Review: FM

Blu-ray: FM (1978)

Films always reflect the time in which they’re made, and FM has to be top of that list. 

Q-SKY radio station manager Jeff Dugan (Michael Brandon) employs an eclectic bunch of ‘kooky’ DJ’s. He soon finds that corporate management expects Jeff to use the station\’s position at the top of the ratings to sell more advertising. Offering the US army chance to advertise (??) Jeff refuses, then leaves his job. The other Kooky DJs take control of the station in a sort of lock-in protest, and get the listeners to come to the station to join in.

The story unfolds across a background of concerts, broadcast music, appearances by various rock stars, mainly Jimmy Buffet (Dave’s fave) and Linda Ronstadt.

It was interesting to see Cleavon Little (Blazing Saddle\’s Sherriff Bart) make an appearance as the Prince of Darkness, QSKY\’s overnight host (Little had previously played a disc jockey in the 1971 film Vanishing Point), and Alex Karras as \”Doc Holiday\”, the midday DJ (Mongo) but I’m afraid this film, although advertised as a comedy, did nothing for me.

The jokes/set pieces weren’t funny and it was so dated I found it….boring.  However, the addition of No Static at All; a newly filmed interview with Michael Brandon, the star of FM, was a highlight.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation transferred from original film elements
• Uncompressed stereo 2.0 PCM audio soundtrack
• Mono 1.0 music and effects track
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• No Static at All, a newly filmed interview with Michael Brandon, the star of FM
• Radio Chaos, a newly filmed interview with Ezra Sacks, the writer of FM
• The Spirit of Radio, a newly filmed video appreciation of the era of FM radio and the FM soundtrack by the film and music critic Glenn Kenny
• Extensive gallery of original stills, promotional images and soundtrack sleeves
• Original trailers
• Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector\’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by writer and critic Paul Corupe

Review by Tina from a disc kindly supplied by Arrow Films.

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