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200 Motels

  • 19711971
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
200 Motels (1971)
The great Frank Zappa's outrageous psychedelic precursor to today's music videos features "The Mothers of Invention" wreaking havoc in a typical American town. Ringo Starr narrates.
Play trailer2:59
1 Video
21 Photos
ComedyFantasyMusic
The great Frank Zappa's outrageous psychedelic precursor to today's music videos features "The Mothers of Invention" wreaking havoc in a typical American town. Ringo Starr narrates.The great Frank Zappa's outrageous psychedelic precursor to today's music videos features "The Mothers of Invention" wreaking havoc in a typical American town. Ringo Starr narrates.The great Frank Zappa's outrageous psychedelic precursor to today's music videos features "The Mothers of Invention" wreaking havoc in a typical American town. Ringo Starr narrates.
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Tony Palmer(visuals)
    • Frank Zappa(characterizations)
  • Writers
    • Frank Zappa(story and screenplay)
    • Tony Palmer(shooting script)
    • Mark Volman(special material)
  • Stars
    • Mark Volman
    • Howard Kaylan
    • Ian Underwood
  • Directors
    • Tony Palmer(visuals)
    • Frank Zappa(characterizations)
  • Writers
    • Frank Zappa(story and screenplay)
    • Tony Palmer(shooting script)
    • Mark Volman(special material)
  • Stars
    • Mark Volman
    • Howard Kaylan
    • Ian Underwood
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 53User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:59
    Watch Trailer

    Photos21

    200 Motels (1971)
    Frank Zappa in 200 Motels (1971)
    Keith Moon, Aynsley Dunbar, Janet Neville-Ferguson, Howard Kaylan, Lucy Offerall, Ian Underwood, and Mark Volman in 200 Motels (1971)
    Keith Moon in 200 Motels (1971)
    200 Motels (1971)
    Jimmy Carl Black in 200 Motels (1971)
    Frank Zappa in 200 Motels (1971)
    Keith Moon and Janet Neville-Ferguson in 200 Motels (1971)
    200 Motels (1971)
    Theodore Bikel, Jimmy Carl Black, Janet Neville-Ferguson, and Pamela Des Barres in 200 Motels (1971)
    Keith Moon, George Duke, Aynsley Dunbar, Janet Neville-Ferguson, Howard Kaylan, Lucy Offerall, Ian Underwood, and Mark Volman in 200 Motels (1971)
    Ringo Starr in 200 Motels (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mark Volman
    • Member of Mothers of Invention
    Howard Kaylan
    • Member of Mothers of Invention
    Ian Underwood
    • Member of Mothers of Invention
    Aynsley Dunbar
    • Member of Mothers of Invention
    George Duke
    George Duke
    • Member of Mothers of Invention
    Theodore Bikel
    Theodore Bikel
    • Rance Muhammitz…
    Keith Moon
    Keith Moon
    • The Hot Nun
    Jimmy Carl Black
    Jimmy Carl Black
    • Lonesome Cowboy Burt
    Janet Neville-Ferguson
    Janet Neville-Ferguson
    • Groupie #1
    • (as Janet Ferguson)
    Martin Lickert
    • Jeff
    Lucy Offerall
    • Groupie #2
    Dick Barber
    • Bif Debris - The Vacuum Cleaner
    Don Preston
    Don Preston
    • Don
    Pamela Des Barres
    Pamela Des Barres
    • Interviewer
    • (as Pamela Miller)
    Ruth Underwood
    • Fake Drummer
    Judy Gridley
    • Chorus Leader
    Ringo Starr
    Ringo Starr
    • Larry the Dwarf…
    Jim Pons
    • Member of Mothers of Invention
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Tony Palmer(visuals)
      • Frank Zappa(characterizations)
    • Writers
      • Frank Zappa(story and screenplay)
      • Tony Palmer(shooting script)
      • Mark Volman(special material)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The role of Jeff was originally intended for Mothers bassist Jeff Simmons, who quit the group just before filming. As a replacement, Frank Zappa hired Wilfrid Brambell, who walked off the set in a rage a few days later. During a crew meeting, Zappa announced that he would give the part to the next person who walked into the room. Martin Lickert, Sir Ringo Starr's chauffeur, was cast when he walked in with a pack of cigarettes for Starr.
    • Quotes

      Rance Muhammitz: [as a TV show host, holding a microphone] Hi Larry, its good to have you back on our panel!

      Larry The Dwarf: [holding a magic lamp] Hi Dave, its really great to be back on your panel!

      Rance Muhammitz: I'm sure the people at home would be interested to know why such a large force as you is all dressed up like Frank Zappa. Tell us Larry, whats the deal?

      Larry The Dwarf: He made me do it, Dave. He's such a creep. He's making me hold this aladdin.

      Rance Muhammitz: And why is he making you do that, Larry?

      Larry The Dwarf: He wants me to fuck the girl with the harp.

      [Keith Moon as the nun peers out from behind the harp grinning]

      Rance Muhammitz: He wants you to fuck the girl... with the harp?

      Larry The Dwarf: NO, no! With the magic lamp! He wants me to stuff it up her and rub it.

      [chuckles maniacally, host stares at him]

      Rance Muhammitz: Let us ask our studio audience: if you had just been lowered down here on TV with a wire connected to a brown leather harness, forced by crazy person to insert a mysterious imported lamp in the rep-rep-rep

      [has trouble pronouncing word with thick German accent]

      Rance Muhammitz: into the, into the RE-productive orifice of a lady harpist, and you were a dwarf... would you do it?

      Larry The Dwarf: YES!

    • Crazy credits
      The closing credits are super-imposed over a number of production-related documents, including sheet music, scripts, shooting directions, memos, and expense reports.
    • Alternate versions
      A laserdisc issue deletes the "Dental Hygiene Dilemma/quasi-Donald Duck on acid" animation sequence.
    • Connections
      Featured in Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere (1980)

    User reviews53

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    An unusual movie - just don't expect it to make sense
    As a long term Frank Zappa fan, I was really excited when this movie came out. I admit it's kind of hard to watch - it isn't the movie Frank planned. He had big problems with the director, he ended up in a protracted lawsuit with Royal Albert Hall (This conflict raised his costs for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) and much of what was supposed to be shot wasn't, requiring an entirely "different movie" to be made in editing.

    It was a joy to see Ringo Starr playing Frank's part, Keith Moon as a nun and of course the music was great. The music was written while Frank was on tour, hence the title.

    It was shot entirely on video tape and transferred to film after the special effects were added. I think this was the first feature film done on video tape. The video effects were psychedelic which was a bit odd since Frank was vehemently against drug use.
    helpful•20
    3
    • darwin-t
    • Jul 27, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 20, 1971 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
    • Filming locations
      • Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Bizarre Productions
      • Murakami-Wolf Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $679,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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