Not Coming to a Theater Near You
You know him?”
“Not socially. His name’s Jaws, he kills people.
Peter Tork once claimed that Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson were trying to “kill the Monkees” with 1968’s Head. If that’s the case, 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee was their ill-fated attempt at a self resurrection. The work itself mirrors this idea of rebirth and a new beginning, though most likely unintentionally so. Charles Darwin evolves the Monkees from the primordial soup, then captures and brainwashes them into becoming the world’s most popular group with the help of British soulsters Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll. The plan succeeds and the Monkees are reborn as doo-wop vocal quartet. Auger and Driscoll then break character and perform alongside the “real” Monkees in an extended jam session of the Nesmith penned “Listen to the Band” meant to emphasize the Monkees’ musical abilities – complete with a placard above Mike’s head reading “He’s really playing.”
33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee had the opposite effect – it finished what Head started and killed the Monkees. The group remained commercially viable despite a litany of stumbling blocks regarding the show’s initial broadcast, but Tork left the group after the completion of the special. It’s a shame, since under the right circumstances it could have been a huge turning point in their career. The poor ratings and the departure of Tork precluded the plans for subsequent specials which could have further served to “reinvent” the band in the subversive mold of their Head personas, which in reality were closer to reality than their sterilized TV incarnations. It was not to be, however, and even in this special skits and guest stars upstaged them.
In 1966 the Monkees debuted as living cartoon characters on TV and a year later their records outsold the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Two years later they would self-destruct because of 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee; a final, desperate attempt to trade teenybopper adoration for musical respectability. I’m of two minds on the film. As a Monkees’ fan, 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee is a bittersweet viewing experience – I feel guilty enjoying it knowing that it essentially ended their career. Looking at it more objectively, it’s an odd cultural footnote as the end of the “Pre-Fab Four,” one of the most successful attempts at exploiting the youth culture for financial gain. 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee is an enjoyable experience, but perhaps one better left in the past regardless of which perspective you take.
by David Carter | Source: Rhino VHS
20 Nov 2008 9:18 PM | Comments (2)
Whoa, sounds pretty good. I’m a big fan of Head — one of the best artifacts of psychedelicinema, I think, alongside Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
What other guest stars are in it?
Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Fats Domino perform during the fifties medley. I have no proof, but I’m fairly certain that a young Rip Taylor is walking around during the ending jam session.
Evan
21 November 2008
9:06 AM