More than four decades after its release, actress Diane Lane is reflecting on the enduring legacy of one of her early roles in the 1982 cult classic Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains.
In a recent interview with Deadline, the three-time Golden Globe nominee discussed the Lou Adler-directed film, which is widely credited with inspiring the riot grrrl movement of the 1990s.
“It was so wild,” Lane said of filming the movie as a teenager. She expressed pride in its lasting cultural impact, noting a recent broadcast on TCM. “I was very vindicated to see that that film had the legs that it deserves to have, and it was wonderful to have been appreciated by people who went on in their music careers and were emboldened by our story.”
Lane emphasized the film’s authentic timing, recalling it was shot in February 1980. “It was very real to the times just coming out of the ’70s,” she explained. “Punk was already there and getting only more so. As a point in history, it’s lovely to say I was a part of it.”
In the movie, Lane plays frustrated teen Corinne Burns, who forms a band, The Stains, with her sister (Marin Kanter) and cousin (a young Laura Dern). After joining a tour with a more established punk act, The Looters, their band skyrockets to fame. The cast’s punk credentials were solidified by the inclusion of Paul Cook and Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols and Paul Simonon of The Clash.
Since its release, the film has been cited as a major influence by prominent musicians, including Courtney Love, Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill, and Allison Wolfe of Bratmobile, cementing its status as a foundational work for the riot grrrl scene.
