Rent Take It or Leave It: The "Madness" Film (1981)
3.8 of 5 from 47 ratings
1h 27min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
This autobiographical, semi-fictionalised docudrama chronicles the origins of one of the most successful and enduring British bands of all time, 'Madness'. Starring Graham McPherson (Suggs), Mark Bedford (Bedders), Lee Thompson (El Thommo), Carl Smyth (Chas Smash), Dan Woodgate (Woody), Chris Foreman (Chrissy Boy) and Mike Barson (Barso), 'Take It Or Leave It' was filmed after Madness had enjoyed a run of Top 10 singles and endeared themselves to the public with their iconic music videos. The film follows the rowdy bunch of seven mates, living in Camden Town in the late 1970s, as they get together to form the band - the jobs they leave behind, the changing line-up, the rows, the laughs and the evolution of their distinctive ska-pop Nutty sound. - Actors:
- Suggs, Mark Bedford, Lee Thompson, Carl Smyth, Dan Woodgate, Chris Foreman, Mike Barson, John Hasler, Simon Birdsall, Andrew Chalk, Ian Tokins, Sandra Barson, Polly Perkins, Sue Foreman, Gary Dovey, Clive Langer, Carl Howard-Walsh, Wilfred Grove, Gerard Kelly, Paul Stacey
- Directors:
- Dave Robinson
- Producers:
- Dave Robinson
- Voiced By:
- Simon Bates
- Writers:
- Madness, Phil McDonald, Dave Robinson
- Aka:
- Madness: Take It or Leave It
- Studio:
- BFI Video
- Genres:
- Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Music & Musicals, Performing Arts, Special Interest
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 19/10/2026
- Run Time:
- 87 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Stereo
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.66:1
- Colour:
- Colour and B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Plastering and Pianos: The Making of 'Take It Or Leave It' (2026, 33 mins): a newly recorded interview with members of Madness and the film's director
- Audio commentary by Dave Robinson and Chrissy Boy (2002)
- Restoration demo (2026, 2 mins): an example of the restoration work undertaken
- Music videos: One Step Beyond, Bed and Breakfast Man, My Girl, The Prince, Madness, Night Boat to Cairo, Baggy Trousers, Embarrassment, and Grey Day
- Take It Or Leave It shooting schedule: Dave Robinson's original handwritten schedule for the film
- Image gallery: a selection of images from the private collection of Dave Robinson
- Original trailer
- Restoration trailer
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