PQ.