Head (movie)
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Head is a motion picture released in 1968 starring The Monkees (in credit order: Peter Tork, Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith). It was written and produced by Bob Rafelson and Jack Nicholson, and directed by Rafelson.
The film featured Victor Mature as "The Big Victor" and other cameo appearances by Jack Nicholson, Dennis Hopper, Teri Garr, Annette Funicello, Toni Basil (the film's choreographer), Frank Zappa, and athletes Sonny Liston and Ray Nitschke.
The film is essentially plotless, a seemingly stream of consciousness stringing-together of musical numbers, satire of various movie genres, elements of psychedelia, and references to topical issues such as the Vietnam War. Trailers for the film summarized it as a "most extraordinary adventure, western, comedy, love story, mystery, drama, musical, documentary satire."
The film makes fun of the band's image and the bandmember's personae. The song "Ditty Diego - War Chant" is a parody of the band's TV theme song written by Boyce and Hart; its lyrics illustrate the self-parodizing tone evident in parts of the film:
Hey, hey, we are The Monkees,
You know we love to please,
A manufactured image
With no philosophies.
We hope you'll like our story,
Although, there isn't one,
That is to say, there's many,
That way, there is more fun.
Head was released on video by Rhino Entertainment in 1995.
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Music
The movie features what is considered to be some of the best recorded work by the Monkees, including songs contributed by Carole King and Nilsson. Andrew Sandoval, Rhino Entertainment's archivist who co-produced the company's reissue of the film, commented on the songs in a 1995 article published when the film was first reissued:
- It has some of their best songs on it and, as you know, the movie's musical performances are some of the most cohesive moments in the film.
The soundtrack includes:
- "Porpoise Song (Theme from Head)" (Gerry Goffin / Carole King)
- "Ditty Diego - War Chant" (Rafelson/Nicholson)
- "Circle Sky" (Michael Nesmith)
- "Can You Dig It" (Peter Tork)
- "As We Go Along" (Carole King/Toni Stern)
- "Daddy's Song" (Nilsson)
- "Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again?" (Peter Tork)
Cast
- Micky Dolenz
- Michael Nesmith
- Peter Tork
- Davy Jones
- Timothy Carey as Lord High 'N Low
- Victor Mature as The Big Victor
- Logan Ramsey as Officer Faye Lupid
- Charles Macauley as Inspector Shrink
- Annette Funicello as Teresa/Minnie
- T.C. Jones as Mr. & Mrs. Ace
- Abraham Sofaer as Swami
- Teri Garr as Testy True
- Charles Irving as Mayor Feedback
- I.J. Jefferson as Lady Pleasure
- Frank Zappa as The Critic
- Sonny Liston as Extra
Crew
- Director: Bob Rafelson
- Writers: Bob Rafelson, Jack Nicholson, the Monkees (uncredited)
- Producers: Bob Rafelson, Bert Schneider, Jack Nicholson, Ward Sylvester
External links
- Template:Imdb title
- Hey, Hey, Hey: The Monkee Business is Back (http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp950123/01210019.htm), a January 23, 1995 article from the Virginia Pilot, hosted by a Virginia Tech library website
- Review of the film by a Rhino employee (http://www.rhino.com/rzine/StoryKeeper.lasso?StoryID=155), from the company's website