Jimi Hendrix headlined and closed the Woodstock Festival starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, August 18, 1969.  Most of the 400,000+ crowd had left and he played to less than 180,000 people.  Bad weather and logistical problems delayed his two hour set, the longest of his career.  The performance was plagued with technical difficulties such as microphone levels and guitar tuning problems.  It was not his best performance, but it is nonetheless great, a historical milestone. 

Sixteen movie cameras from Warner Bros. captured his image and his long-time studio engineer/producer, Eddie Kramer, handled the audio recording.  Jimi played with a new band he had assembled called "Electric Sky Church" or the "Gypsy Sun and Rainbow Band", usually abbreviated to "Band of Gypsies".  It featured Mitch Mitchell on drums, Juma Sultan on percussion, Jerry Velez on congas, Larry Lee on rhythm guitar, and his army buddy Billy Cox on bass.

The songs performed as listed on the 2005 2 DVD set are:
01. Message To Love
02. Spanish Castle Magic
03. Red House
04. Lover Man
05. Foxey Lady
06. Jam Back At The House
07. Izabella
08. Fire
09. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
10. Star Spangled Banner
11. Purple Haze
12. Woodstock Improvisation
13. Villanova Junction
14. Hey Joe
15. The Road To Woodstock:  New documentary directed by Bob Smeaton featuring new interviews with Hendrix band members Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Juma Sultan, and Larry Lee, engineer Eddie Kramer, and Woodstock promoter Michael Lang among others.
16. Jimi Hendrix Press Conference:  Color film footage of never before seen Jimi Hendrix press conference held September 3, 1969 at Frank's Restaurant in Harlem.  Hendrix answers questions about his Woodstock festival performance, his rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" and the festival's cultural impact.

With the exceptions of Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox, the other musicians were not good enough, had not rehearsed sufficiently, and sometimes couldn't keep up with him.  But for a colossus like Jimi Hendrix it doesn't really matter.  He was magnificent!   "Band of Gypsies"?  During his three years as a Superstar, Jimi Hendrix never had a home.  He was a genuine counter-culture hippie.

The end of his set ended the original WOODSTOCK (1970) movie.  In 1994 the "Director's Cut" was released with 40 minutes added, including more Hendrix.  1994 also brought JIMI HENDRIX AT WOODSTOCK, a 57 minute video of his performance.  Then a video of the entire performance was released in 2005.

Jimi Hendrix is by far the greatest electric guitarist in history.  You may prefer Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck.  However, both these guitar players knew and played with Hendrix--and they both have said frequently that Hendrix is the best, in a league of his own.

What made this genius the best?  He was a virtuoso who could play the guitar behind his back, with his teeth, and with one hand better than Clapton and Beck or the other guitar heroes who just play boring blues licks.  Jimi invented his own musical vocabulary and his own style.  His unique guitar sound was totally unprecedented.  He was a showman who danced as he played.  And he sang his own first-rate songs, that are very personal.

Jimi Hendrix said about Woodstock:  "It was a success for the simple fact that it was one of the largest gatherings of people, in a musical sense.  It was a complete success compared to all the other festivals.  I'd like everybody to see this, how everybody mixes together.  It spreads harmony and communication.  There was no violence at all out there.  Nobody could expect this through a mixed group, the idea of non-violence, and the idea of let everbody in free.  And the idea of people really listening to music over the sky in such a large body."

More quotes from Jimi Hendrix:

"Festivals shouldn't worry about getting so many people.  It's a big ego trip now.  They didn't do all that kind of mess with Monterey."
"Imagination is the key to my lyrics.  The rest is painted with a little science fiction."
"My goal is to be one with the music.   I just dedicate my whole life to this art."
"If I'm free it's because I am always running."
"Music makes me high on stage, and that's the truth.  It's like being almost addicted to music."
"Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel."
"I just hate to be in one corner.  I hate to be put as only a guitar player, or either only as a songwriter, or only as a tap dancer.  I like to move around."
"Music doesn't lie.  If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music." 
"I'm the one that has to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to."
"Once you're dead you're made for life."
"When I die, I want people to play my music, go wild and freak out and do anything they want to do."
"When I die, just keep playing the records."

The Fab Four's first movie A HARD DAYS NIGHT (1964) was such a smashing success that they made HELP! the next year with the same director, Richard Lester.  It's not considered quite as good, but I prefer it because it's in colour.  The Beatles were disappointed because they felt like extras in their own movie.

A Hindu sect in India attempts to sacrifice a woman to the god Kali, the equivalent of the Grim Reaper.  The sacrifice cannot be completed without a ruby ring stuck on Ringo Starr's finger.  Evil Maharajah Clang (Leo McKern) and his followers in the sect chase the Beatles around the world in an attempt to obtain the ring.  Clang says, "Without the ring, there is no sacrifice, without the sacrifice there is no congregation, without the congregation there'll be no more me."  Ringo asks, "Look John, I've had some great good times with this finger, and how do you know I wouldn't miss it?"

(Ringo's hand is trapped in the sandwich dispenser)
Ringo: "Hey someone's got hold of me finger!"
John:  "Are you trying to attract attention again?"
(to Ringo whose arm is trapped inside a mail box)
John:  "What are you doing?"
Ringo: "Posting a letter."
(John and Paul try to get Ringo to cut his finger off)
Paul:   "You don't miss your tonsils, do yer?"
(a failed attempt to steal Ringo's ring)
Ringo: "Hey!  Have you been messing about with me in my kip?"
John:  "Eh?"
Ringo: "No, I mean, you know, with a fishing rod."
John:  "I wouldn't touch it with a plastic one.  What are you doing on the floor?"
Ringo: "I'm tired."
 
Supt.:  "Oh come on now lads, don't be windy, where's that famous pluck?"
John:   "I haven't got any, have you George?"
George: "Did have."
Paul:    "I have had."
Ringo:  "I will have! Lead on!"

(In disguise at the airport.  Newspapers have discovered their destination)
Ringo:   "Okay, who let it out."
John:    "Nobody'll know."
Paul:    "We're not going there."
John:    "We just put it about we're going there."
Paul:    "We're not going there!"
John:    "We just put it about we're going there!"
George: "Just so everybody would think we're going there?"
Ringo:   "I'd like to go there."
John:    "You wouldn't like it."
Ringo:   "Where are we going anyway?"
John:    "Never you mind."

There are side-trips to the Alps, a battlefield, Buckingham Palace, and The Bahamas.  Mad Professor Foot (Victor Spinetti) and his assistant Algernon (Roy Kinnear) also want the ring.  Prof. Foot says, "With a ring like that I could--dare I say it?--rule the world."  In the end, when Ringo is about to be sacrificed, the ring finally comes off.  Ringo puts the ring on Clang, and his followers attempt to sacrifice him.  

With a bigger budget for this movie, there is good location filming.  First they filmed in the Bahamas, then the Alps, and finally in London, Salisbury Plain and at Twickenham Film Studios in England.  The Beatles said the film was inspired by the Marx Brothers' DUCK SOUP (1933), and it is also a satire of the James Bond series of films.  As well, it does resemble the GOON SHOW.  

HELP! is a fast, frenetic and funny farce that sometimes tries too hard to be humourous.  There are lots of wild and silly gags in this inventive and rambling follow-up.  The absurdity and fast pacing led George Harrison to believe that Monty Python was a natural progression from the Beatles.  Harrison also admitted that the Beatles smoked marijuana on the the plane trip all the way to the Bahamas.

An instrumental version of "A Hard Day's Night" can be heard throughout the movie.  The other songs the Beatles sing are:  "Ticket to Ride", "Another Girl", "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", "Help!", "You're Gonna Lose That girl", "The Night Before", "I Need you", and "She's a Woman".  The soundtrack album is the Beatles' fifth album with two 1 hit singles:  the title song and "Ticket to Ride".  The album contains seven other songs:  "Act Natually", "It's Only Love", "You Like Me Too Much", "Tell Me What You See", "I've Just Seen a Face", "Yesterday", and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy".  "If You've Got Trouble", "That Means a Lot", and "Yes It Is" were recorded but not included.  "Yesterday" is the most recorded song in history.        

The cast also includes:  John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eleanor Bron (Ahme), John Bluthal (Bhuta), Patrick Cargill (Superintendent), Alfie Bass (Doorman), Warren Mitchell (Abdul), Peter Copley (Jeweller), Bruce Lace (Lawnmower), Deborah DeLacey (High Priestess), Zienia Merton (Marie-Lise), and many others.  The script is by Marc Behm and Charles Wood.  Incidental music is by Paul McCartney and Ken Thorne.  Richard Lester directed.        

The business reason for the movies was to provide soundtrack albums of Beatles songs.  Despite his reputation, Brian Epstein was a pathetic manager when he signed a record deal.  The Beatles were screwed for royalties.  However, the contract did not include movie soundtrack records and this is where the Beatles were able to make lots of money with appropriate royalties.

John Lennon said:  "The movie was out of our control.  With A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, we had a lot of input, and it was semi-realistic.  But with HELP!, Dick Lester didn't tell us what it was all about.  I realize, looking back, how advanced it was.  It was a precursor for the BATMAN 'Pow! Wow!' on TV--that kind of stuff.  But he never explained it to us.  Partly, maybe, because we hadn't spent a lot of time together between A HARD DAY'S NIGHT and HELP!, and partly because we were smoking marijuana for breakfast during that period.  Nobody could communicate with us, it was all glazed eyes and giggling all the time.  In our own world.  It's like doing nothing most of the time, but still having to rise at 7 am, so we became bored."

Paul McCartney said:  "We showed up a bit stoned, smiled a lot and hoped we'd get through it.  We giggled a lot.  I remember one time at Cliveden (Lord Astor's place, where the Christine Keeler/Profumo scandal went on); we were filming the Buckingham Palace scene where we were all supposed to have our hands up.  It was after lunch, which was fatal because someone might have brought out a glass of wine as well.  We were all a bit merry and all had our backs to the camera and the giggles set in.  All we had to do was turn around and look amazed, or something. But every time we'd turn round to the camera there were tears streaming down our faces.  It's OK to get the giggles anywhere else but in films, because the technicians get pissed off with you. They think,  'They're not very professional.'  Then you start thinking: This isn't very professional--but we're having a great laugh."

The original title for HELP! was "Eight Arms To Hold You".  India is never explicitly mentioned in the film; "Eastern" is used instead.  For example, Professor Foot cannot read a label because it is "written in Eastern".  Probably the Beatles did not make any more similar movies because THE MONKEES (1966-1968) TV show and their HEAD (1968) movie were essentially the same thing, but superior because the Monkees could act.  The Beatles were great musicians but not good actors.

Other Beatles movies followed, but they are not very good.  MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (1967) is basically Paul McCartney's home movie, and even Queen Elizabeth expressed her disappointment when it was shown on TV.  It has its moments and some very good songs, but is a poor production overall.  It was conceived as a way for the Beatles to do something fun and exciting after manager Brian Epstein's death.  The Beatles were in financial trouble and had to spend their wealth or else the British government would tax them into poverty.  So they started Apple Corps. and MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR was the first project they made under the Apple company.  Paul McCartney directed the bulk of the footage, and John Lennon probably directed "I am the Walrus" and the segment with Ringo's Aunt eating a large pile of spaghetti.  George Harrison probably directed "Blue Jay Way".  Musical numbers are quite good and the production of "Your Mother Should Know" with a dance segment of the Beatles coming down a grand staircase in white tuxedos is excellent.  The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band perform "Death Cab For Cutie".

Mrs. Starkey: "Now shut up!"
Ringo:           "Shut up--to me?  I've had enough of it!  I can't stand it any more!  I'm gettin' off!  Off!"
Mrs. Starkey: "Don't get historical!"

YELLOW SUBMARINE (1968) is an animated psychedelic rip-off of Peter Max.  The Beatles had very little to do with it, and agreed to it only to complete a movie contract.  They did not like the Beatles cartoon TV series.  Most songs are older ones, although the Fab Four did supply a few "rejects" and inferior new songs.  They do make a brief appearance at the very end, because they were impressed by the finished product.  I don't like animation and the over-the-top psychedelia is too much. The Beatles' voices are dubbed in by sound-alike actors.

LET IT BE (1970) is a documentary that shows the Beatles breaking up, obviously because of John Lennon's morbid infatuation with Yoko Ono.  Paul McCartney tries to take control of the situation.  This was so boring for me that only the loud music kept me from falling asleep.

Paul:    (to George) "I'm not trying to get you.  But I really am trying to just say:  Look, lads- the band, you know.  Shall we... try it like this, you know?"
George: (to Paul)  "Yeah, okay, well, I don't mind.  I'll play, you know, whatever you want me to play.  Or I won't play at all if you don't want me to play, you know.  Whatever it is that'll please you, I'll do it."
John:    "I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we pass the audition."

Chad Gates (Elvis Presley) returns to Honolulu after his discharge from the army.  He is unsure of his future plans but does not want to join the family pineapple business, despite pressure from his mother, Sarah Lee Gates (Angela Lansbury) and father, Fred (Roland Winters).  Instead he takes a job as a tour guide and his first assignment is a group of four teenage girls and their teacher, Abigail Prentice (Nancy Walters).  One of the girls is quite nasty and manages to have Chad fired.  His parents disapprove of his girlfriend, Maile Duval (Joan Blackman), and Chad leaves the house.
 
Chad tells his parents, "I like my job, mum.  It's fun, it's interesting and I meet a lot of nice people."  Sarah Lee Gates replies, "Nonsense.  Tourists aren't people. They're... they're tourists."..."Chad think of who you are, remember you come from a fine family." 
Chad:   "I'm sure you'll do enough remembering for both of us."
Sarah:  "Oh daddy, what did we do wrong?"
Fred:    "Offhand I'd say we got married."

Chad:  "Are you always so bored or is it me?
Ellie:    "Life is a bore I always say."
Chad:  "Oh, always."
Ellie:    "I've had 17 years of it."
Chad:  "I think you're a mixed-up kid that's too big for her breeches.
Ellie:    "I don't wear breeches."
Chad:  "You're getting out of here right now, Miss No-Breeches Bardot."
Ellie:    "Chad, do you think I'm pretty?"
Chad:  "I think you're pretty forward and pretty stupid."
Ellie:    "Wouldn't you rather hold me than Abigail?"
Chad:  "I'd like to hold you over a barbecue pit.  Back to your room!"
Ellie:    "I couldn't sleep there."
Chad:  "Well you sure can't sleep here.  Perhaps you should take a bath.  On second thought make that a cold shower." 

(Chad gives Maile a bikini]
Maile:   "I thank you for thinking of me."
Chad :  "Oh I wasn't thinking of you, I was thinking of me.  You wanna know something--on you, wet is my favourite colour."
Maile:   "My French blood tells me to argue with you and my Hawaiian blood tells me not to mind.  They're battling it out in front of me.
Chad:   "I've never seen such a beautiful battleground."
Maile:   "You're pretty sure of yourself."
Chad:   "Isn't it about time?"
 
Abigail hires Chad to take the group to Kauai.  There are many complicated situations involving love and misunderstanding, but eventually Chad and Maile get married with "Hawaiian Wedding Song" ending the movie.

Also in the cast are:  Jenny Maxwell (Ellie Corbett). Pamela  Austin (Selena "Sandy" Emerson), Darlene Tompkins (Patsy Simon), Christian Kay (Beverly Martin), John Archer (Jack Kelman), Howard McNear (Mr. Chapman), Steve Brodie (Tucker Garvey), Iris Adrian (Enid Garvey), Hilo Hattie (Waihila), Lani Kai (Carl Tanami), George DeNormand (Gen. Anthony), Gregory Gaye (Paul Duval), Clarence Lung (Lonnie), Michael Ross (Lt. Gray), and many others.  Writing credits are Allan Weiss and Hal Kanter.  Original music is by Joseph J. Lilley.  Norman Taurog directed.           

BLUE HAWAII is one of Elvis Presley's most successful films.  Elvis fans love it, and it also appeals to viewers who enjoy glamorous locations, and beautiful scenery.  It's like taking a tropical vacation without the inconvenience and horror of modern airport security. 

Much of the film was shot on location at Coco Palm Resort on the east shore of Kauai.  Elvis visited the resort often, always staying in cottage 56.  The rest was shot on Oahu.  Filming began on March 27, 1961 and ended April 17.  BLUE HAWAII also marks a distinct transformation in Elvis' personal and public persona.  Previously he was a conservative family man groomed as a star.  After this film he became a Las Vegas playboy, and his movies degenerated into mostly inferior "Elvis Movie" products with the same formula.       

The soundtrack album for BLUE HAWAII spent 20 weeks at 1 on the Billboard Top LP's chart in 1961-1962 and stayed on the charts for 79 weeks.  This was Elvis' most commercially successful LP and one of the most successful LPs of all time.  It was not surpassed until 1977, with the release of Fleetwood Mac's "Rumors" album.  Fourteen songs are on the soundtrack, more than any other Elvis film.  "Blue Hawaii" and "Can't help falling in Love" were hit singles and Elvis' schlocky "Rock-A-Hula Baby" sold over a million copies. 

Songs were recorded on three-track tape at Radio Recorders in Hollywood from March 21 to 23 in 1961.  Personnel:  Elvis Presley (vocals); Scotty Moore, Hank Garland, Tiny Timbrell (guitar); Alvino Rey (steel guitar); Fred Tavares, Bernie Lewis (ukelele), George Fields (harmonica); Boots Randolph (saxophone); Floyd Cramer (piano); Dudley Brooks (piano & celeste); Bob Moore (bass); D.J. Fontana, Hal Blaine, Bernie Mattison (drums); plus the Jordanaires and The Surfers (background vocals).

Elvis sings 15 songs.  "Blue Hawaii" was originally written for Bing Crosby in 1937 by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger.  The nicest song, "Can't Help Falling In Love", was written for the film by George Weiss, Hugo Peretti, and Luigi Creatore.  The other songs are:  "Hawaiian Sunset", "Hawaiian Wedding Song", "Island Of Love", "Ito Eats", "Ku-u-i-po", "Moonlight Swim", "No More", "Rock-a-Hula Baby", "Slicin' Sand", "Steppin' Out Of Line", "Almost Always True", "Aloha Oe", and "Beach Boy Blues".   

Lucky Jackson (Elvis Presley) is a race car driver and singer who goes to Las Vegas to compete in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.  His car needs a new motor and the money to pay for it is lost in a swimming pool.

Jackson takes a job in a Casino and romances Rusty Martin (Ann-Margret), a cabaret dancer who turns out to be his rival in the hotel's employee talent contest.  The on-screen chemistry between Elvis and Ann-Margret is hot, probably because they were having a real life affair at the time. This romantic musical is perked up by the glitz of Las Vegas and the exciting action of the racing scenes.  The other actors, such as Cesare Danova (as Count Elmo Mancini), are quite good.

Lucky:  "Good morning, I've been looking for you all night."
Rusty:  "You must be desperate to find a model that really needs fixing."
Lucky:  "It's what I call a real sport model."
Rusty:  "Can you lend me a car until you get mine running again?"
Lucky:  "We'll do better than that - I'll be happy to drive you wherever you want to go."
Rusty:  "And why should you go to all that bother?"
Lucky:  "Cause around here I'm known as your very bothering mechanic."
Rusty:  "I'm sure you are."

Lucky:   "Oh now I get it, you want me to use my bravado to block for you so you can... come right through."
Mancini: "That's right, I knew you were clever Mr Jackson."
Lucky:   "Well just a couple or three things wrong with your proposition.  I don't work for anybody, I never come second to anybody, and one small thing:  I intend to win."
Mancini: "What difference does it make?  Unfortunately you are on your way to Los Angeles and I have to work on my car, therefore we have no time for a beautiful girl."
Lucky:   "I guess you're right."
Mancini: "You work on my car, I'll work on your girl."

Also in the cast are:  William Demarest (Mr. Martin), Nicky Blair (Shorty Fansworth), Roy Engel (Mr. Baker), Francis Ravel (Francois), Robert Willams (Swanson), Jack Carter (himself), Bob Nash (Gus Olson), Forte Four (themselves), Robert Aiken, Holly Bane, Larry Barton, John Burnside, Carl Carlson, Ruth Carlson, Regina Carrol, Taggart Casey, George Cisar, Howard Curtis, Harry Fleer, Alan Fordney, Teri Garr, Barnaby Hale, Claude Hall, John Hart, Connie Hermida, Larry Kent, Lance LeGault, Rick Murray, Kay Sutton, Red West, and many others.  Sally Benson wrote the script.  George Sidney directed.                
 
VIVA LAS VEGAS  is one of the best Elvis Presley movies and the most successful.  Between 1961 and 1969 Elvis made 2 or 3 formula movies per year, and most aren't considered very good.  Except for JAILHOUSE ROCK (1957), VIVA LAS VEGAS is the only other bona fide Elvis Musical.  The songs actually advance the plot, instead of just padding the movie as they do in his other films.     

With very few exceptions, songs in Elvis movies are crap compared to his recorded music in the 1950's.  This tends to be true for most film musicals, but in Elvis' case I suspect that inferior songs were chosen by manager Colonel Parker in business deals that ripped off songwriters to financially benefit Elvis.

"Viva Las Vegas" is the best song in the movie, and is used several times.  When Elvis sings the title song, the entire performance is filmed live in one uncut take.  No other major Hollywood musical can make this claim.  Soundtrack songs were recorded in July of 1963 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood.  Personnel:  Elvis Presley (vocals); Ann-Margret (vocals); Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, Billy Strange, Glen Campbell, Alton Hendrickson (guitar); Bob Moore, Ray Siegal (bass); Floyd Cramer, Artie Cane, Calvin Jackson (piano); Oliver Mitchell, James Zito (trumpets); Boots Randolph, William Green, Steve Douglas (sax); Randall Miller, Herb Taylor (trombones); D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman, Frank Carlson (drums); Roy Hart (percussion; The Jordanaires, The Jubilee Quartet, The Carol Lombard Quartet (background vocals).   

The other songs are:  "The Lady Loves Me", "What'd I Say?", "I Need Somebody to Lean on Me", "C'mon, Everybody", "Today, Tomorrow, and Forever", "If You Think I Don't Need You", "Yellow Rose of Texas/The Eyes of Texas", and "Santa Lucia". "The Climb" is performed by The Forte Four.  Ann-Margret sings "My Rival" and "Appreciation" and duets with Elvis on "The Lady Loves Me".  The only recordings released with the film were the theme song and "What'd I Say?" as singles, plus a few songs on an EP.  Additional songs recorded for the film would appear in later album compilations, but the complete soundtrack has never been available.

Three songs, "Night Life", "Do The Vega" and "You're The Boss", were recorded for the film but never used.  "You're The Boss" is a duet by Elvis and Ann-Margret.  Some of the songs were originally Elvis/Ann-Margret duets, but Colonel Parker removed the Ann-Margret tracks because Elvis is the star.  The duet versions are now available on CD.

VIVA LAS VEGAS  took 11 weeks to shoot.  It cost less than $1 million to make, and brought in over $5 million.  The working title was "The Only Girl in Town" and in some countries it is called "Love in Las Vegas".

In 1958 Conrad Birdie (Jesse Pearson) a rock'n'roll superstar similar to Elvis Presley is drafted into the army. His agent and songwriter Albert F. Peterson (Dick van Dyke) wants one last hit record with lots of publicity before Conrad is sent to the army. He plans to have Conrad sing "One Last Kiss" live on the ED SULLIVAN TV show and give one lucky girl from his fan club a kiss on TV.

The fan chosen at random is Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) of Sweet Apple, Ohio. Conrad and Albert visit the small town and turn several lives upside down. Kim's father Harry (Paul Lynde) becomes obsessed, her boyfriend Hugo Peabody (Bobby Rydell) becomes jealous, and Conrad tires of show business and teaches the kids how to party, which gets him in trouble with the law. Complications arise when everyone, including Albert's clinging mother Mama Mae Peterson (Maureen Stapleton) and his girlfriend Rosie DeLeon (Janet Leigh) descend on Sweet Apple.

Harry McAfee says:  "No matter how many millions I make selling Speed-up, I'll still be the same humble, lovable guy I always was.  And if any of those hicks try to push me around, I'll break 'em... The next time I have a daughter, I hope it's a boy!"  Randolph McAfee (Bryan Russel) says, "I respect ya, Papa."  Harry replies, "I don't want your respect.  Who wants respect from a ten-year old?"

Harry:  "I know that showbiz type.  I never told you this, but one summer I worked with the circus... all those midgets... wild!  They're probably livin' in sin."
Doris:  "Harry Lionel McAfee!"
Harry:  "They've been engaged for six years.  Don't tell me they haven't..."
Doris:  "We were engaged for five years."
Harry:  "He's not as stupid as I was."

Doris McAfee:  "You know these adolescents.  Kim'll lose face."
Harry McAfee:  "And if I don't get him out that's not all she'll..."
(Conrad Birdie opens a can of beer, which sprays on Mr. McAfee)
Harry McAfee:  "That's my favorite brand."
Kim McAfee:    "Harry, do you have a cigarette?  I've run out."
Harry McAfee:  "So have I.  How about my pipe?"

Rose DeLeon: "Well we could sure use the money.  Any day now we'll have another mouth to feed."
Ed Sullivan:    "Rosie, you're not even married."
Rose DeLeon: "His mother!"

Mae Peterson:    "Now, don't try to pay me back, son.  I forgive you.  So what if you're an ingrate?  So long as you're happy."
Albert Peterson: "I don't wanna be happy."
Mae Peterson:    (sings)  "Kids!  Never once appreciate how I sacrificed.  Working, slaving, scrimping, saving pennies... and livin' with your father!"
Albert Peterson: (sings)  "Oh one last kiss... there never was such bliss... I love your dentifrice!"
Mae Peterson:    "Goodbye, Rosie."
Rose DeLeon:     "Goodbye, Mae."
Mae Peterson:    "Call me Mrs. Peterson." 
 
BYE BYE BIRDIE is the movie version of the Broadway musical satire first performed in New York City's Martin Beck Theatre on April 14, 1960. Dick van Dyke and Paul Lynde were also in the cast. The film changes the stage version somewhat, most notably by removing the satire. Nonetheless, it is pleasant, inventive, noisy, exuberant, frenetic, but dated and hard to follow. It has little reverence for popular culture, rock'n'roll, or family values.

Ann-Margret's knockout performance made her a star, paving the way for her to co-star with the real Elvis in VIVA LAS VEGAS (1964). Ed Sullivan makes a substantial guest appearance. Some viewers praise the film as classic 1960's camp, while others disapprove of the changes to the original play. It's a little corny, but has great style, lots of laughs, plus good singing, dancing, and choreography.

Others in the cast include: Mary LaRoche (Doris McAfee), Michael Evans (Claude Paisley), Robert Paige (Bob Precht), Gregory Morton (Maestro Borov), Milton Frome (Mr. Maude), Frandk Alberton (Sam), Trudi Ames (Ursula), Cyril Delevanti (Mr. Nebbitt), Gil Lamb (Lanky Shriner), Hazel Shermet (Marge), and many others. Michael Stewart wrote the play and Irving Brecher wrote the screenplay. Charles Strouse wrote the music and Lee Adams wrote the lyrics. George Sidney directed.

Only 11 of the 16 stageplay songs are used in the movie. The songs are: "The Telephone Hour", "Put On a Happy Face", "Kids", "Bye Bye Birdie", "How Lovely To Be a Woman", "One Boy", "Honestly Sincere", "Hymn for a Sunday Evening", "One Last Kiss", "A Lot of Living to Do", "Rosie", and "The Shriner's Ballet".

BYE BYE BIRDIE (1995) is a TV movie adaptation starring Jason Alexander as Albert Peterson, Vanessa Williams as Rose Alvarez, Marc Kudisch as Conrad Birdie, and Chynna Phillips as Kim MacAfee. Performances are good, although this version is not quite as good as the original. It stays close to the stageplay, which is problematic because a movie is not a play. And director Gene Saks often comments on the 1950's and 60's in general, rather than what's in the script. Rosie DeLeon is called Rose Alvarez as in the play, and McAfee is likewise MacAfee. Three mediocre songs are added: "Let's Settle Down", "A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore", and "A Giant Step".

Tommy Walker (Roger Daltry) is a young child who accidentally witnesses the murder of his father Captain Walker (Robert Powell) by his stepfather Frank Hobbs (Oliver Reed).  His mother Nora (Ann-Margret) tells him to forget everything he has seen and heard and never talk about it.  This causes Tommy to be deaf, dumb and blind.

Some bizarre cures are tried but fail.  A preacher (Eric Clapton) mistakenly believes Marilyn Monroe can heal him, and the Acid Queen (Tina Turner) also fails with her drugs.  Cousin Kevin (Paul Nicholas) tortures him and Uncle Ernie (Keith Moon) molests him.   Tommy suffers much growing up but finds solace in pinball games.  When he defeats the Pinball Wizard (Elton John), he becomes the world pinball champion, rich and famous.  Then a doctor advises a shock as a cure.  The shock from breaking a mirror works, and Tommy believes he is the new messiah.  A religious cult is formed, but his followers begin commercializing his fame.  When Tommy objects, his supporters accuse him of hypocrisy and turn on him.

Nora Walker Hobbs:  "Today it rained Champagne!  A son was born again!  A genius untamed!  A life of wealth and fame, wealth and fame!  Champagne flowing down just like rain, Caviar breakfasts every day.  Merchant banks and yachts at Cannes!  Servants and cars and private sand...But what's it all worth?  What's it all worth when my son is blind?  He can't hear the music nor enjoy what I'm buying.  His life is worthless, affecting mine.  I'd pay any price to drive his plight from my mind!"

Acid Queen:  "If your child ain't all he should be now, This girl will put him right.  I'll show him what he could be now, Just give me one more night!  I'm the Gypsy, the Acid Queen, Pay me before I start.  I'm the Gypsy, I'm guaranteed To tear his soul apart." 

The Pinball Wizard:  "Ever since I was a young boy, I've played the silver ball.  From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played them all.  But I ain't seen nothin' like him In any amusement hall.  That deaf, dumb and blind kid Sure plays a mean pinball." 

Tommy:  "See me, feel me, touch me, heal me...Listening to you I get the music, Gazing at you.  I get the heat, Following you.  I climb the mountain, I get excitement at your feet!  Right behind you, I see the millions, On you.  I see the glory, From you.  I get opinions, From you.  I get the story."
"See Me Feel Me" Peter Townshend c 1970 Fabulous Music Ltd.

The cast also includes:   Jack Nicholson (the Specialist), Peter Towshend (himself), John Entwistle (himself), Arthur Brown (the Priest), Victoria Russel (Sally Simpson), Ben Aris (Reverend Simpson), Gary Rich (rock musician), Dick Allan (President Black Angels), Barry Winch (young Tommy), Eddie Stacey (Bovver Boy), Ken Russel (cripple), and many others, with lots of cameos--including John Lennon.  Ken Russel directed and wrote the script based on Peter Townshend's rock opera.

Peter Townshend wrote the original rock opera in 1969.  The songs are:   "Prologue 1945", "Captain Walker", "It's a Boy", "Bernie's Holiday Camp", "1951/What About the Boy", "Amazing Journey", "Christmas", "Eyesight to the Blind", "Acid Queen", "Do You Think It's Alright? (1)", "Cousin Kevin", "Do You Think It's Alright? (2)", "Fiddle About", "Do You Think It's Alright? (3)", "Sparks", "Extra, Extra, Extra", Pinball Wizard", "Champagne", "There's a Doctor", Go to the Mirror", "Tommy Can You Hear Me", "Smash the Mirror", "I'm Free", "Mother and Son", "Miracle Cure", "Sally Simpson", "Sensation", "Welcome", "TV Studio", Tommy's Holiday Camp", "We're Not Going To Take It", and "Listening to You/See Me, Feel Me".

Actors sing the songs.  The Who's brilliant concept album is never dubbed in over the film.  Furthermore, Ken Russel elevates Peter Townshend's rock opera masterpiece to Grand Opera, which means there is no spoken dialogue.  In this regard, the movie is absolutely magnificent.  It is extremely difficult to write good songs that also advance the plot, and TOMMY has only good songs, five that are first-rate platinum hits. 

Ken Russel is infamous for his flamboyant, garish, and weird cinematic style.  He is an appropriate director for TOMMY.  His penchant for bad taste and a barrage of startling images compliment the movie.  There is some miscasting and poorly-conceived production concepts, but the film is a clamorous and energetic success, a classic.  Eric Clapton, Elton John, and Tina Turner give outstanding musical performances.  Bravo! 

David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) and Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) were childhood friends in the early 1960's who had a rock band called "The Originals", which they changed to "The New Originals" and then to "The Thamesmen".  They had a hit record "Gimme Some Money".

During the psychedelic craze they changed the name again to "Spinal Tap" and had another hit, "Listen To The Flower People".  Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) joined as bass player to compliment Nigel on lead guitar, David on vocals and lead guitar, and Viv Savage (David Kaff) on keyboards.  They had a number of drummers who died under strange circumstances.  One died of spontaneous human combustion and another choked on vomit, although it was somebody else's vomit.

Marty:  "Now, during the Flower People period, who was your drummer?"
David:  "Stumpy's replacement, Peter James Bond.  He also died in mysterious circumstances. We were playing a, uh..."
Nigel:   "...Festival."
David:  "Jazz blues festival.  Where was that?"
Nigel:   "Blues jazz, really."
Derek:  "Blues jazz festival.  Misnamed."
Nigel:   "It was in the Isle of, uh..."
David:  "Isle of Lucy.  The Isle of Lucy jazz and blues festival."
Nigel:   "And, uh, it was tragic, really.  He exploded on stage."
Derek:  "Just like that."
David:  "He just went up."
Nigel:   "He just was like a flash of green light... And that was it.  Nothing was left."
David:  "Look at his face."
Nigel:   "Well, there was..."
David:  "It's true, this really did happen."
Nigel:   "It's true.  There was a little green globule on his drum seat."
David:  "Like a stain, really."
Nigel:   "It was more of a stain than a globule, actually."
David:  "You know, several, you know, dozens of people spontaneously combust each year.  It's just not really widely reported."

Spinal Tap switched to heavy metal when psychedelia became passe and were "England's loudest band".  The movie chronicles their tour of the US in the fall of 1982 to promote their latest album, "Smell The Glove".  Some stores will not sell the album because of its sexist cover and many concert appearances are cancelled due to low ticket sales.  Polymer Records releases the album with an all black cover without consulting the band.  Drummer Mick Shrimpton (P. J. Parnell) says, "As long as there's, you know, sex and drugs, I can do without the rock and roll."

Nigel Tufnel is clearly a funny Jeff Beck impersonator.  He plays an original neo-classical composition, then reveals the title:  "Lick My Love Pump".  The volume knob on his guitar amp goes to 11.  In concert his showmanship includes playing the guitar with his feet and also with a violin instead of a plectrum.

Manager Ian Faith (Tony Hendra) quits and is replaced by David's silly girlfriend Jeanine Pettibone (June Chadwick) who manages the group with astrological interpretations.  The band plays at an air force base where Nigel quits.  But the show must go on, and the remaining members play at an amusement park where they are the warm up act for a puppet show.  They decide to end Spinal Tap, but Nigel returns and informs them that "Sex Farm" is a big hit in Japan.  Ian Faith returns as manager.  The film ends with Spinal Tap performing in Japan with a new drummer, Joe "Mama" Besser (Fred Asparagus).

(last lines)
Nigel:   (on what he would do if he couldn't be a rock star)  "Well, I suppose I could, uh, work in a shop of some kind, or... or do, uh, freelance, uh, selling of some sort of, uh, product.  You know..."
Marty:  "A salesman?"
Nigel:   "A salesman, like maybe in a, uh, haberdasher, or maybe like a, uh, um... a chapeau shop or something.  You know, like, "Would you... what size do you wear, sir?"  And then you answer me."
Marty:  "Uh... seven and a quarter."
Nigel:   "I think we have that.  See, something like that I could do."
Marty:  "Yeah... you think you'd be happy doing something like..."
Nigel:   "No, we're all out. Do you wear black?  See, that sort of thing I think I could probably... muster up."
Marty:  "Do you think you'd be happy doing that?"
Nigel:   "Well, I don't know.  Wh-wh... what're the hours?"

THIS IS SPINAL TAP is a hilarious satire and parody of rock documentaries.  Director Rob Reiner  plays Marty DiBergi, the deadpan interviewer for the psuedo-documentary.  The American actors play their own musical instruments and are convincing in their British tongue-in-cheek performances.  Songs are quite funny, and the movie is the funniest ever made about the crazy world of rock and roll.

However, this mockumentary has had a continuing destructive effect on rock.  We can never see rock bands the same way after seeing SPINAL TAP.  Although rock music died at the end of the 1970's, it is a billion dollar industry, and the record companies continue to flog the proverbial dead horse with derivative, boring, but lucrative "product".

And unfortunately, the movie is very true to life.  Many rock bands have commented on this.  "Kiss" members say they had an identical problem getting very lost in passageways to the stage.  George Lynch of "Dokken" says, "That's us!  How'd they make a movie about us?"  Virtuoso guitarist Eddie Van Halen says, "Everything in that movie had happened to me."

Much of the movie was ad libbed and dozens of hours of film were shot before it was edited down to 82 minutes.  A 4 1/2 hour bootleg version exists and is traded among fans and collectors.  A "spinal tap" is a painful medical procedure to collect cerebrospinal fluid.  In 2003 SPINAL TAP was voted the top cult movie of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Songs performed in the movie are:  "(Tonight I'm Gonna) Rock Ya Tonite", "Gimme Some Money", "Big Bottom", "All The Way Home", "Hell Hole", "Cups And Cakes", "Heartbreak Hotel", "Listen To The Flower People", "Rock And Roll Creation", "Heavy Duty", "Stonehenge", "Sex Farm", and "Jazz Odyssey".  The soundtrack is actually the actors playing the music.

Others in the cast include:  Bruno Kirby (Tommy Pischedda), Ed Begley Jr. (John Pepys), Danny Kortchmar (Ronnie Pudding), Fran Drescher (Bobby Flekman), Patrick Macnee (Sir Denis Eton-Hogg), Sandy Helberg (Angelo DiMentibelio), Billy Crystal (Morty), Paul Benedict (Tucker Brown), Anne Churchill (Reba), Howard Hesseman (Terry Ladd), Paul Shortino (Duke Fame), Russ Kunkel (Eric Childs), Victory Tischler-Blue (Cindy), Joyce Hyser (Belinda), Paul Shaffer (Artie Fufkin), Anjelica Huston (Polly Deutsch), and Robert Bauer (Moke).  The script and music were written by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Rob Reiner.  Rob Reiner directed.

THE RETURN OF SPINAL TAP (1992) mostly features the band in a 1992 live performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  There is also backstage footage and interviews with band members for a reunion tour to promote their latest album, "Break Like The Wind".  This sequel lacks originality, is not as fresh, and not as good.  It has the same basic cast with appearances by Bob Geldof, Graham Nash, Kenny Rogers, Martin Short, Robin Williams, and Jeff Beck.  The film is actually a TV special that aired December 31, 1992 as, "A Spinal Tap Reunion:  The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out".  It appeals mostly to Spinal Tap fans who watch the 4 1/2 hour bootleg version of the original and still can't get enough.

BABY SNAKES is an over-long movie of Frank Zappa's 1977 Hallowe'en concert at the Palladium Theater in New York City.  There is concert footage, back-stage footage, and very good claymation segments by Bruce Bickford.  This self-indulgent film is only suitable for Zappa fans, and perhaps rock music fans in general.

Frank Zappa (1940-1993) was a musical and lyrical genius.  For BABY SNAKES he was singer, guitarist, keyboard player, bandleader, director, producer, screenwriter, editor, music composer, and main performer.  The cinematography was done by Phil Parmet and Richard Pearce.

This film is supposed to offer a peek at "people who do stuff that is not normal".  In this regard, it's not very impressive.  BABY SNAKES is not as good as Zappa's 200 MOTELS (1971), which is OK.  And it's not quite as good as his concert video DOES HUMOR BELONG IN MUSIC? (1984).  Frank Zappa says, "God made three mistakes.  First was man.  Second was the wo-man.  Third was the poodle.  He meant to make a German Shepherd, but he f**ked up."  Referring to a stuffed animal's posterior, he says, "We're gonna call this part Burbank."  He tells the audience, "I'll prove to you that I'm bad enough to go to Hell... Yeah!  Because I have been through it!  Yeah!  I have seen it!  Yeah!  It has happened to me!' Yeah!  Remember... I was signed with Warner Brothers for eight f**kin' years!"

"Baby snakes
Late at night is when they come out
Baby snakes
Sure you know what Im talkin about
Pink n wet
They make the best kinda pet
Baby, Baby, Snakes"

The cast includes:  Frank Zappa, Ron Delsener, Johnny Psychotic, Donna U. Wanna, Diva Zappa, Adrian Belew (guitar, vocals), Bruce Bickford, Dale Bozzio, Terry Bozzio (drums, vocals), Vinnie Claiuta, Warren Cuccurullo, Roy Estrada (vocals), Jennifer James, Phil Kaufman, Ed Mann (percussion), Tommy Mars (keyboards, vocals), Patrick O'Hearn (bass), John Smothers, and Peter Wolf (keyboards).

The 21 songs performed are:  "Baby Snakes", "**** 'N Beer", "The Black Page 2", "Jones Crusher", "Disco Boy", "Dinah-Moe-Humm", "Punky's Whips", "I Have Been In You", "I'm So Cute", "City Of Tiny Lites", "Dancin' Fool", Duck Duck Goose", "Yo' Mama's Rubber Shirt", "Return Of The Son Of Shut Up And Play Your Guitar", "Whatever Happened To All The Fun In The World?", "Wait A Minute...We Gotta Get Into Something Real", "Revenge of the Knick Knack People", "(The Adventures Of) Geggery Peccary", "Sexual Harrasment In The Workplace", "Hot Poop", and "Time Is Money". 

Zappa is raunchy, obnoxious, deliberately offensive, and sometimes silly.  At every opportunity the bass player sneaks "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" and "Sunshine of Your Love" into every song possible.  "Punky's Whips" and "**** 'N Beer" (the best song, sung by Terry Bozzio in a devil's mask) are very funny.  For "Dinah-Moe-Humm" Zappa grabs a guy from the crowd and makes him dance and lip-synch while he sings.  Adrian Belew dances around in a dress.  The band plays rock, fusion, solos, and there is participation by Zappa's audience of devoted fans.  Bickford's grotesque claymation segments are freaky, with people and situations morphing into one another.  BABY SNAKES ends with a Grand Finale.  

The original running time was 183 minutes, which was edited down to 166 minutes.  No film distributor was interested in BABY SNAKES, even after it was cut down to 91 minutes in 1984.  Zappa distributed it with his own Intercontinental Absurdities production company and made a profit.  A short CD (7 songs) was released in March 1983.

I've alway admired Frank Zappa for his unique image, outspoken brutal honesty, scathingly satirical songs, and artistic genius.  But he was too intellectual for a music career, and he was sometimes arrogant, cold, cruel, mean-spirited and scatological.  As a singer he had a pitch accuracy of + or - 15%, which he said disqualified him from singing in his own band.  However, uniqueness is the most important asset for a rock singer, and Zappa's voice is very distinctive.  Some of Zappa's guitar playing is quite good, but as a proficient guitarist myself, I must say that Zappa was a third-rate "blooze" guitarist with improper fingering technique.  There are other famous guitarists who hold their plectrums backwards or use a coin instead.  They may be successful, but in my opinion they don't know how to play the guitar and they have my contempt.  Frank Zappa inspired me to feel comfortable with my contempt.

BABY SNAKES won first prize at The Internation Festival of Musical Films in 1981.  The film was released on DVD on December 9, 2003 and the sound quality is superb.  There are no overdubs whatsoever--it is a completely accurate recording of the live concert.

Frank Zappa quotes:

"Remember, Information is not knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom; Wisdom is not truth; Truth is not beauty; Beauty is not love; Love is not music; Music is the best."
"Remember, there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over."
"Government is the Entertainment Division of the military-industrial complex."
"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read."
"Communism doesn't work because people like to own stuff."
"Drop out of school before your mind rots from exposure to our mediocre educational system.  Forget about the Senior Prom and go to the library and educate yourself if you've got any guts.  Some of you like pep rallies and plastic robots who tell you what to read.  Forget I mentioned it... Rise for the flag salute."
"Fact of the matter is, there is no hip world, there is no straight world.  There's a world, you see, which has people in it who believe in a variety of different things.  Everybody believes in something and everybody, by virtue of the fact that they believe in something, use that something to support their own existence."
"In the fight between you and the world, back the world."
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline--it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer."
"Art is making something out of nothing and selling it."
"Most people wouldn't know good music if it came up and bit them on the ****."
"The United States is a nation of laws:  badly written and randomly enforced."
"Rock music was never written for or performed for conservative tastes."
"If lyrics make people do things, how come we don't love each other?"

Tim Curry stars as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, "a sweet transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania" in this kinky sci-fi/horror cult musical comedy.  It is based on a flop stage musical and is narrated and commented on by the Criminologist (Charles Gray)

The Criminologist:  "I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey....Crawling, on the planet's face...some insects, called the Human Race.  Lost in Time, and lost in space... and in meaning."

Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon), a normal couple, are stranded in a rain storm and take refuge in an isolated creepy old castle filled with degenerate weirdos.  Handyman Riff-Raff (Richard O'Brien) invites them in and they spend the night.

Janet:  "Brad, please, let's get out of here."
Brad:   "For Godssakes, keep a grip on it, Janet."
Janet:  "But it seems so unhealthy here."
Brad:   "It's just a party, Janet."
Janet:  "Well, I wanna go!"
Brad:   "Well we can't go back to the car unless we get to a phone."
Janet:  "Well ask the butler or someone!"
Brad:   "Just a moment, Janet.  We don't want to interfere with their celebration."
Janet:  "This isn't the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Brad!"

The engaged couple try to cope with the madness, which centres on Frank N. Furter's experiment with creating Rocky Horror (Peter Hinwood)--a blond homoerotic muscular boytoy. Frank says, "So come up to the lab, and see what's on the slab.  I see you shiver with antici...pation"

Magenta (Patricia Quinn) and Riff-Raff remove the couple's wet clothes and give them lab coats.  Frank animates the body of Rocky, who "is good for releaving my tension".  Eddie (Meat Loaf) emerges from a freezer storage vault on a motorcycle.  Half of his brain is now in Rocky's head.  Frank murders Eddie with a pickaxe, then after a bridal procession takes Rocky to his boudoir.

Frank-N-Furter:  "It was strange the way it happened.  Suddenly... you get a break!  All of the pieces seem to fit into place.  What a sucker you've been, what a fool.  The answer was there all the time.  It took a small aciddent to make it happen.  An Accident.  And that is how I discovered the secret.  That elusive ingredient, that... spark that is the breath of life... yes I have that knowledge!  I hold the key to life...itself!"

Later that night, Frank disguises himself as Brad and has sex with Janet.  Then he disguises himself as Janet and has sex with Brad.  Magenta and Riff-Raff watch the seductions on TV monitors, then torment Rocky.  Janet sees Rocky crying and seduces him.  Dr. Everett Von Scott (Jonathan Adams), Brad's former science teacher and Eddie's uncle, pays an unexpected visit.  During an awkward dinner, Dr. Scott says he has come for Eddie.  Frank reveals that Eddie was the main course of their meal.

The Criminologist:  (reading from dictionary)  "Emotion:  Agitation or disturbance of mind; vehement or excited mental state.   It is also a powerful and irrational monster.  And from what Magenta and Columbia eagerly viewed on their television monitor, there seemed little doubt that Janet was, indeed... its slave."

There is a chase scene around the castle with all the main characters.  It ends in the lab where Frank uses a "Medusa Ray" to turn them into statues.  Frank dresses them for a show, releases them from suspended animation, and they perform a cabaret act.  Then they plunge into a swimming pool.

Magenta and Riff-Raff arrive and announce they are returning to planet Transsexual in the galaxy Transylvania without Frank, whom they kill with a ray gun.  The castle blasts off, taking Magenta and Riff-Raff back to Transsexual.  Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott are left lying in an empty field where the castle once stood.

Also in the cast are:  Nell Campbell (Columbia), Jeremy Newson (Ralph Hapschatt), Hilary Labow (Betty Munroe Hapschatt), Gina Barrie (Bridesmaid), Petra Leah (Bridesmaid), Koo Stark (Bridesmaid), and Frank Lester (wedding father).  The Transylvanians are played by:   Perry Bedden, Chrisopher Biggins, Gaye Brown, Ishaq Bux, Stephen Calcutt, Hugh Cecil, Imogen Claire, Tony Cowan, Sadie Corre, Fran Fullenwider, Lindsay Ingram, Peggy Ledger, Annabel Milner, Pamela Obermeyer, Tony Then, Kimi Wong, Rufus Collins, and Henry Wolf.  The script is by Jim Sharman and Richard O'Brien.  Music and lyrics are by Richard O'Brien.  Jim Sharman directed.      

The first two songs are first-rate:  "Time Warp" and "Sweet Transvestite".  The many other songs are mediocre at best, and only serve to advance the plot.  This is usual for musicals, which generally have only one or two good songs.   People who listen to the second-rate songs repeatedly become familiar with them and enjoy them--but they're still crap.  The other songs are:  "Science Fiction - Double Feature"; "Dammit, Janet"; "Over at the Frankenstein Place"; "The Sword of Damocles"; "I Can Make You a Man"; "Hot Patootie"; "Once in a While" (cut from film); "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a Touch Me"; "Eddie's Teddy"; "Planet Schmanet Janet"; "Don't Dream It, Be It"; "Wild and Untamed Thing"; "I'm Going Home"; and "Superheroes".
   
The Criminologist:  "It's just a jump to the left."
Everybody:           " And then a step to the right!"
The Criminologist:  "With your hands on your hips"
Everybody:         
"You bring your knees in tight!
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane
Let's do the time warp again!"

The lips in the opening song "Science Fiction - Double Feature"  belong to Patricia Quinn and the singing is by Richard O'Brien, who actually wrote the original stageplay and also the terrible spin-off sequel movie.  Tim Curry originally auditioned for the role of Rocky by singing Little Richard's song "Tootie Fruity".  Director Jim Sharman was so impressed he cast him as Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW was one of the first movies to be shown at special Midnight screenings.  It quickly developed a phenomenal subculture of audience participation.  Patrons dressed up as their favorite characters, spoke and sang along with the movie sound track, tossed popcorn around the theatre, and so on.  This film is fast paced, trashy, weird, subversive, and great fun.  It's certainly not for everybody, and for some it is probably more entertaining in a theatre as a participation movie. 

Quotes from Tim Curry:
"One of the best things that ever happened to me was ROCKY HORROR being a total flop in New York as a play.  I mean, it was a disaster, and it was the night of the long knives as far as the critics were concerned."
"I'm proud of that character (Frank-N-Furter).  I have no intention of disowning it.  There's no point in saying, 'I'm not the Fonz.'  And I did it for so long.  At the beginning, it was just another play, the fifth I was doing at that theater (The Royal Shakespeare Company).  It just clicked and went on and took so long to surface as a film.  Now it's a minor religion.  I don't think you can worry too much about how the public sees you."  
"I don't really think THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW has typecast me.  That was a long time ago and I have done a lot since then.  But there are a lot of people who seem to associate me only with that project."
"I ran up and down ladders in high heels." (for ROCKY HORROR)
"I did that show (ROCKY HORROR) forever.  I did six months in London,  six months in L.A., and then I did the movie, and then a couple of months in New York.  It was enough ... The cult thing has always been a bit peculiar to me, because it's so much more here than it is in England.  It's always bewildering to me again when I first come back to America.  "Rocky" acolytes still try and get in touch with me.  But people don't go through my garbage anymore, or line up in front of the apartment building."
(Speaking to a crowd at a ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW convention)
"It's so comforting to know that there are so many people in this world sicker than I am." 

The semi-sequel to ROCKY HORROR is the seldom-seen SHOCK TREATMENT (1981).  Basically it's an inferor rip-off of part of MELVIN AND HOWARD (1980), about TV game shows.  SHOCK TREATMENT has the same director, and some of the same cast from ROCKY HORROR.  The dreadful music sounds identical to ROCKY, with the same production.  Brad and Janet (played by different actors) are trapped on a TV game show and try to escape.  Do yourself a favour and don't get trapped in this horrible movie. There's no escaping the fact that it's so bad it's unwatchable.   

Retired slot machine mobster Marty 'Fats' Murdock (Edmond O'Brien) wants his dumb-blonde girlfriend Georgianna "Jerri" Jordan (Jayne Mansfield) to be a singing star, despite her apparent lack of talent.  He hires theatrical agent Tom Miller (Tom Ewell) to promote her career and make her a star in six weeks.

Miller:     "Six weeks?  Rome wasn't built in a day."
Murdock: "She ain't Rome.  What we're talking about is already built." 
 
Miller reluctanly agrees to groom Jerri, then takes her to many night clubs and recording studios so the gorgeous beauty can be seen by those who control show biz.  Jerri says only what Miller told her to tell everybody:  "Ask my agent."  Offers of contracts pour in.  However, Murdock becomes dangerously jealous when Miller and Jerri seem to develop a romantic relationship.  Murdock tells Miller, "Okay, so Jerri can't sing.  Well, that guy ain't got a trained voice either, and he's one of the top paid record stars in the country.  Why?  Because he has a new sound." 

In the end, Jerri proves she does have talent.  Furthermore, she confesses that home and motherhood are her real interests, and she has fallen in love with Miller.  They marry, have children, and there is a happy ending for all.

Tom Ewell is very good, but basically just reprises his role in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH (1955) opposite Marilyn Monroe.  Jayne Mansfield, in her first starring role, has an easy job with simple lines.  Mostly she stands or moves around looking beautiful.  Edmond O'Brien is loud, overbearing, witty, and gives a good tongue-in-cheek comic performance.

The real reason to watch the movie is to enjoy the performances by the golden greats of Rock'n'Roll.  Little Richard sings the title song as well as "She's Got It" and "Ready Teddy" in a night club.  Fats Domino sings "Blue Monday" at the piano in concert.  The Platters perform "You'll Never, Never Know".  Eddie Cochran sings "Twenty Flight Rock" on TV.  Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps record "Be-Bop-A-Lula" in a rehearsal studio.

Lesser known artists also appear.  The Treniers sing "Rocking Is Our Business".  Eddie Fontaine does "Cool It Baby".  Teddy Randazzo and the Three Chuckles sing "Cinnamon Sinner".  Nino Tempo performs "Tempo's Theme". Johnny Olenn sings "I Ain't Gonnna Cry No More".  Bobby Troup sings "You Got It Made".  Abbey Lincoln does "Spread The Word".  Ray Anthony & his Orchestra perform "Big Band Boogie" and "Rock Around The Rockpile".

Also, Julie London is featured in the film as a haunting spirit "dream girl" in Miller's apartment, and sings her top ten hit of 1956, "Cry Me A River".  Betty Grable in archival footage sings "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate" from WABASH AVENUE (1950).  Jayne Mansfield lip-synchs to "Every Time You Kiss Me".

THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT is a garish pop scene spoof with a plot borrowed from BORN YESTERDAY (1950) starring Judy Holliday.  There are some good sight gags, many poking fun at Jayne Mansfield's famous curvaceous figure.  For example, she holds two bottles of milk against her ample breasts, which causes bottles of milk to burst in a milk delivery truck.  Miller tells a paperboy, "She's just a girl, Barry.  Just a girl."  Barry fires back, "If she's a girl, then I don't know what my sister is."

Others in the cast include:  John Emery (Wheeler), Henry Jones (Mousie), Barry Gordon (paperboy), Juanita Moore (Hilda), Sue Carlton (teenager), Fred Catania (bodyguard), Les Clark (recording engineer), Richard Collier (milkman), Alex Frazer (Rogers), Milton Frome (Nick), George Givot (secretary), Johnny Grant (M.C.), Bill Jones (bartender), Henry Kulky (iceman), Frank J. Scannell (Samuels), and many others.  Frank Tashlin directed and wrote the screenplay with Herbert Baker, which is based on the 1955 novel "Do Re Mi" by Garson Kanin.

Director Frank Tashlin's slam-bang style (he started as a cartoonist) is very appropriate for a comedy Rock and Pop musical.  This farce is a subtle satire on the entertainment industry.  Music is the movie's main attraction and fortunately the sound is 4-track stereo.  Unfortunately, like many films, every musical act is interrupted by dialogue. 

LI'L ABNER is a musical comedy based on the 1956 Broadway version of Al Kapp's syndicated comic strip that ran from 1934 until 1977.  Most of the actors and dancers from the stage version are in the film, and it is remarkably faithful to its source. 

The hillbilly town of Dogpatch fights the government's plan to turn it into a site for atomic bombs, while the army does a body-building experiment on Li'l Abner Yokum (Peter Palmer).  Earthquake McGoon (Ben Hoffman) wants to marry Daisy Mae (Leslie Parish), who wants to marry Li'l Abner.  He justs wants to go fishing.  Pansy "Mammy" Yokum (Billie Hayes) has a tonic that might save the town.  Li'l Abner offers the tonic to Washington, but General Bullmoose (Howard St. John) wants it too.  The plot thickens.

Mammy Yoakum:  "Is you inferring you has money?"
Earthquake:        "Lady, I is filthy with it."
Mammy Yoakum:  "Mister, you is filthy without it." 
Sen. Phogbound:  "I'll bet you were wondering what I've been doing up there in Washington, D.C. these past eighteen years."
Mammy Yoakum:  "We didn't care, as long as you was there and we was here!"

Mammy Yoakum:  "You gals are going to have to go through a before-marriage custom called engagement."
Moonbeam:         "Engagement, what's that?"
Mammy Yoakum:  "That's the part before the gal says 'Shore do!' and the preacher says 'Go, too!'"
Moonbeam:         "How long this engagement thing last?"
Mammy Yoakum:  "Sometimes a whole month."
Moonbeam:         "A whole month?  What are they, insecure?"

LI'L ABNER is a bright, cheerful and corny comedy, energetic and fast paced.  One highlight is the music and dance sequence of the Sadie Hawkins Day race, in which the women of Dogpatch can marry the men they catch.  The film is somewhat reminiscent of the BEVERLY HILLBILLIES TV show in some ways.  It's a dated political satire, with off-beat wry humour, overacting, and quite a few sexual innuendoes.

The cast also includes:  Stubby Kaye (Marryin' Sam), Julie Newmar (Stupefyin' Jones), Stella Stevens (Appassionata Von Climax), Joe E. Marks (Pappy Yokum), Al Nesor (Eagle Eye Fleagle), Robert Strauss (Romeo Scragg), William Lanteau (Available Jones), Ted Thurston (Sen. Jack S. Phogbound), Carmen Alvarez (Moonbeam McSwine), Alan Carney (Mayor Daniel D. Dogmeat), Stanley Simmonds (Rasmussen T. Finsdale), Diki Lerner (Lonesome Polecat), Joe Ploski (Hairless Joe), Jerry Lewis (Itchy McRabbit), and many others.  Melvin Frank and Norman Panama wrote the script and Melvin Frank directed.

Music from the stage musical is by Gene de Paul.  Original music is by Joesph J. Lilley and Nelson Riddle, who conducted.  The Johnny Mercer songs are:  "It's a Typical Day" (performed by the entire cast), "If I Had My Druthers" (performed by Peter Palmer), "Jubilation T. Cornpone" (performed by Stubby Kaye), "Rag Offen the Bush" (performed by the entire cast), "Namely You" (performed by Leslie Paish and Peter Palmer), "What's Good for General Bullmoose" (performed by Howard St. John, Stella Stevens, and Ted Thu