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The Decline of Western Civilization

Documentary · Music

The Decline of Western Civilization

See it in a theater.... where you can't get hurt.

7.2(114) 7/1/1981 1h 40m
DocumentaryMusic

The Los Angeles punk music scene circa 1980 is the focus of this film. With Alice Bag Band, Black Flag, Catholic Discipline, Circle Jerks, Fear, Germs, and X.

Part of the The Decline of Western Civilization Collection
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Trailer

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Top Cast

Eugene Tatu

Eugene Tatu

Self

Alice Bag

Alice Bag

Self

Claude Bessy

Claude Bessy

Self

Dinah Cancer

Dinah Cancer

Self

Exene Cervenka

Exene Cervenka

Self

Lorna Doom

Lorna Doom

Self

Darby Crash

Darby Crash

Self

Don Bolles

Don Bolles

Self

Directed by

Penelope Spheeris

Production

Reviews

talisencrw

9/10

1/15/2016

Though I both am neither a punk aficionado (I have seen X live in Detroit in 2008) nor an expert on Spheeris' films (I have seen and enjoyed both 'Wayne's World' and 'Little Rascals'), this was very satisfying. The energy and spirit of these rebellious youths really comes across well, and the clever assertion from one of the interviewees that punk is simply another form of folk and protest music, albeit with different instruments and at a faster speed, rings true. Though I'm not privy to the Los Angeles scene (I'm from Windsor, Ontario, for crying out loud), it appears to be quite an accurate depiction, although it doesn't seem to grab hold, perhaps, of the underground movement. Seeing this, I look forward to the latter two parts of the trilogy, and only wish over the years that Spheeris h

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