Madness’s 1981 film *Take It or Leave It* dramatised the band’s working-class beginnings, combining comic “nuttiness” with a gritty portrait of 1970s London. Though largely forgotten after release, a new 4K restoration could establish it as an important and unusually honest music film.

The film was created by Stiff Records boss Dave Robinson, who financed much of its £20,000-per-member budget and used fast, improvised guerrilla techniques. Madness filmed without permission, recreated early performances and deliberately gave some soundtrack recordings a rough quality, reflecting the group’s difficult origins and teenage lives.