The Boat That Rocked

Last night, a group of us gathered to watch again this wonderful film.

I cannot think of another movie that so perfectly captures my love for rock and roll and the power and joy of the music. It's also just funny as hell.

I've never bought or watched the American DVD, but I can tell you from firsthand experience that if you buy the UK Blu-Ray version it will work on American Blu-Ray players. Do that, and you get the full movie, as it aired in the UK, and not the cut version that ran as Pirate Radio here in the U.S.

Near the end of the movie, a character, The Count, explains that even though the ship is going off the air (a tiny spoiler, but not a big one, because you know it had to end eventually), the music will go on.

To all our listeners, this is what I have to say.

God bless you all.

And as for you bastards in charge, don't dream it's over.

Years will come, years will go, and politicians will do fuck all to make the world a better place.

But all over the world, young men and young women will always dream dreams and put those dreams into song.

Nothing important dies tonight. Just a few ugly guys on a crappy ship.

The only sadness tonight is that, in future years, there'll be so many fantastic songs that it will not be our privilege to play.

But, believe you me, they will still be written.

They will still be sung, and they will be the wonder of the world.

Hit it!

After the movie, we watched all the deleted scenes. As Richard Curtis explained in his introduction to them, they were all wonderful--they truly were--but many did not advance the plot, and the movie was already running long, so he had to cut them. Do not miss them.

They include this absolutely joyful scene, which I have posted on this blog once before.



As Gavin says near the end of this deleted scene,

You see, the thing that makes sense of this crazy world is rock and roll. And I was crazy to think I could ever leave it all behind.

From as far back as I can remember, up to this very moment, I have loved the music, loved rock and roll. I expect to want to hear it on my deathbed. If I don't, you'll know that what remains is no longer me.

It is a wonder of the world.