Does This Kind of Review Look Interesting To You?

200 MOTELS-1971-Chaotic eclectic psychedelic musical from the brain of Frank Zappa that purports to show how “touring can make you crazy”.

Ringo Starr headlines as Larry the Dwarf who spends most of the movie disguised as Zappa (did Dylan see this before making RENALDO & CLARA?). Theodore Bikel is Rance Mohammed, a devil type character who tries to buy several souls. All the scenery and props are deliberately phony looking and it was originally shot on video then transferred to film. Howard Kaylan & Mark Volman (the future Flo & Eddie, formerly of The Turtles) at the time front men for the reconstituted Mothers band are the other nominal stars but the other then current members (Ian Underwood, George Duke, Anysley Dunbar) also participate. The biggest role goes to the unknown bassist Martin Lippert, Starr’s real life chauffeur who got the role by default when original bass player Jeff Simmons quit the group right before filming began. Three original ex-Mothers (Motorhead Sherwood, Don Preston and Jimmy Carl Black who sings “Lonesome Cowboy Burt”) are also featured. Keith Moon is a harp-playing nun. Other characters include some real groupies, a newt and a vacuum cleaner. The story concerns wrecking hotel rooms, stealing towels, smoking dope, getting laid and selling out. The Mothers are constantly referred to as playing “Comedy Music”. Zappa (who’s barely seen at all) is viewed as the guy who is controlling everything and making serious musicians do things they wouldn’t normally do (much as it was in real life!). There’s a lot of strange video FX and a crude cartoon segment (The Dental Hygiene Dilemma) is fairly humorous. The Mothers play enough music but to be honest, and this is coming from a fan, Zappa has produced better music. Stuff like “Penis Dimension”, “She Painted Up Her Face” and “20 Provocative Squats” are some of his weakest ever. The finale of “Strictly Genteel” starts off ok but lapses into a mess as the film ends. He has more success with the neo-classical soundtrack.

Credited director Tony Palmer had made CREAM’S FAREWELL CONCERT in 1969 and later worked on several BBC specials.





Not content to rest on his laurels Frank Zappa returned to the big screen in 1979 with BABY SNAKES, a three hour opus he refused to edit in order to get a distributor. Undaunted he rented out movie theaters in LA and NYC and showed it himself (George C. Scott did a similar move with his THE SAVAGE IS LOOSE). He also made the documentary THE REAL STORY OF 200 MOTELS in 1981.

Weird personal footnote: The day after I watch 200 MOTELS (only the second time in 12 years) I learned of the passing of the aforementioned Martin Lickett. His 15 minutes of fame long gone, he died in London after many years as a barrister. He was believed to be in his late 50’s.

Another personal note: Zappa appeared on TV to promote the film. He performed two songs with the band on THE DICK CAVETT SHOW, which is the only time "the Flo & Eddie"  Mothers appeared on TV in The US!!

"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read"-Frank Zappa

Thanks for reading!