Madness Film Take It or Leave It Gets 4K Restoration

Madness was filming Take It or Leave It in March 1981. The film was conceived by Stiff Records executive Dave Robinson, who hired Chuck Statler to make Madness's first promotional videos. Robinson also arranged a forklift and kirby wire for Lee Thompson's flying saxophone performance in the 1980 Baggy Trousers video.

The film follows Madness's early period, with Robinson researching the band's beginnings and creating 30 scenes to tell the story. The first 20 minutes of Take It or Leave It are in black and white. Filming lasted longer than the planned one week, with the reported duration between two weeks and one month.

Madness had become one of the UK's most loved hitmakers 18 months after releasing its first single, The Prince. For Take It or Leave It, the band performed songs by Elvis Presley and Fats Domino and staged its own songs, while also preparing new material such as the funk track Don't Look Back, heard during the party scene. Madness released its 12th album in 2023 and recently completed a summer tour.