The utterly bonkers 1971 surrealist documentary 200 Motels puts the experimental sounds of Frank Zappa and the American prog rock group The Mothers of Invention on the big screen, and what a treat it is even four decades on.
In a nutshell, the crazy tale follows the band on tour and their overwhelming desire to get laid and paid. But it’s more performance video art than bog standard road movie as a series of perverse and psychedelic sketches are played out in front of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, interspersed with live performances from Zappa and co, and some great cameos from Ringo Starr (as Larry the Dwarf), The Who’s drummer Keith Moon (as an up-for-it nun) and Hollywood star Theodore Bikel.
Beyond words… beyond cult… Oooh the way you squeeze me, baby! 200 Motels is definitely something weird this way comes…
Released 29 July on DVD from Boulevard Entertainment.
http://youtube.com/v/3OIKtVAClG0
