The Full Monty begins with archival footage from the 1970's proclaiming the many benefits of Sheffield. It's one of those goofy, hopelesly optimistic promotional ditties that local development agencies produce. It is immediately followed by grim scenes of desolate empty factories-empty shells which no longer fill the role established for them.
These scenes, of course, are a metaphor for the lives of the people who used to work in the factories. They have become equaly useless. "Scrap" as one character puts it. This juxtaposisition works reaonably well; it's fun too look back and have a giggle about how wrong the first film-makers were. And its not just these film-makers who were out of touch during the seventies. In retrospect, the seventies appears to be a decade particularly devoid of redeeming qualities.
But is that really all there is too it? I grew up in the 70's. Much of who I am was formed during the days of disco and Watergate. If the lessons I learned during those years were so far off base, where does that leave me?
It's like living in a skit by the Firesign Theatre where you wake up one morning to find that "Everything You Ever Knew Is WRONG."
Sometimes I think that's exactly what happened. The truth is that I did spend agood deal of the 1980's unlearning the truths that I had accepted in the 1970's. I go out into the world every day armed with another set of truths, and I am convinced that this time I have got it right. Just as convinced as I was last time....but what if I have got it wrong again? It would be a lot harder to retool my thought processes now. In fact cranial ossification is a real concern for old codgers like me.
Speaking of old codgers, one aspect of the Full Monty that made me smile was hearing Steve Harley in the soundtrack.
In the 70's, I thought that he was a great artist. Looking back, I was very wrong.. Harley had a talent for writing lyrics sprinkled with literary allusions and a liberal dose of adolescent angst, and layering them onto passable pop melodies. But knowing that his music was run of the mill doesn't lessen its emotional impact on me. Even 20 years later his songs are as familiar as a favourite sweater and I just plain feel good when I hear the opening arpegio to "Come Up And See Me".
I checked out a couple of Steve Harley websites. Apparently he is still trying to make a comeback. Part of me wants to go see him, but I know it wiuld be a disappointment. Some things are better if they remain a memory.