Musical May Quick Picks and Pans

 

True Stories (1986) Writer/director David Byrne is our guide to the fictional town of Virgil, Texas, where they’re about to hold their sesquicentennial celebration. He introduces us to an assortment of Virgil’s eccentric residents, including: Kay and Earl Culver (Annie McEnroe and Spalding Gray), a husband and wife who haven’t spoken to each other in years, a pathological liar (Jo Harvey Allen), Louis Fyne (John Goodman), a good-natured bachelor who just wants a wife, and a woman so lazy she never leaves her bed (Swoosie Kurtz). The actors perform the Talking Heads songs, placing their unique spin on the material. It’s a skewed little slice of Americana, as only David Byrne can show us. 

Rating: ****. Available on Blu-ray and DVD 

 

Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005) This Showtime-produced film, based on the off-Broadway musical by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney (who also adapted it for the feature), uses the sensationalistic 1936 anti-marijuana scare film as a launching point.  Alan Cumming (who plays multiple roles) is our guide through a world of sin and depravity, as only the devil’s lettuce can take us (allegedly). Watch as ordinary American “teen” couple Mary Lane (Kristen Bell) and Jimmy Harper (Christian Campbell) fall under the spell of the illicit substance, after Jimmy falls in with a bad crowd. The musical numbers are a lot of fun (especially the one taking place in heaven), along with the satirical lambasting of "wholesome” 1930s society. 

Rating: ****. Available on Blu-ray, DVD, Tubi and Prime Video

Lisztomania (1975) The same year he graced us with Tommy, writer/director Ken Russell shot this audacious oddball of a movie, suggesting composer/pianist Franz Liszt (Roger Daltrey) was the rock star of his day. It’s a delirious cocktail of bizarre imagery, sex, and music, like Russell’s greatest hits, distilled into one movie. Don’t look for historical accuracy – just let it flow through your brain as you try to make sense of it all. Paul Nicholas co-stars as Liszt’s friend/rival composer Richard Wagner (who happens to be a vampire), Ringo Starr makes a memorable cameo as the Pope. I can’t say I understood it, but I enjoyed the ride. 

Rating: ***½. Available on Blu-ray and DVD 

Alice in Wonderland: An X-Rated Musical Fantasy (1976) Chances are, you’ve probably never seen a version of Alice in Wonderland like this before. Thanks to the filmmakers of the anything-goes ‘70s, Alice was only one of several adult parodies of beloved (aka: public domain) stories. Alice (Kristine DeBell) is at a crossroads with her frustrated boyfriend, whose advances are constantly thwarted. After another argument over sex (or lack thereof), Alice has a moment of reflection, and decides to learn what all the fuss is about. Thus begins, her trippy quest of self-discovery in Wonderland, where she meets the usual suspects, including the White Rabbit, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and the Mad Hatter (guess what the 9-3/4 on his hat refers to). Sure, the jokes are corny, and there are too many unnecessary insert shots, but it’s hard not to appreciate the effort that went into making this a genuine musical. The songs (written by Bucky Searles and Jack Stern) are decent, with some highlights being: “Guess I Was Just Too Busy Growing Up,” “Alice Helps Humpty Dumpty Up,” and “What’s a Nice Girl Doing on a Knight Like This?”. Give it a try, if you dare. 

Rating: ***. Available on DVD 

The First Nudie Musical (1976) A struggling independent studio owner (Stephen Nathan) experiences a flash of inspiration to save his livelihood: produce a porn musical. He secures the funding, with the catch that he needs to complete the film within two weeks, or ownership of the studio will transfer to his debtors. Despite a series of setbacks involving casting, songwriting, and working with a rookie director (played by Bruce Kimmel, who wrote and co-directed), the somehow manages to get the production off the ground. The songs are mostly forgettable, and the majority of the jokes fall flat, but it’s harmless enough. Perhaps the premise could be worked into a better movie someday.   

Rating: **½. Available on DVD, Tubi and Prime Video 

Pennies from Heaven (1981) It’s the feel-bad musical sensation of 1981, folks. Herbert Ross’ lavish musical, set in the middle of the Great Depression, is nice to look at, but relentlessly grim from beginning to end. Steve Martin (in what could be his most unlikeable role to date) stars as Arthur Parker, a struggling music salesman prone to flights of fancy. He abandons his wife Joan (Jessica Harper), setting his sights on mild-mannered schoolteacher, Eileen (Bernadette Peters). He effectively ruins her life, as she becomes pregnant, loses her job, and is eventually forced into prostitution to make ends meet. Pennies from Heaven is an exercise in cynicism that ignores what made those ‘30s musicals special. 

Rating: **. Available on DVD

 

 

Rock ‘n Roll High School

 

(1979) Directed by Alan Arkush; Written by Richard Whitley, Russ Dvonch, and Joseph McBride; Story by Alan Arkush and Joe Dante; Starring: P.J. Soles, Clint Howard, Vincent Van Patten, Mary Woronov, Paul Bartel, Dey Young, The Ramones, and Dick Miller; Available on Blu-ray and DVD 

Rating: ***½

“…Roger [Corman], during preproduction, was the only one who thought it was still “Disco High,” because his script was the only one with that title still on it. Every other script said Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. What rock ‘n’ roller’s gonna read for a movie titled “Disco High” in 1979? Two weeks before shooting we broke it to him that the Ramones were not a disco band but punk rockers. `But why can’t they be disco?’ Roger asked. We said, ‘You can’t blow up a high school to disco music.’” – Alan Arkush (excerpted from Roger Corman’s book, How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime)

What do you get when you take an ordinary high school comedy, crank up the decibels of the soundtrack, and add generous portions of mayhem? Well, in this case, you get the Roger Corman classic, Rock ‘n Roll High School. Co-writers Alan Arkush (who also directed) and Joe Dante were no strangers to making an “everything goes” style comedy, having collaborated on the 1976 Corman-produced movie, Hollywood Boulevard. Before Rock ‘n’ Roll High School was known by that name, the concept and resulting script went through several iterations over the course of pre-production, from Girls’ Gym, to California Girls, to Disco High. Ultimately, greater wiser heads prevailed (with no offense intended for disco fans), as the focus eventually shifted to rock ‘n’ roll, showcasing the punk band, the Ramones, in what would essentially become their own warped version of A Hard Day’s Night.

The plot is about as simple as they come, but it’s all the music and gags in-between that make this movie worthwhile. Ramones superfan Riff Randell (P.J. Soles),*/**/*** is obsessed with the group beyond all reason (she experiences a fantasy sequence, complete with the band members visiting her at home). In addition to seeing the Ramones in concert, she schemes to bring her song, “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School,” to her favorite band’s attention. Her dreams are thwarted by the new principal, Miss Togar (Mary Woronov), who rules Vincent Lombardi High School with an iron fist (with the help of two toady hall monitors), and considers listening to rock a gateway to deviant behavior. But even when her treasured Ramones tickets are confiscated by Togar and her goons, Riff isn’t so easily deterred. Meanwhile, a love triangle ensues when Riff’s best friend Kate Rambeau (Dey Young) is smitten by dopey but amiable jock Tom Roberts (Vincent Van Patten). Unfortunately, for Kate, he’s gaga over Riff. Will Riff make it to the Ramones concert (and will they perform her song)? Will Togar’s authoritarian tactics prevail? And will Tom and Kate click together? All this and more will be answered before the end credits roll. 

* Fun Fact #1: Prior to filming Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, Soles had never heard of the Ramones. Her initial impression was less than favorable when Arkush gave her a cassette of their music, but their music and energetic performances eventually won her over. 

** Fun Fact #2: Because P.J. Soles was a bit of a hot property after appearing in Halloween (1978), her agent requested a salary above scale (a Corman no-no). Corman opposed paying extra, but ended up agreeing to the salary on the condition that Soles provide her own wardrobe. 

*** Fun Fact #3: Soles wasn’t the film’s only connection to Halloween, with director of photography Dean Cundey providing the cinematography.

The soundtrack in an eclectic yet enjoyable mess, ranging from punk to pop (“Teenage Depression” by Eddie and the Hot Rods, to “Did We Meet Somewhere Before?” a low-key effort from Paul McCartney). Naturally, of course, the main attraction is the seminal punk band the Ramones (Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Marky).* Based on their blazing-fast performance in the film,** it’s easy to see why they were a favorite with audiences wherever they played. 

* Fun Fact #4: If you have Sirius in your car, I highly recommend Marky Ramone’s show “Punk Rock Blitzkrieg” on the First Wave channel (End of shameless, sadly unpaid plug). 

** Fun Fact #5: The Ramones played every song from their on-screen concert set twice, so they could choose the better performance for each.

Joe Dante regular Dick Miller* shows up in a small but memorable role as the chief of police, who tries to bring some law and order to the ensuing pandemonium when the students riot. As usual, he doesn’t have a lot of screen time, but he steals the picture with the film’s best line (Sorry, I’m not going to spill it here. You’ll just have to find out). Clint Howard is amusing in his supporting role as the high school fixer, Eaglebauer, who runs a lucrative business out of the boys’ restroom. Paul Bartel (who frequently appeared with Mary Woronov in numerous films), plays an unlikely ally for the students. As the school’s music teacher, Mr. McGree, he discovers his own latent affinity for the Ramones. 

* Fun Fact #6: Watch for a cameo by Joe Dante, appearing opposite Miller as a fellow cop.

Lessons learned (this is about a high school, after all):

• In the 1970s, the average age of an American high school student was 25.
• In 1979, you could purchase 100 Ramones tickets for only $1,000.
• Your permanent record will follow you outside high school, for the rest of your life.
• Body searches by student workers were common practice in American public schools.
• Rock music causes mice to explode.
• Your favorite band will play your unsolicited song if you’re persistent enough.
• The Ramones didn’t need to hook their guitars up to amps, they were just that powerful.
• Don’t be alarmed if Dee Dee Ramone randomly appears in your shower. If you refrain from making eye contact or any sudden movements, he’ll eventually go away.
• More than just a punk band, the Ramones were a unifying force that united the rich and poor, young and old, and the jocks and nerds (Okay, this one might be true).

 

Reportedly, Johnny Ramone wasn’t pleased with how the band was portrayed in the movie, because he felt it softened their image. In later years, however, his opinion seemed to skew in favor of the film. Alan Arkush and Joe Dante (who made multiple contributions to the movie) keep Rock ‘n’ Roll High School moving at a frenetic pace. Woven throughout are a series of one-off and recurring gags including a hapless freshman (played by co-writer Russ Dvonch) who’s continually stuffed into lockers and other inhospitable places, and a giant mouse* who crashes the concert. Above all else, it’s a nice showcase for the Ramones and their music, for fans and the uninitiated, alike. It may not change your life, but then again, maybe it will. 

* Fun Fact #7: The mutant mouse costume was created and worn by a young Rob Bottin. Bottin also provided the “Pinhead” mask, for the Ramones’ concert sequence, which he continued to do for their subsequent concerts.

 

Sources for this article: Blu-ray commentary by Alan Arkush, PJ Soles, and Clint Howard; “How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime,” by Roger Corman (with Jim Jerome)

The Rutles: All You Need is Cash

 

(1978) Directed by Eric Idle and Gary Weis; Written by Eric Idle; Starring: Eric Idle, Neil Innes, John Halsey, Ricky Fataar, Michael Palin, George Harrison, and Mick Jagger; Available on DVD 

Rating: ****½

Side Note: The “cinematic” in Cinematic Catharsis implies that the films I discuss are predominately theatrical releases. With that in mind, I hope you’ll indulge me with this made-for-TV movie (Hey folks, rules are meant to be broken).

“Paul's never been one who enjoys criticism – which is to his detriment. I think it was a mistake, because I think it's important to get criticism. I saw Ringo again the other night, and he's the most balanced of all of them. He came out of it the most sane, because he had to have therapy to overcome alcoholism, so he has some perspective on it, and an appreciation of it – rather than just trying to run and hide from it all, all the time. It was so big... it's ridiculous. I think it's a difficult thing to overcome. Linda loved it. She loved it.” – Eric Idle (excerpted from 2012 interview) 

“The Beatles were never going to get back together, but The Rutles allowed the American public to pretend and to play a kid’s game, with air guitars or cricket bats as guitars. It was getting so silly with these Beatles reunion offers that someone needed to do something sillier.” – Neil Innes (from 2014 interview, featured in 2023 Classic Rock article)

It’s impossible to accurately gauge the lasting impact four lads from Liverpool made on the global pop music scene in the ‘60s. No, really, it’s impossible, since the music group in question never existed. Years before Spinal Tap was a gleam in Rob Reiner’s eye, Monty Python alumnus Eric Idle introduced us to the rise and fall of another fictional British band, The Rutles. The Rutles started out as a comic bit by Innes for British television in 1975, followed by a 1976 comedy sketch on Saturday Night Live. The SNL skit garnered much attention, playing a big part in Idle’s securing the funding to create a feature-length film with NBC. With a little help from his friends at SNL (watch for cameos of famous cast members peppered throughout) writer/director/star Idle teamed with co-director Gary Weiss and co-star/musician Neil Innes to tell the story of the alternate-universe Beatles.

The Rutles: All You Need is Cash introduces us to the “Prefab Four,” Dirk McQuickly (Eric Idle), Ron Nasty (Neil Innes), Stig O’Hara (Ricky Fataar), and Barry Wom (John Halsey). The mockumentary traces The Rutles from their humble beginnings, playing in a Liverpool club The Cavern (not to be confused with the Cavern Club), their rise to international superstardom with their “appearance” on the Ed Sullivan Show (using doctored footage from the real show). Idle leaves no stone unturned, chronicling the rise and fall of the Rutles, with their ups and downs, culminating in their final rooftop performance (performing “Get Up and Go” instead of “Get Back”). We learn about the group’s successes and scandals through a clever combination of “archival footage” (shot on 16 mm film and videotape) and interviews with fellow musicians who knew them best, such as Rolling Stones frontman, Mick Jagger.* Jagger’s deadpan delivery sells the musical tall tale (his then wife, Bianca, also appears playing Nasty’s less-than-enthused wife Martini). In addition to his other duties behind and in front of the camera, Idol** appears as the somewhat dim BBC-style narrator, as well as a drug-addled pseudo-intellectual musical “expert,” S.J. Krammerhead. 

* Fun Fact #1: In his DVD commentary, Idle mused how Jagger was surprisingly forthcoming about his thoughts on the Beatles, covertly viewed through the lens of his candid comments about the Rutles. 

** Fun Fact #2: Although he appears as bandmate Dirk McQuickly, Idle didn’t play guitar or sing. The music and vocals were performed by Innes, Ricky Fataar, John Halsey, and Ollie Halsall.  

A good parody requires a combination of knowledge and genuine affection for the source material. The heart and soul of The Rutles are the brilliant songs, penned by Neil Innes (formerly of the ‘60s band The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and intermittent collaborator with the Monty Python troupe). More than simply mimicking the style of the Beatles’ songs, Innes intuitively knew what made their music tick, and why it was so catchy. Rather than systematically dissecting the Beatles’ diverse body of work, Innes’ musical creations sprung from his memories of their songs. The results are much more than mere parodies, but fully formed renditions that honor the source material (so much that you might be convinced Innes uncovered a secret stash of lost Beatles recordings). The influences of the original Beatles’ compositions are woven throughout. Don’t be too surprised if you find several of the tunes embedded in your cranium (particularly “I Must Be in Love,” “Ouch,” “Doubleback Alley,” and “Cheese and Onions”).

 

What did the Beatles members think of this back-handed homage? George Harrison,* who was onboard with the project almost from its inception, makes an appearance as a reporter, commenting on their failed business venture, Rutle Corps (a reference to the Beatles’ similarly doomed Apple Corps). The parody was a tougher sell for Paul McCartney, who was less than thrilled with Idle’s depiction of his quirky mannerisms, but he reluctantly acquiesced to the film being made (probably because of his wife Linda’s enjoyment of it). One of the film’s more pointed barbs depicted Ron Nasty (Innes) with his girlfriend Chastity (Gwen Taylor) in a Nazi SS uniform (surprisingly, John and Yoko loved the parody). Always the diplomat, Ringo Starr seemed to take a relaxed view of the movie (if he objected, he never led on to Idle). 

* Fun Fact #3: Idle recalled that when they were filming with Harrison, some people pushed him aside to ask if Idle and Innes were “real” Beatles.

The Rutles features so many wonderful gags that it would be a crime to describe them all. Some highlights, however, include a short animated sequence for “Yellow Submarine Sandwich”, * a parody of a Yoko Ono experimental film (substituting feet for posteriors), ** and a “man on the street” interview with the late, great Gilda Radner. After being badgered by Idle’s narrator, she suddenly blurts out a concise, pointed summary of the band and their legacy. 

* Fun Fact #4: According to Idle, he hired the same people who animated the original Yellow Submarine for the scene. 

** Fun Fact #5: If the voice singing the “You Need Feet” song sounds familiar, it’s none other than Bernard Bresslaw.

Despite the excellent songs and pedigree of actors/musicians involved, The Rutles failed to make a big splash on American TV. Aired in 1978 during prime time by NBC, it sadly didn’t stand a chance, being programmed against rival network ABC’s juggernaut, Charlie’s Angels. It’s also unfortunate to learn that Idle and Innes had a falling out later, but (to borrow a cliché) they certainly made beautiful music together when it came to this film. Within its scant 76-minute running time, the film manages to pull the wool over the audience’s eyes about the Rutles existence. Perhaps in some alternate universe, it’s the Rutles who rose to fame, while no had ever heard of the Beatles. Your enjoyment of The Rutles: All You Need is Cash will likely be proportional to how much you know the Beatles’ history and enjoy their body of work (and if you don’t like the Beatles, sorry, I can’t help you). Mocumentaries don’t get any better than this one.   

 

Sources for this article: DVD commentary by Eric Idle; “An Interview with Eric Idle,” by Ken P., IGN (2012); “The Rutles: The Strange and Surreal Story of the Original Spinal Tap,” by Mark Blake, Classic Rock (April 18, 2023)