The Phynx (1970)

A rock band becomes embroiled in foreign affairs when they're sent to go on tour in Albania as a cover to find hostages in a remote castle held by Communist enemies of the U.S.

Director:

Lee H. Katzin

Writers:

Bob Booker (story), George Foster (story)

Stars:

Michael A. Miller, Ray Chippeway, Dennis Larden

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael A. Miller	...	A. Michael Miller - The Phynx (as A. Michael Miller)
Ray Chippeway	...	Ray Chippeway - The Phynx
Dennis Larden	...	Dennis Larden - The Phynx
Lonny Stevens	...	Lonny Stevens - The Phynx
Lou Antonio	...	Corrigan
Mike Kellin	...	Bogey
Michael Ansara	...	Col. Rostinov
George Tobias	...	Markevitch
Joan Blondell	...	Ruby
Larry Hankin	...	Philbaby
Ted Eccles	...	Wee Johnny Wilson (as Teddy Eccles)
Ultra Violet	...	Ultra Violet
Pat McCormick	...	Father O'Hoolihan
Joseph Gazal	...	Yakov
Robert B. Williams	...	Number One (as Bob Williams)

Storyline

An athlete, a campus militant, a black model, and an American Indian are picked by a computer (shaped like a woman) to form a rock group called the Phynx and go on tour in Albania where American show biz people have been kidnapped by Communists. Some of the stars that the phony band rescues: Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan (the most famous movie Tarzan and Jane), Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall (the Bowery Boys), Ed Sullivan, James Brown, Colonel Sanders, Guy Lombardo, Andy Devine, Ruby Keeler, Edgar Bergen, Butterfly McQueen, Jay Silverheels (Tonto), Rudy Vallee, Xavier Cugat, Trini Lopez, Dick Clark, Richard Pryor, Harold "Oddjob" Sakata, George Jessel, and Rhona Barrett. Warner Bros. Studios thought it was so bad that they decided at the last minute not to release it!

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Plot Keywords:

communist | albania | computer | castle | two word title | 

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Taglines:

Here come the most secret super agents of them all!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 May 1970 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Organization

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the record store scene, there are several classic LP's from the 1960s shown. These include: Outsideinside by Blue Cheer, Time Peace by The Rascals, Electric Ladyland by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Led Zeppelin's debut album from 1969, Retrospective by Buffalo Springfield, This Was by Jethro Tull, and Near The Beginning by Vanilla Fudge, plus albums by Blood Sweat & Tears.

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Quotes

Andy Devine: Just think, all these radishes and no salt shaker.

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Connections

References Knute Rockne All American (1940)

User Reviews

period piece is watchable and interesting

Hollywood tried so hard to assimilate the new hippie movement in their TV shows and movies and usually got it way wrong. so many films failed to do the "mix", SKIDOO, I LOVE YOU ALICE B. TOKLAS, etc.

The Phynx boasts a huge cast of Hollywood idols and can actually stand alone on that basis! Old stars, solo, or with their partners, are "relocated" to a huge estate, held hostage by the supposed "new" generation of entertainer...and indeed, when James Brown and 1969-70 entourage arrive, as ambassadors of the new music industry, we are impressed.

Songwriters Leiber and Stoller wrote the songs for this bizarre experiment and none are any good. That's why James Brown should have done a song or two from his own catalogue. OK, OK...................

Getting' back to those "old" stars: there are many here which justify the proverbial price of admission. I bought the DVD for the 1970 version of Gorcey and Hall. No laffs. But a gas to behold, so many years later!