(Rhino, 87 Minutes)

www.rhino.com

The Fabulous Stains was originally released in 1981 and suffered from sporadic distribution before dropping off the face of the earth by the mid-‘80s. But you have to wonder how many youngsters managed to purloin a copy for themselves (perhaps taped from a screening on Night Flight, a network predecessor to MTV), as it sure seems like a primer for what became riot grrrl.

The cast of this indie gem is what first sticks out: Diane Lane as leader of the all-female Stains; bandmate Laura Dern; a punk band featuring Paul Simonon, Steve Jones, and Paul Cook; Fee Waybill fronting a dreadful Kiss knock-off; and Christine Lahti as the alcoholic aunt who has an unexpected moment of Learning And Growing. But frankly, the storyline (co-scripted by Jonathan Demme and Nancy Dowd—Silence of the Lambs and Slap Shot, respectively) is sharp enough that the film would be memorable no matter the cast.

Fabulous Stains is the kind of rock n’ roll satire that ranks up there with The Girl Can’t Help It. The Stains set out from their dreary industrial town seeking fame and, as can only happen in the movies, find it virtually overnight; their new fashion look, a song pinched from a rival, and a dose of well-timed TV exposure provide the basis for a bona fide movement. Ah, but at what cost? Predictably, it’s the backstabbing, rip-offs and fickle fans (but, oddly, no substance abuse). Yet smartly updated for the post-punk/new wave era with an additional obstacle of sexism. And there’s another scene you’d never see in these PC times: a pregnant teen knocking back a shot of liquor. Classic in every sense.

Special features: Audio commentaries from Lane, Dern, and director Lou Adler. GILLIAN G. GAAR