Frank zappa frank zappas 200 motels video dailymotion. Soundtrack to the 1971 british musical surrealistic documentary, featuring frank zappa and the mothers of invention. Beware this acid film is for extremely stoned frank zappa fans only. Touring makes you crazy, frank zappa says, explaining that the idea for this movie came to him while the mothers of invention were touring. The premiere new york city, ny martin melhuish, zappas 200 motelslife on the road, grapevine canadian edition, december 1, 1971, p. Frank zappa frank zappas 200 motels 2009, dvd discogs. Nov 11, 2010 200 motels is a 1971 americanbritish surrealistic documentaryfeaturing frank zappa and the mothers of invention, produced at the famed pinewood studios, england.
The story, interspersed with performances by the mothers and the royal symphony orchestra, is a tale of life on the road. Because the zappa family trust doesnt own the rights to franks movie, its been messed with by anyone and everyone who can legally or not release a version of 200 motels. The movie s story was not easy to follow, and neither is the record not that plot was ever a big focus of the production. Overview of 200 motels, 1971, directed by frank zappa, with mark volman, howard kaylan, ian underwood, at turner classic movies. The 200 motels soundtrack to frank zappa s film 200 motels was released by united artists records in 1971. But it was only in 1971 that he finally managed to convince mgm to provide funding for a joint movie called 200 motels, a surrealstory about a touring band that tries to weather the usual adversities of life on the road. With mark volman, howard kaylan, ian underwood, aynsley dunbar.
In 200 motels, the film attempts to portray the craziness of life on the. With phyllis smith altenhaus, dick barber, bbc symphony orchestra, theodore bikel. Frank zappa and the mothers of invention were an excellent bunch of musicians who had evolved into a bit of sendup on the side by the time 200 motels was released. The rest of the plotless production is filled with more selfreflexive reminders, as the closeup eye and tape recorder signal that. The true story of frank zappa s 200 motels 1988 the amazing mister bickford 1987 uncle meat 1987. Zappa directed the performances, palmer did the visuals. This music is not in the same order as in the movie. The film covers a storyline about the mothers of invention going crazy in the small town centerville.
The announcer, whose is actually an american named rance muhammitz, states that larrys statements are part of the score to 200 motels, a movie that occurred as a fantasy while the mothers of invention were touring. This comedy presentation by frank zappa features a behind the scenes look at the making of this video. Both the film as well as the album are a surreal satire of a rock band on tour. Like the film, the album covers a loose storyline about the mothers of invention going crazy in the small town of centerville and bassist jeff quitting the group, as did his real life counterpart, jeff simmons, who left the group before the film began shooting and was replaced by actor. His work is characterized by nonconformity, freeform improvisation, sound experiments, musical virtuosity, and satire of american culture. The soundtrack to frank zappas strange early70s film 200 motels was always doomed to be a peripheral entry in his discography. The film stars zappas own band members the mothers of invention as caricatures of themselves. The movies story was not easy to follow, and neither is the record not that plot was ever a big focus of the production. Looking to feast your eyes on 200 motels on your tv or mobile device at home. Frank zappas 200 motels 1971 movie advertising pressbook. Jan 22, 2016 right from the start, frank zappa had a weakness not only for music, but also for filmmaking. The dialog is written on tour busses and in hotel rooms and it shows that not much thought has been put into this. This is essentially a number of crappy vignettes and. Its typically wacky zappa of the era, with unpredictable sharp turns between crunchy rock bombast, orchestration, and jazzclassical.
Whatever else it may be, frank zappa s 200 motels is a joyous, fanatic, slightly weird experiment in the uses of the color videotape process. Frank zappa the true story of 200 motels full movie. The true story of frank zappas 200 motels video 1988 imdb. The soundtrack to frank zappa s strange early70s film 200 motels was always doomed to be a peripheral entry in his discography. Because the zappa family trust doesnt own the rights to frank s movie, its been messed with by anyone and everyone who can legally or not release a version of 200 motels. A voice, probably frank zappa s, in 200 motels we have been hearing for a long time that videotape is going to revolutionize filmmaking, and now here is the vanguard of the revolution. Frank zappa 200 motels lyrics and tracklist genius. Set in the mythical town of centerville, usa, 200 motels stars frank zappa, the leader of one of the seventies greatest rock bands, the mothers of invention, along with ringo starr, theodore bikel and the legendary keith moon, coming together in a consistently fascinating and freewheeling movie that is a treat for all fans of frank zappa and. Using takes and rehearsals discarded from the original edit plus interviews made during the shooting, zappa reconstructs the bizarre story of 200 motels, one of the most problematic projects in his career. Less a movie than a purposely crude series of musical vignettes and inside jokes for diehard fans, frank zappa informs viewers in the opening scene that touring can make you crazy, ladies and gentlemen, and that is what 200 motels is all about. Right from the start, frank zappa had a weakness not only for music, but also for filmmaking. The only solution is blu ray where films are scanned from the master reels and restored for the best picture possible.
The rest of the plotless production is filled with more selfreflexive reminders, as the closeup eye and tape recorder signal that zappa is. United artists had gone to considerable expense, actually i found out later that frank also had more than a picayune. A voice, probably frank zappas, in 200 motels we have been hearing for a long time that videotape is going to revolutionize filmmaking, and now here is the vanguard of the revolution. The true story of frank zappas 200 motels 1988 rotten.
The hodgepodge of classical, country, jazzy, comedic, and pure rock music infused with social satire makes this one of my favorite zappa albums. Frank zappa the true story of 200 motels full movie doc. For much of his musical creativity in 197071 zappa was focused on the scores for 200 motels, the low budget movie from 1971, about the mothers of invention on tour and everything that comes along with it. Zappa was after his failed attempt to release the uncle meat movie anxious to make and release another movie and that turned out to be 200 motels. Frank zappa 1971 the mothers of invention 200 motels. Larry responds that frank forces him to dress up in order to have sex with a nun keith moon playing the harp. Whatever else it may be, frank zappas 200 motels is a joyous, fanatic, slightly weird experiment in the uses of the color videotape process. Finding a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the frank zappa directed movie via subscription can be. I own maybe 90 zappa albums, own all the movies except uncle meat, and simply love zappa. Finding a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the frank zappadirected movie via subscription can be.
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