Tramps!

Filmmaker Kevin Hegge sits down and interviews many of the pioneering and leading members of London’s New Romantic movement of the 1980s. Originally born from the fading Punk Rock scene that dominated the '70s, the New Romantics quickly evolved from a group of lost soul young people rebelling against Margaret Thatcher-era Britain to a flamboyant Counter-Culture movement that would inspire new music, fashion, art, and Pop Culture.

Interviewees including Princess Juia, Judy Blame, Duggie Fields, John Maybury, and Mark Moore all express how the movement saved them, giving them the opportunity to unleash the creativity inside of them, and opening the door to new experiences and people that would positively impact their lives. '80s icons such as singer/songwriter Boy George and Indie Avant-Garde filmmaker Derek Jarman were among the New Romantics and many stories of their early careers are shared by the interviewees. The Punk band The Sex Pistols also got their start at a New Romantics event.

As someone who felt unique to most of the people around them, I personally enjoyed this documentary very much and could relate to many of the interviewees. While not a lost soul who wasn’t sure where I belonged in the world, I did feel quite awkward for a time and understood why many of the people who spearheaded and/or became big names in the New Romantics wanted to just do their own thing and not be told it was weird, strange, or something that wouldn’t get you anywhere in life and the comradery felt when they started meeting each other and fellow like-minded souls. Theirs was a totally different kind of rebellion, not one necessarily to spark change, but one to allow them the freedom to express themselves how they wanted and not be looked at strangely for it.

England had also abolished its laws against homosexuality, so the New Romantics movement also became the hub for LGBTQ+ people to finally be who they were in safe environments. Some elements in the music videos and the fashion of the movement sometimes do defy even what most outlandish artists might have been willing to push the envelope on, but most of the time the New Romantics were just inventing and creating new things that still play a part in the arts, entertainment, and fashion of today. An interesting historical anecdote is that fabric Lycra first surged into popularity thanks to the New Romantics. An interesting subplot involves member Christine Binnie co-creating another group called The Neo Naturists who would strip naked and have themselves painted in various colors, shapes and images that featured in art shows, interpretive dance shows, and music videos.

Vital Disc States: The Blu-Ray
Thanks to Dekanalog and OCN Distribution, Tramps! comes in a Region A locked BD-50 disc housed in a standard 11mm clear Viva Elite Blu-Ray case with new commissioned artwork and a panoramic image on the inner sleeve. Also included is a 31-page booklet featuring a forward by director Kevin Hegge and a brand new piece on The New Romantics by Alexandria Heller-Nicholas. Those purchasing directly from Vinegar Syndrome or select retailers will also get a slipcover with newly commissioned artwork limited to 1000 copies.  

Tramps!, was filmed in 2K and uses a mixture of recently filmed footage shot in the 1:78:1 aspect ratio and 4:3 full-frame TV footage elongated to match the new material. All of the newly filmed material looks very crisp and smooth, with little to no grain present at all. Vibrant colors aren’t on display too much in the interviews, but what is there looks very clear. Even the monotone colors come off well. The material utilized from a mix of 80’s British newscasts, home movie footage, music videos, and documentary footage is full of grain and the typical flaws found in videotape, but is surprisingly vibrant and crisp. Age has taken some of the vibrancy out of sharper colors, but the restoration both preserves and enhances these archival materials

Tramps! comes with three audio options: DTS HD 5.1 English, 2.0 Stereo English, and English Audio Description tracks; all three sound quite fine in presentation. The 5.1 track offers the complete experience with dialogue, music, and background noises in the archive footage segments all coming in clear without being distractive to one another. The 2.0 Stereo sounds clear as well, albeit a little softer with dialogue, music, and background noise. Some interview segments may sound slight echoey, though this could vary from TV to TV and sound system to sound system. Viewers can’t go wrong with either of these tracks. The English Audio Description track is primarily for the blind or visually impaired viewers and also sounds quite good, the special narrated parts and the regular audio timed perfectly so neither overlaps the other. 

• Audio Commentary with Kevin Hagge and Moderator Jay Chael: Director Kevin Hagge offers some interesting stories about the film, his creative process and some bio information on the interviewees. Interest varies based on viewers.
• Extended Andrew Czezowski & Sue Carrington Interview (91 min.): Hagge’s full unedited interview session with Czezowski and Carrington adds more interesting stories to the couple’s extraordinary life and careers. Suffers a little from the more mundane discussions, but overall adds charm to these two fascinating people. 
• Extended Judy Blame Interview (117 min.) Hagge’s full unedited interview session with Blame goes deeper into the fashionista’s life, adventures, and career, sometimes raw, sometimes tough, but also plenty of fun, good, and exciting times. Blame’s enigmatic and larger than life persona comes more alive in this extra, and brings the audience closer to him as a person. Some slow and mundane parts don’t lessen the flow of this interesting interview. 
• Short Film: Under the Influence (18 min) Experimental short film shot in Super 8 film by John Scarlett-Davis and starring Judy Blame and Iain R. Webb. Shot in 1980 with the intention of being the first in a series of underground Indie films, but not released until 2024, this Avant-Garde experiment in dance, movement, and landscape is a curious look at the New Romantics in their prime. Of interest only to those in the performing arts. 
• BTS of Under the Influence: Richard Sharah Works His Magic (1 min.) A quick look at makeup artist Richard Sharah at work. Interesting, but doesn’t add much to Sharah’s creative process. 
• Theatrical Trailers
• Booklet

The New Romantics movement is an interesting period of change in the world of music, fashion, art, and jewelry, showcasing how the dying Punk scene brought out a whole new kind of rebel, not to buck the system or complain, but to express themselves freely and eccentrically in what was an otherwise conservative period. Having only taken place in the United Kingdom, Kevin Hagge and his interviewees transcend to whole new audiences who can relate on some level to these experiences. Personalities such as Princess Julia, Judy Blame, and Mark Moore make for interesting subjects and their stories and recollections help bring the movement to life.

Tramps! brings a forgotten period from the late 1970s through the 80s back from the dead in a unique and interesting way. While I myself found the documentary quite interesting, eye-opening, and fun, I also realized it’s not for everyone. The subject matter is not controversial or offensive, but rather doesn’t speak and connect to every audience member. Some of the archive footage does contain some very Avant-Garde and bizarre imagery that will either leave some viewers scratching their heads at what the New Romantics were thinking or just plain not interest them at all. For many people, this will be a one-time watch, but for other,s the film is worthy of repeat viewings as there’s quite a lot of interesting stuff going on that they’ll want to check out again and again. A definite one to call Recommended, even if only once.