Head [DVD] [2004] [NTSC]

This film is a kind of right brained experiment in film making - it has no apparent plot, it's circular - the beginning of the film is also the end - and it could easily be mistaken for a sloppy, rambling extended music promo.

Hang on though - I think it's a bit of a masterpiece actually. The Monkees were sending up the music industry, and fighting back against being a packaged product. There's quite a bit of satire there - nothing like the tv shows really. The songs are really good - some of their best in my opinion, even if they are relatively unknown. The Porpoise Song, written by Carole King, rivals Strawberry Fields Forever as possibly the finest nugget of pop psychedelia ever!

I have to admit, when I was a student, I and my friends must have watched this film (on old VHS video) about 50 times through the course of 6 months. We could have written post graduate dissertations on it. Yes, that good!! Equally accessible by Monkees fans, sixties afficianados and film buffs...

I first saw HEAD on Television (I think) in the mid 70's, and it was at that time `The Monkees' TV Series was also showing-repeats of course (the series is excellent-I really like it-get it on DVD if you can, you won't be disappointed). It was because of the show that I watched HEAD to see what it was all about-plus being curious, and to see what kind of film The Monkees could make. Well I was very surprised; in two words I would describe HEAD as "Brilliantly Weird".

Ever since then and even now there has never been a movie quite like it; other words that describe the film are: Avant-Garde, Far-Out, Bizarre, Off-Beat, Unusual, Strange, Odd, Remarkable, Distinctive, Unique and Ahead of its time (accuse the pun).

Having said all that, lo-and-behold, HEAD was a flop when it was released in 1968, one of the main reasons was the theatres demanded and got the `G' rating classification changed to `M' for Mature audiences due to the film's psychedelic nature, (it was the 60's after all). But really folks the film had no nudity, no foul language, very little violence (most notable the Nguyen footage) and little drug use (Mike finding a cigarette butt in a vacuum cleaner-picky-picky). Not only that but the initial audience response was poor at an August 1968 screening in Los Angeles, which forced the producers of the film to edit HEAD from 110 to 86 minutes (theatre version), 96 minutes (DVD version), (how I would love to see what was edited out-and maybe in the future the full 110 minutes will be available for all to see).

Now the good news, today HEAD is considered a "cult-classic" and rightly so. It amazes me how films in general are made at the time, which make no in-roads with the public, but years later are classified as "classics" of their particular genre; it's really boils down to the sign of times when people didn't appreicate what was on offer,(it's about personal preference after all), but HEAD also didn't have much publicity so it suffered from being the great film that it should have been.

The Story?

HEAD has no real story (plotless), I would describe it as a mixture of short scenes put together in such a way that it could make sense-but doesn't; the film starts off at the dedication of a bridge, after the Mayor struggles with constant feedback from his microphone, trying to give a speech, the boys (The Monkees) interrupt him by suddenly running (they are being chased by various people-who you will see in the movie) through the ceremony, with various horns and sirens blaring, to which the boys jump off the bridge into the water below beginning the 'Porpoise Song' (This is my favourite song in the film); this happens at the end of the film as well-thus giving the so-called, 'loop', being no beginning-no end, (you need to see the film to appreciate what I mean and to understand it as a whole).

The Cast Plus Notable Appearances

Peter Tork (Best scene: Talking to the Swami)
David Jones (Best scene: 'Daddy's Song' routine)
Micky Dolenz (Best scene: Walking through the desert and finally destroying the Coca-Cola machine with an army tank).
Michael Nesmith (Best scene: Happy birthday segment including negetive slow-mo scenes)

Annette Funicello as Teresa/Minnie
Abraham Sofaer as Swami
Frank Zappa as The Critic
Teri Garr as Testy True
Toni Basil as 'Daddy's Song' Dancer
Logan Ramsey as Officer Faye Lapid (I love Logan's scenes in the film, probably one of the best)

AND

Victor Mature as The Big Victor (doesn't say much but laughs a lot)

The Music

The music for HEAD had a mixed response-fans were 'disappointed' while the critics thought it was the 'best' The Monkees had done, (I wish people would make up their minds). Well I like the music and it's great. Apparently actor Jack Nicholson (who also does a cameo in the film-but I can't find him) did the soundtrack, which included some dialogue from the film, (this adds a certain uniqueness). Herewith is the HEAD soundtrack listing for those interested. (Special Note: get the album, it's great)

HEAD

1 - Opening Ceremony
2 - Porpoise Song (Theme from HEAD) - Gerry Goffin & Carole King
3 - Ditty Diego-War Chant - Jack Nicholson & Bob Rafelson
4 - Circle Sky (Studio Version) - Mike Nesmith
5 - Supplicio**
6 - Can You Dig It? - Peter Tork
7 - Gravy **
8 - Superstitious **
9 - As We Go Along - Carole King & Toni Stern
10 - Dandruff?**
11 - Daddy's Song - Harry Nilsson
12 - Poll**
13 - Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again? - Peter Tork
14 - Swami-Plus Strings, Etc**

** dialogue from the film

With the above album only going 29 minutes, I decided I would try to improve on it myself by adding stuff by The Monkees that would compliment the soundtrack, so I started experimenting, and ended up with the following as an alternative, adding another 11 minutes to a total of 40 minutes, see what you think?

HEAD

1 - HEAD Radio Spot [1]
2 - Opening Ceremony [1]
3 - Porpoise Song (Theme from HEAD)
4 - Ditty Diego-War Chant
5 - Circle Sky (Live Version) [2]
6 - Happy Birthday to You [3]
7 - Supplicio
8 - Can You Dig It?
9 - Gravy
10 - Pillow Time [4]
11 - Special Announcement [5]
12 - The Good Earth [6]
13 - Superstitious
14 - As We Go Along
15 - Dandruff?
16 - Daddy's Song
17 - Poll
18 - Peter Gunn's Gun [7]
19 - Zilch [8]
20 - Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky [9]
21 - Long Title: Do I Have to Do This All Over Again?
22 - Swami-Plus Strings, Etc

[1] I divided 'Opening Ceremony' into 2 tracks, I replaced the first half of the track with Radio Head Spot#1.
[2] I replaced 'Cirle Sky' (studio version) with the 'live' version as seen in the film
[3] This track is from the film, and follows on from 'Circle Sky'
[4] From the Album 'The Monkees Present', 1969
[5] From the album 'Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd (Deluxe Edition) 2006
[6] From the Album 'The Monkees Present', 1969
[7] From the album Headquarters (Deluxe Edition) 1967
[8] From the album Headquarters (Deluxe Edition) 1967
[9] From the album 'Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd (Deluxe Edition) 2006

Final Word

HEAD is a definite addition to your movie/film library; and if you can get it add, '33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee' their NBC TV Special 1969, I would describe that as, "Weirdly Brilliant", Peter Tork I believe said it was the TV version of HEAD. In any case HEAD is one film for the curious and collector.

I enjoyed my copies of HEAD and 33 1/3, and I hope you will to, both are 5 stars from me-no argument.

Special Thanks to Wikipedia for additional information.

Brilliant film! Sure its weird and theres no real plot, but its one of a kind.

Perhaps only appreciated by true Monkee fans.