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The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

Play trailer Poster for The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle 1990 1h 43m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Filmmaker Julien Temple chronicles the Sex Pistols' tumultuous rise to fame, as told by their manager, Malcolm McLaren.

Critics Reviews

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 09/13/2007
3/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 11/02/2005
3/5
Bill Gibron DVDTalk.com 08/15/2005
4/5
[The Great Rock N Roll Swindle is] a document of a particular time and place, a rarified work of scrap art that creates as many myths as it debunks. Go to Full Review
Keith Breese Filmcritic.com 05/18/2005
4/5
a delirious hodge-podge that makes The Filth and the Fury, Temple's later "documentary" about the band, look perfectly staid Go to Full Review
Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews 01/14/2005
3/5
Shane Burridge rec.arts.movies.reviews 06/10/2003
A document that proves all the cynics right Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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05/13/2014 A really strange time is to be had by watching this. See more 05/13/2014 A very weird movie... it tries to be so punk and so different from other music films that it just alienates its audience and confuses you. There are a few amusing scenes, and it's full of famous punk rockers like Sid Vicious, so if you're really into punk music you may want to check this out. If not, stay away from it. For the most part it's pretty dull, but it's not a complete waste if, like I said, you enjoy punk styles and unconventional movies. See more 12/24/2012 Unusual, entertaining documentary about the Sex Pistols. See more andy f 08/08/2012 Hadn't seen this for quite a few years. It really is the quintessential punk rock movie. Mclaren's manipulation of The Pistols, lovingly crafted by Julien Temple. Iconic scene after iconic scene. See more 06/07/2012 a tell all tale & mockumentary of England's legendary punk band with the exception of that gawd awful sick brit humor....and that's why i own a copy:) See more 05/06/2011 great documentary, awesome soundtrack! See more Read all reviews
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Julien Temple chronicles the Sex Pistols' tumultuous rise to fame, as told by their manager, Malcolm McLaren.
Director
Julien Temple
Screenwriter
Julien Temple
Distributor
Virgin Films
Production Co
Matrixbest, Kendon Films
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 1, 1990, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
May 17, 2005
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)