Week 3 Video Reviews
Girls On Film
Artist's Name:
Duran Duran. Duran Duran is a band from England who became very popular during the 1980s
Song Title:
"Girls On Film"
CD/Album Title
Duran Duran
Year
1981
Record Company
EMI
Director
Godley & Crème
Narrative of Video:
The video begins with the sound of rapid clicking coming from a camera’s motor drive, then moves to a member of Duran Duran, who is sitting in front of a makeup mirror. The next shot is of the camera itself, as someone loads film into it. In the background, the song “Girls on Film” begins to play. The next scene is a wide view that captures Duran Duran on an elevated stage in the background, and in the foreground is a boxing ring. The camera moves back in close on the group and behind them, a model approaches through a curtain. The scene switches back to the band and then to the inside of the boxing ring where a sumo wrestler is waiting. He is moving back and forth from one foot to the other in time to the music. The camera is moving toward him. The scenes change quickly as they move from the wrestler to the band and back to the ring where the model, who is wearing a sheer strapless top and a mawashi (the name of the loincloth worn by sumo wrestlers) is in the process of flipping the wrestler into the air. The scene cuts back to Duran Duran as flashes of different colored lighting wash over the band. Another model emerges and moves to the catwalk. She is wearing a one piece black bathing suit and high heels. As she moves down the catwalk, she stops and twirls around a couple of times. When she turns, you can see that the swimsuit is a thong in the back which exposes her rear end. The camera changes angles as she moves and at one point, it moves in very closely going from the ground up focusing in on the model’s body. Throughout the video, the flash of camera bulbs can be seen periodically going off in different areas around the catwalk. The next scene is the swimsuit model falling backward into a child’s wading pool. A man dressed as a lifeguard scoops her up and proceeds to give her artificial resuscitation. He revives her and they begin to kiss. As her arms move up around the lifeguard’s neck, the scene switches back to the band. The scene changes to show her moving back down the runway and the lifeguard is seen laid out on his back across the empty wading pool. Another model emerges and walks down the catwalk. The camera moves overhead. She is dressed in a very short white masseuse’s uniform and the camera moves in to show that she is wearing garters and white stockings. The scenes begin to alternate from the model to the sumo wrestler who is now lying on his stomach on a massage table. The model begins giving him a massage, first using a karate chopping motion on his back. But, as the music moves into a drum solo, the scene changes to the model squirting lotion on the sumo wrestler’s back and her massage becomes more sensual. The camera shows her moving away from the wrestler who has passed out on the table. A puff of smoke rises, camera flashes go off and the scene changes to a model sitting in front of a makeup table dressed in cowboy gear. The scenes then alternate between the band playing and the model in cowboy gear who is riding on the back of a black man wearing a horse mask. He is making motions as if he is a wild bronco as they move down the catwalk. The motions become more pronounced as they reach the center of the boxing ring. The camera follows her closely. The man crouches down and she gets off of his back kicking her leg high into the air. The camera moves in closely on her as she dismounts. The scene changes back to the band then to the cowboy model who dances a bit and then exits behind the curtain. The next scene is the boxing ring where the models, the sumo wrestler, and the black “horse”man are dancing. All of them are dressed in dressy clothing.. After they dance for a few minutes in the boxing ring, they begin to move back down the catwalk toward the exit. The camear moves to an area that is assumed to be backstage, as each person who arrives is greeted by two young men who help them
down some stairs. Some of them are handed what appears to be a glass of champagne. The group dancing continues in this area as the video comes to an end.
down some stairs. Some of them are handed what appears to be a glass of champagne. The group dancing continues in this area as the video comes to an end.
How the Music and Video Relate:
The theme of the song seems to match well with the video images presented. The tempo of the video moves well with the tempo of the song.
Review:
This is a very popular video that caused a great deal of controversy during its time. It is a prime example of the band using a music video to build its public image as men who can attract beautiful women as well as using it to enhance the popularity of a song. What I didn't like about it was the way it objectifies women.