ABBA: The Movie: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:23, 2 January 2006

Latest revision as of 15:14, 6 August 2025

(403 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|1977 film by Lasse Hallström}}

{{Infobox_Film

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}

|name = ABBA - The Movie

{{Infobox film

|image = abbamovieposter.jpg

| name = ABBA: The Movie

|caption = ''Wimbledon'' film poster

| image = abbamovieposter.jpg

|director = [[Lasse Hallström]]

|writer = [[Robert Caswell]],<br>[[Lasse Hallström]]<br>

|starring = [[Anni-Frid Lyngstad]],<br>[[Benny Andersson]],<br>[[Björn Ulvaeus]],<br>[[Agnetha Fältskog]],<br>[[Robert Hughes]],<br>[[Tom Oliver]]

|producer = [[Stikkan Anderson]],<br>[[Reg Grundy]]

|distributor= [[Universal Music]]

|budget = |

|released = [[26 December]] [[1977]]

|runtime = 96 mins

|language = English, Swedish

|imdb_id = 0075617

|}}

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = [[Lasse Hallström]]

| producer = {{ubl|[[Stig Anderson]]|[[Reg Grundy]]}}

| writer = {{ubl|Lasse Hallström|[[Robert Caswell]]}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

* [[Anni-Frid Lyngstad]]

* [[Benny Andersson]]

* [[Björn Ulvaeus]]

* [[Agnetha Fältskog]]

* [[Robert Hughes (Australian actor)|Robert Hughes]]

* [[Tom Oliver]]

}}

| music = {{ubl|Stig Anderson|Benny Andersson|Björn Ulvaeus}}

| cinematography = {{ubl|Jack Churchill|Paul Onorato}}

| editing = {{ubl|Lasse Hallström|Malou Hallström|Ulf Neidermar}}

| studio = {{ubl|[[Polar Music|Polar Music International]]|[[Reg Grundy Organisation|Reg Grundy Productions]]}}

| distributor = [[SF Studios|Svensk Filmindustri]]<br>[[Warner Bros. Pictures|Warner Bros.]]<br>[[PolyGram Entertainment]]<br>{{small|([[Universal Music Group|UMG's]] [[Polydor Records]])}}

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1977|12|15|Australia|1977|12|26|Sweden}}

| runtime = 96 minutes

| country = {{ubl|Sweden|Australia}}

| language = {{ubl|English|Swedish}}

| budget =

| gross = [[Swedish krona|SEK]] 5.3 million

}}

'''''ABBA: The Movie'''''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|b|ə}} {{respell|AB|ə}}, {{IPA|sv|ˈâbːa|lang}}; stylized as '''''АᗺBA: The Movie'''''}} is a feature1977 length[[mockumentary]] [[filmcomedy-drama]] film about the Swedish pop group [[ABBA]]'s [[1977ABBA: European & Australian Tour|Australian tour]]. An [[Australiaco-production (media)|international co-production]]n from the band's native Sweden and the tour.'s ItAustralia, the film was directed by [[Lasse Hallström]], who directedpreviously allhelmed most of the groupband's videos,. andIts whorelease wentcoincided on to greater things.with ''[[ABBA: The MovieAlbum]]'', hasthe becomegroup's somethingfifth studio album, and features many songs from that album as well as many of atheir [[cultearlier film]]hits, bothand amongone, Abba"Get fanson andthe studentsCarousel", ofunavailable [[kitsch]]anywhere else.

Theatrically released in December 1977 in Sweden and Australia, it made its way overseas throughout 1978–79. The film was a box office success and received positive reviews from critics, while gaining an enthusiastic response from ABBA fans.

The film's release coincided with the release of ''[[The Album|ABBA: The Album]]'', that year's studio album from the group, and features many songs from that album as well as many of their earlier hits, and one, ''Get On The Carousel'', unavailable anywhere else.

==Plot==

''The Movie'' also featured a number of film-making firsts, including the first use of the [[flutterbox]], subsequently used on [[Star Wars]] and other films.

Ashley Wallace is a naïve DJ on Radio 2TW, who normally presents a through-the-night country and western-themed show. In spite of this, he is sent by the station's boss to get an in-depth interview ("Not an interview, a ''dialogue''", demands his boss) with the group, which is to be aired on the day ABBA leave [[Australia]]. Ashley, who has never done an interview before, fails, mainly because he has forgotten to pack his [[press pass|press card]], although the fact that he is unable to buy a concert ticket doesn't help matters. Armed with his trusty [[Reel-to-reel audio tape recording|reel-to-reel tape recorder]], Ashley is forced to follow the group all over Australia, beginning in Sydney, and then travelling, in order, to Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne, experiencing repeated run-ins with the group's very protective bodyguard, as well as his increasingly exasperated boss. Throughout the movie, Ashley is seen interviewing members of the public, asking them if and why they like ABBA. Almost all the comments are positive, but one man is driven mad by his ABBA-obsessed twelve-year-old son, and another girl thinks ABBA are over the top.

Eventually, Ashley has a lucky chance encounter with [[Stig Anderson]], the group's manager, in the foyer of ABBA's hotel, who agrees to arrange an interview, and gives him tickets to that evening's concert. But Ashley sleeps in and misses the interview time. Just as he has given up hope, he finds himself face-to-face with ABBA in an elevator. They give him an interview there and then, and he leaves Melbourne just in time to meet the deadline for the radio show to go on-air. He puts together the final edit in the back of a taxi from the airport, as ABBA depart Australia for Europe. With only minutes to go, Ashley makes it back to the radio station where, having set the tape up on the studio's playback machine, he relaxes at his control desk to listen as the interview is broadcast.

==The Plot==

==Cast==

{{spoiler}}

* [[Benny Andersson]] as himself

* [[Björn Ulvaeus]] as himself

* [[Agnetha Fältskog]] as herself

* [[Anni-Frid Lyngstad]] as herself

* [[Stig Anderson]] as himself

* [[Richard Norton (actor)|Richard Norton]] as himself, bodyguard and fitness trainer (uncredited)

* [[Robert Hughes (actor)|Robert Hughes]] as Ashley Wallace

* [[Bruce Barry (actor)|Bruce Barry]] as radio station manager

* [[Tom Oliver]] as bodyguard/bartender/taxi driver

==Music==

The film has a very loose plot which is little more than a vehicle to link together the concert footage. It concerns the adventures of Ashley ([[Robert Hughes (Australian actor)|Robert Hughes]]), a naive radio DJ who is sent by his boss (Bruce Barry) to get an in-depth interview ("not an interview, a ''dialogue''", demands his boss) with the group, whose fame and stature neither he nor Ashley have the first clue about. Needless to say Ashley singularly fails, and is forced to follow the group all over Australia, with repeated run-ins with the group's bodyguard (played by actor [[Tom Oliver]]) and his increasingly exasperated boss. Eventually, a stroke of luck has him bump into [[Stikkan Anderson|Stig Anderson]], the group's manager, who grants him an interview. Unfortunately, he sleeps in (the dream sequence was also used as the video for the single ''The Name of the Game'') and misses the appointment. Just as he is about to give up he bumps into the group in a lift, and manages to finally get the interview he needs, just in time to meet the deadline for the show to go out on air. He puts together the final edit in the back of a taxi on the way back from the airport as the group leave Australia for Europe. With seconds to go, the interview goes out on air.

* The introductory bars of "[[Hole in Your Soul]]" accompany the opening credits, but the song itself does not feature further.

* "[[Tiger (ABBA song)|Tiger]]"<ref name=bluray>{{cite web| url = https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/ABBA-The-Movie-Blu-ray/2142/#Review| title = ABBA: The Movie Blu-ray}}</ref>

* "[[SOS (ABBA song)|S.O.S.]]"

* "[[Money, Money, Money]]"<ref name=bluray/>

* "[[He Is Your Brother]]"<ref name=bluray/>

* "[[Intermezzo No. 1]]"

* "[[Waterloo (ABBA song)|Waterloo]]"<ref name=bluray/>

* "[[Mamma Mia (ABBA song)|Mamma Mia]]"

* "[[Rock Me (ABBA song)|Rock Me]]"

* "[[I've Been Waiting for You (ABBA song)|I've Been Waiting for You]]"

* "[[The Name of the Game (ABBA song)|The Name of the Game]]"<ref name=bluray/>

* "[[Why Did It Have to Be Me?]]"

* "[[When I Kissed the Teacher]]"

* "[[List of unreleased songs recorded by ABBA#1977|Get on the Carousel]]"<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.thedigitalfix.com/film/dvd_review/abba-the-movie/| title = Abba: The Movie Review {{!}} The Digital Fix| access-date = 6 December 2021| archive-date = 6 December 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211206165901/https://www.thedigitalfix.com/film/dvd_review/abba-the-movie/| url-status = dead}}</ref>

* "[[I'm a Marionette]]"<ref name=bluray/>

* "[[Fernando (song)|Fernando]]"<ref name=bluray/>

* "[[Dancing Queen]]"<ref name=bluray/>

* "[[So Long (ABBA song)|So Long]]"

* "[[Eagle (ABBA song)|Eagle]]"<ref name=bluray/>

* "[[Thank You for the Music]]"

A brief snatch of "[[Knowing Me, Knowing You]]" as well as "[[Dum Dum Diddle]]" is also heard while Ashley is stuck in a traffic jam; they're presumably coming from a nearby car radio.

[[Category:1977 films]]

[[Category:Cult films]]

[[Category:ABBA]]

[[Category:ABBA related]]

"[[Ring Ring (ABBA song)|Ring Ring]]" is performed by the members of a girls' ballet class Ashley speaks to for the interview while they are practicing their routines (the ABBA version can be heard in the background, which the children are singing along to).

[[de:ABBA – Der Film]]

[[sv:ABBA - The Movie]]

Other tracks include "Johan på Snippen" ("Johan Snippen") and "Polkan går" ("Polka goes"), both Swedish [[Swedish folk music|traditional songs]] played by Andersson on piano accordion, and the instrumental "Stoned".

The [[Country music|country/western]] track heard towards the beginning when Ashley is in the radio studio is an early 1970s Björn & Benny song, "Please Change Your Mind", performed by Nashville Train. The song was also recorded by this Swedish country band (several of the musicians are from ABBA's own studio band) and released on their 1977 album ''ABBA Our Way''.

==Production==

Hallström indicated that the script and plot concept was "conceived on the plane on the way to Australia". Initially, [[16 mm film]] was to be used but producers upgraded the project to [[35mm movie film|35 mm]] [[Panavision]] technology.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/22/movies/at-the-movies.html?pagewanted=1 | title=At the Movies | first=Dave | last=Kehr | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=22 March 2002 | access-date=9 April 2010 }}</ref>

Filming took place primarily in Australia, with some additional scenes in ABBA's native Sweden (but still set in Australia)—noticeably different from Australia.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090926202140/http://abbasite.com/articles/articles/abba-%E2%80%93-the-movie-on-dvd ABBA: The Movie] at Abbasite</ref> The sequences for the songs "Name of the Game", "Eagle" and "Thank You for the Music" were all filmed in Stockholm in June 1977, among the final work completed for the movie.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-06 |title=Liner notes, part 1 |url=http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/abba/studio-albums/abba-the-album-deluxe-edition/liner-notes-part-1 |access-date=2023-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406142526/http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/abba/studio-albums/abba-the-album-deluxe-edition/liner-notes-part-1 |archive-date=6 April 2016 }}</ref> During August and September 1977, overdubs were recorded for the live tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-06 |title=Liner notes, part 2 |url=http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/abba/studio-albums/abba-the-album-deluxe-edition/liner-notes-part-2 |access-date=2023-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406012400/http://www.carlmagnuspalm.com/abba/studio-albums/abba-the-album-deluxe-edition/liner-notes-part-2 |archive-date=6 April 2016 }}</ref>

==Release==

''ABBA: The Movie'' was first released in December 1977. The film was presented in several [[Eastern Bloc]] nations, including the [[Soviet Union]] where it was screened at two movie houses in Moscow.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rferl.org/content/The_Biggest_Western_Pop_Stars_Behind_The_Iron_Curtain/1986337.html | title=The Biggest Western Pop Stars Behind The Iron Curtain | publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] | first=Nikola | last=Krastev | date=17 March 2010 | access-date=26 November 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101128183843/http://www.rferl.org/content/The_Biggest_Western_Pop_Stars_Behind_The_Iron_Curtain/1986337.html| archive-date= 28 November 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> The film went on wide release in the USSR in 1982, where it became one of the hits of the year, gathering an audience of 33.2 million viewers.<ref>{{Cite web|language=ru|url=https://kinanet.livejournal.com/1797166.html|title=Общий список лидеров советского кинопроката по годам (1978-1989)|author=Сергей Кудрявцев|website=kinanet.livejournal.com|access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref>

A theatrical re-release occurred across Europe during July and August 2008 (around the time of the worldwide rollout of the ABBA-themed movie musical ''[[Mamma Mia! (film)|Mamma Mia!]]'') in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and Austria.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.artsalliancemedia.com/PressRelease-AbbaTheMovie.html |title='ABBA – The Movie' is back in cinemas and it's digitally remastered! |publisher=Arts Alliance Media |date=24 July 2008 |access-date=9 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707170246/http://www.artsalliancemedia.com/PressRelease-AbbaTheMovie.html |archive-date=7 July 2011 }}</ref>

On 17 and 19 September 2023, the film was re-released in cinemas for the group's 50th anniversary, its first wide release in Europe and in North and South America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/abba-the-movie-to-return-to-cinemas-for-two-nights-only-3481291|title = 'ABBA: The Movie' to return to cinemas for two nights only| website=[[NME]] |date=10 August 2023|access-date=26 March 2024}}</ref> However, Australia was excluded from this engagement, as lead actor Robert Hughes gained notoriety for being convicted of sexual offences against children in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outinperth.com/abba-the-movie-is-returning-for-special-screenings-but-maybe-not-in-australia/|title = 'ABBA: The Movie' is returning for special screenings, but maybe not in Australia|date=20 August 2023|access-date=26 March 2024}}</ref>

===Reception===

<!-- [[WP:UGC]] Rotten Tomatoes audience score not allowed -->

[[Margaret Geddes (writer)|Margaret Geddes]] of Australian newspaper ''[[The Age]]'' concluded that the film was "slick, competent and even for the non-convert entertaining."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Wv8QAAAAIBAJ&pg=5189,6212452 |title=Abba film industry is bjorn |first=Margaret |last=Geddes |author-link=Margaret Geddes (writer) |work=[[The Age]] |publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] |page=2 |date=24 December 1977 }} {{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Keith Phipps of ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'' said, "it's an act of brand extension, sure, but it's a lot more fun than the obligatory piece of product its title suggests", adding that it was ABBA's version of ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Phipps |first=Keith |date=2018-07-19 |title='ABBA: The Movie': Revisiting the Swedish Hitmakers' 'Hard Day's Night' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/abba-the-movie-700527/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

In a contemporary 2012 review, Brian Orndorf said "[the movie] is a strange hybrid of performance sequences, documentary footage, and staged shenanigans, yet it braids together wonderfully, creating a time capsule experience that's precious to any fan of ABBA".<ref>{{Citation |title=ABBA: The Movie Blu-ray |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/ABBA-The-Movie-Blu-ray/2142/ |access-date=2023-10-22}}</ref>

===Home media===

To date, four home releases have been issued: a single-disc DVD, a two-disc, special-edition DVD, a single-disc [[Blu-ray]], and a now-defunct single-disc [[HD DVD]]. All releases above feature a restored print with bonus material. The initial DVD, including digital restoration, was released by [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] in Australia on 2 October 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sbs.com.au/shop/product/category/DVDs/1301/ABBA-The-Movie | title=ABBA The Movie | publisher=[[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] | access-date=26 November 2010 }}</ref>

== Notes ==

{{notelist}}

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==

* {{IMDb title|0075617}}

* {{TCMDb title|486741|ABBA: The Movie}}

* {{Sfdb title}}

* {{rotten-tomatoes|abba_the_movie|ABBA: The Movie}}

* {{Cite web |url=http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=34568;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 |title=''ABBA – The Movie'' at the National Film and Sound Archive |access-date=28 May 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121127112139/http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=34568;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 |archive-date=27 November 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

* [http://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/abba--the-movie ''ABBA: The Movie''] at Oz Movies

{{ABBA}}

{{Lasse Hallström}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abba: The Movie}}

[[Category:ABBA]]

[[Category:1977 films]]

[[Category:1977 documentary films]]

[[Category:Warner Bros. films]]

[[Category:Australian musical documentary films]]

[[Category:Swedish documentary films]]

[[Category:1970s English-language films]]

[[Category:English-language Swedish films]]

[[Category:1970s Swedish-language films]]

[[Category:Films directed by Lasse Hallström]]

[[Category:Documentary films about musical groups]]

[[Category:Films shot in Sweden]]

[[Category:Films set in Australia]]

[[Category:1977 multilingual films]]

[[Category:Australian multilingual films]]

[[Category:Swedish multilingual films]]

[[Category:1970s Swedish films]]

[[Category:1970s Australian films]]

[[Category:English-language documentary films]]

[[Category:Disco films]]