What Do You Do For An Encore? - Pulp Film Thread

eamonn · Sep 19, 2026, 10:24 AM

I think for the likes of us, something comprehensive would not be commercial enough to make a film out of! Especially if it's primarily a concert film with cute narrative and archive bits in between.

I was curious as to how they'd manage both elements when it was said they were going through the archives.

Having chosen that way of doing it, and sticking to an economic running time, I don't think it could have been done much better. And for me, it's more watchable this way than if it had been a pure concert film with the 7 or 8 missing live songs.

I loved the use of photos and press cuttings overlaid on the screen and the animated drawings of Good Pop Bad Pop and the band timeline coming to life. All very appealing visually and faithful to the Pulp scrapbook ethos.

One thing I mentioned in my spoiler review (hidden above) is that if there was a glaring omission, it was a bit more chat and archive about the breakthrough years.

My brother watched it with me last night and he said he felt the pacing was off as the rise to success was quickly narrated and he'd love to have seen Countdown.

Obviously they didn't play that live but I do agree that the performance of OU or Acrylic Afts (Razzmatazz too if it had been performed) could have been added to flesh-out the giddy '92 to '94 years more.

liltman · Sep 19, 2026, 10:43 AM

Yeah, they missed a trick by not talking more about the early 90s... I thought they might during the Barry White segment... they could have had fun with the link between his space obsession/Countdown etc.

What I'd give to get my hands on all the archive footage... they did a great job and the surprises in your spoilered review were lovely. I don't think I've seen that clip of the 2011 reunion sugar conversation before, it was great to see Russell sat with them and I want to see more!

The animation of the band was nice and I think Jennings was a great fit for the tour and this film. He seems like a lovely guy.

I enjoyed the 2012 film too and I think it's nice to have two very different approaches to the two reunions.

Grateful more than ever for Sturdy's book though - would be great for a TV equivalent - though as was said earlier here, they don't seem to want that. Maybe something for the 50th anniversary?

eamonn · Sep 19, 2026, 10:56 AM

The Catcliffe sugar chat was from the 2005 BBC documentary The Story of Common People:

https://youtu.be/h3wUANrCwmU?si=Qn7MaF-8LyBRfshQ

saw119 · Sep 19, 2026, 11:22 AM

Quote from: eamonn on Sep 19, 2026, 10:56 AMThe Catcliffe sugar chat was from the 2005 BBC documentary The Story of Common People:

https://youtu.be/h3wUANrCwmU?si=Qn7MaF-8LyBRfshQ

And that's one of the best Pulp docs out there. They used an awful lot of No Sleep Til Sheffield in the new film. I might give Fanfare For The Common People another watch. There was a weird section where it was 1980 then it was 1985 and then it was 1981! I suppose only idiots like us notice that though.
Anyway, I snapped this on my early walk to work this morning

It's just up the road from where the former venue of the Ritblat club used to be.

liltman · Sep 19, 2026, 11:32 AM

Quote from: eamonn on Sep 19, 2026, 10:56 AMThe Catcliffe sugar chat was from the 2005 BBC documentary The Story of Common People:

https://youtu.be/h3wUANrCwmU?si=Qn7MaF-8LyBRfshQ

So it was! Shame on me, it's ages since I've seen that

eamonn · Sep 19, 2026, 12:01 PM

I noticed the same on the jump cut from '81 to '85 but I guess that can be explained by the lack of footage of any type til '85 which is a real pity. Sounds like they scoured the archives and that the "It" era will forever be under-served for moving image and live audio.

JohnPaul_II · Sep 19, 2026, 12:44 PM

Did anyone make it to Bar Italia to see the guys hanging around there? Apparently after the screening they all went there for a drink. Can't imagine they wouldn't have been mobbed. Maybe it was for a photoshoot or something?

Shame, as an adopted Italian I can vouch for the quality of the coffee in that place. Always worth a detour whenever I'm in central London.

saw119 · Sep 19, 2026, 01:00 PM

Quote from: JohnPaul_II on Sep 19, 2026, 12:44 PMDid anyone make it to Bar Italia to see the guys hanging around there? Apparently after the screening they all went there for a drink. Can't imagine they wouldn't have been mobbed. Maybe it was for a photoshoot or something?

Shame, as an adopted Italian I can vouch for the quality of the coffee in that place. Always worth a detour whenever I'm in central London.

I went there in the mid 90s and had a coffe there at 2 in the morning. Good coffee but it was heaving.

eamonn · Sep 19, 2026, 03:21 PM

Yeah, had a look-in about half an hour after the Q&A. Nick was on the pavement outside and I could see Miranda Sawyer in the doorway. Looked very much exclusive. Here's my brother posing outside.

HoltbyCity · **Yesterday** at 09:03 AM

I've only seen it once, but are a couple of the songs not from the London gig, but other shows on the tour? The first thing I noticed was continuity issues - Jarvis going from fairly clean shaven to more stubly and I think a jacket/shirt colour change too. I don't know if e.g. This Is Hardcore was possibly inserted from Birmingham a few nights later (where there were also cameras)?

saw119 · **Yesterday** at 09:08 AM

Quote from: HoltbyCity on Yesterday at 09:03 AMI've only seen it once, but are a couple of the songs not from the London gig, but other shows on the tour? The first thing I noticed was continuity issues - Jarvis going from fairly clean shaven to more stubly and I think a jacket/shirt colour change too. I don't know if e.g. This Is Hardcore was possibly inserted from Birmingham a few nights later (where there were also cameras)?

He definitely wears two different outfits on stage during the film. One is predominantly blue and one predominantly brown. They played 2 nights at the O2 and I just presumed they used performances from both nights in the film.

Fran · **Yesterday** at 05:25 PM

So much for "one night only" - I'm off to my local cinema in a few minutes. Should be fun!

saw119 · **Today** at 06:25 AM

Quote from: Fran on Yesterday at 05:25 PMSo much for "one night only" - I'm off to my local cinema in a few minutes. Should be fun!

So, what did you think?

Cehora · **Today** at 05:32 PM

QuoteHe definitely wears two different outfits on stage during the film. One is predominantly blue and one predominantly brown. They played 2 nights at the O2 and I just presumed they used performances from both nights in the film.

They all wore the same outfits both nights, but Jarvis changed his during the intermission. The first night, a camera was on one side of the stage, and the second night it was on the other. So I suppose they combined footage from both nights.