Greaser's Palace (1972)

A parable based on the life of Christ. This ain't your father's Bible story, full of references about the destruction of the world through massive constipation and a New Mexican setting.

Director:

Robert Downey Sr.

Writer:

Robert Downey Sr.

Stars:

Albert Henderson, Michael Sullivan, Luana Anders

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Albert Henderson	...	Seaweedhead Greaser
Michael Sullivan	...	Lamy 'Homo' Greaser
Luana Anders	...	Cholera
George Morgan	...	Coo Coo
Ronald Nealy	...	Card Man / Ghost
Larry Moyer	...	Captain Good
John Paul Hudson	...	Smiley
Jackson S. Haynes	...	Rope Man
Lawrence Wolf	...	French Padre (as Larry Wolf)
Alex Hitchcock	...	Nun
Pablo Ferro	...	Indian
Toni Basil	...	Indian Girl
Stan Gottlieb	...	Spitunia
Hervé Villechaize	...	Mr. Spitunia
Don Smolen	...	Gip

Storyline

A parable based on the life of Christ. This ain't your father's Bible story, full of references about the destruction of the world through massive constipation and a New Mexican setting.

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Plot Keywords:

constipation | zoot suit | throat slitting | donkey | stigmata | 

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Taglines:

He's got the boogie on his fingers & the hubba-hubba in his soul!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 July 1972 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Camel Rock, Pojoaque, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Greaser's Palace Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 91 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the scene where the girl wakes to find her lover's throat cut she stands up wearing partially see-thru period underwear and you can see she is wearing tight-fitting modern panties underneath.

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Quotes

Jessy: I'm on my way to Jerusalem to be an actor/singer. It is written that the Agent Morris awaits me.

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Connections

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

User Reviews

Surreal, absurd, unique

Greaser's Palace is a comical, chaotic, absurdist and surreal religious parody. It's like El Topo meets The Life of Brian. Alan Arrbus plays a strange messiah-like zoot-suited actor/singer/dancer called Jessy, who one day parachutes into a field close to a Western town where a host of odd characters hang out, the main one being a constipated chap called Seaweedhead Greaser, who runs the titular saloon. Jessy has some miraculous traits - he can walk on water and heals some of the locals by telling them: "If you feel, you heal". One of the most memorable scenes (and my favourite) is when Jessy approaches a group of people praying and says to them: "I bring you a message. Exactly six miles north of Skagg Mountain in the Valley of Pain, there lives an evil devil-monster. His name is Bingo Gas Station Motel Cheeseburger With A Side Of Aircraft Noise And You'll Be Gary Indiana. And he loves to hurt people. The last time I saw Bingo Gas Station Motel Cheeseburger With A Side Of Aircraft Noise And You'll Be Gary Indiana, he told me what he wants to do. He wants to come down here and kill each and every one of you. But I said to him: 'Bingo, wait a minute!'. And the reason I said that is because I believe in you people. I believe you can do the job. I believe you can help each other. I believe you can make this world a better place to live in. That's it". 

If you haven't seen this film then it must go on your must-see list of films, category surrealism. Chaotic cineastes will approve.