Starstruck (1982)
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In this episode of *This Ends at Prom*, hosts BJ and Harmony Colangelo dive deep into the 1982 Australian cult musical *Starstruck*, a vibrant, underseen gem that defies genre and era. The film, directed by Gillian Armstrong and starring Joe Kennedy as the fiery, punk-infused Jackie Mullins, follows a working-class teen’s dream to become a rock star with the help of her sharp-witted 14-year-old cousin Angus. The hosts celebrate the film’s raw authenticity, its defiantly unpolished musical energy, and its celebration of queerness, working-class identity, and unapologetic femininity. They explore the film’s roots in Australian Ozploitation culture, its prescient critique of the music industry’s demand for conformity, and its unique place in the evolution of the new wave musical—bridging the gap between *Rocky Horror* and the MTV era. The episode is a love letter to the film’s joy, its flawed characters, and its message that true success comes not from reinvention, but from staying true to oneself.
Authenticity is more powerful than perfection—Starstruck celebrates being unpolished, wild, and real.
The film critiques the music industry’s pressure to conform, especially for young women and queer artists.
Working-class stories deserve to be told with grandeur and glamour, not just poverty porn.
The 1980s were a brief, golden window where weirdos, rebels, and outsiders could briefly own the pop culture spotlight.
Joe Kennedy’s performance as Jackie Mullins is a masterclass in embodied, fearless, and unapologetically feminine rebellion.
Welcome to May Musical Month & Starstruck's Obscure Glory
“I demand more working class rock stars.”
Gillian Armstrong & the Birth of a Punk Musical
The hosts explore Gillian Armstrong’s career, her desire to break free from period dramas after *My Brilliant Career*, and how *Starstruck* became her defiant, joyful passion project. They emphasize her early documentaries on teen life as foundational to her understanding of youth culture.
The 1982 Music Scene & Australia’s Isolated Cool
The episode unpacks the musical landscape of 1982—MTV’s early, arena-rock-heavy days, the rise of new wave, and how *Starstruck* exists in a unique Australian bubble. The hosts contrast the film’s guitar-driven, pub-based energy with the polished, synth-heavy global trends.
Joe Kennedy & the Making of Jackie Mullins
“She came in to that room fully realized, knowing who she was and how she was going to bring herself into this character.”
The Music, the Performance, and the Industry Trap
“The dream that Terry is selling her on is if you do really well here, you can perform the way you want at the opera house at the end of the year on New Year's Eve.”
“She’s so cool and she’s so magnetic. And the movie ends with this other band performing the title track while fireworks go off over the Sydney Opera House.”
“You want to believe in the idea of something and the idea of something can't let you down.”
“I have had too many circumstances in my life where I have had myself sold out to people in this way.”
Hosts
Harmony Colangelo
person
BJ Colangelo
person
Starstruck
media
Gillian Armstrong
person
Joe Kennedy
person
This Ends at Prom
media
MTV
organization
Chapel Rhone
person
April Wolf
person
Gut Health
other
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