History Film / TwoHundredMotels

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'''Side 1'''

'''Side 2'''

'''Side 3'''

'''Side 4'''

'''Bonus tracks on the CD'''

# ENHANCED TRACK: The original trailer.
''''

''''Personnel''''

** Music/KeithMoon, who plays the nun in this film, would receive another nod in ''"We're Turning Again"'' on Zappa's album ''Music/FrankZappaMeetsTheMothersOfPrevention" (1985)'': ''"We can laugh at Keith Moon's jokes."''

* SpecialGuest: The film features celebrities like actor Theodore Bikel, Music/RingoStarr, Music/KeithMoon and famous groupie Pamela des Barres.

** French comic strip artist Creator/{{Gotlib}} spoofed the album cover with characters from his ''Hamster Jovial'' strip. [[https://berichtenuithetverleden.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/gotlib-hamster-jovial-et-ses-louveteaux/]]
** The film is also referenced in the 1974 animated adult film ''WesternAnimation/DownAndDirtyDuck'', where Mark and Howie also played the starring role. In one scene a huge Zappa head even appears on the horizon.

* PrecisionFStrike: Several, with the first one delivered by a [[Creator/RingoStarr Beatle]]!

Before the arrival of Internet ''200 Motels'' was very difficult to find and could only be ordered on video through Zappa's own company. Therefore it is safe to say that the CultSoundtrack album has probably reached more people than this BrokenBase film project. Just like ''Music/ChungasRevenge'' (1970), ''Music/FillmoreEastJune1971'' (1971) and ''Music/JustAnotherBandFromLA'' (1972) the album features Mark and Howie from Music/TheTurtles as lead vocalists and deals with {{Satire}} about rock artists on tour and groupies. Fan favorites are "Lonesome Cowboy Burt", "She Painted Up Her Face", "Dental Hygiene Dilemma", "Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You?", "Penis Dimension", "Magic Fingers" and "Strictly Genteel".

* SelfDeprecation: The band members criticize Zappa for being a control freak who tapes their conversations and references their antics in his music. This was all TruthInTelevision, by the way. It also applies to the band members themselves, who willingly portray themselves as only being interested in making money, getting high and chasing groupies.

* SelfDeprecation: The band members criticize Zappa for being a control freak who tapes their conversations and references their antics in his music. This was all TruthInTelevision, by the way.

''200 Motels'' is an [[MissingEpisode unfinished rock movie]] by Music/FrankZappa from 1971. It was released with an eponymous soundtrack. Both the film as well as the album are a surreal {{Satire}} of a rock band on tour. The film stars Zappa's own band members- the Mothers of Invention- as caricatures of themselves. The film also has supporting roles for Music/RingoStarr as Larry the Dwarf (aka Frank Zappa), [[Music/TheWho Keith Moon]] as a nun groupie, Theodore Bikel as Rance Muhammitz and the notorious groupie Pamela des Barres as a reporter. [[TroubledProduction Various problems caused the project to change direction during recordings]]. The budget was cut and one of the band members, Jeff Simmons, left the group halfway. As a result only one third of Zappa's script could be filmed. While the man tried to make something coherent out of it in the editing room the film still ends up as a confusing mess.

# "Half a Dozen Provocative Squats (The Track)|Half a Dozen Provocative Squats" (1:58)

# "Semi-Fraudulent/Direct-From-Hollywood Overture" (1:59)

# "Dance Of The Rock & Roll Interviewers" (0:48)
# "This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich (prologue)" (0:56)

# "Dance Of The Just Plain Folks" (4:40)
# "This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich (reprise)" (0:59)

# "Would You Like A Snack?" (1:23)

# "Half A Dozen Provocative Squats (The Track)|Half A Dozen Provocative Squats" (1:58)

# "Lucy's Seduction Of A Bored Violinist & Postlude" (4:02)

# "I'm Stealing The Towels" (2:14)

# "Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You?" (2:59)

# "A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes" (1:09)

# "Dew On The Newts We Got" (1:09)
# "The Lad Searches The Night For His Newts" (0:41)
# "The Girl Wants To Fix Him Some Broth" (1:10)

'''200 Motels''' is an [[MissingEpisode unfinished rock movie]] by Music/FrankZappa from 1971. It was released with an eponymous soundtrack. Both the film as well as the album are a surreal {{Satire}} of a rock band on tour. The film stars Zappa's own band members- the Mothers of Invention- as caricatures of themselves. The film also has supporting roles for Music/RingoStarr as Larry the Dwarf (aka Frank Zappa), [[Music/TheWho Keith Moon]] as a nun groupie, Theodore Bikel as Rance Muhammitz and the notorious groupie Pamela des Barres as a reporter. [[TroubledProduction Various problems caused the project to change direction during recordings]]. The budget was cut and one of the band members, Jeff Simmons, left the group halfway. As a result only one third of Zappa's script could be filmed. While the man tried to make something coherent out of it in the editing room the film still ends up as a confusing mess.

While one can only wonder {{What Could Have Been}} if it was actually finished, it's still a visually interesting and often funny film to watch. Compared to Zappa's other film project ''Uncle Meat'' (1988)- even more low-budget- ''200 Motels'' is much more enjoyable. Still the CultClassic can be disappointing for fans who actually want to see Zappa himself, because he's hardly seen in this film and doesn't even have a line. In that retrospect the two hours and a half ConcertFilm ''Film/BabySnakes (1979)'' gives you more your money's worth.

'''200 Motels''' is an [[MissingEpisode unfinished rock movie]] by Music/FrankZappa from 1971. It was released with an eponymous soundtrack. Both the film as well as the album are a surreal {{Satire}} of a rock band on tour. The film stars Zappa's own band members- the Mothers of Invention- as caricatures of themselves. The film also has supporting roles for Music/RingoStarr as Larry the Dwarf (aka Frank Zappa), [[Music/TheWho Keith Moon]] as a nun groupie, Theodore Bikel as Rance Muhammitz and the notorious groupie Pamela des Barres as a reporter. Various problems caused the project to change direction during recordings. The budget was cut and one of the band members, Jeff Simmons, left the group halfway. As a result only one third of Zappa's script could be filmed. While the man tried to make something coherent out of it in the editing room the film still ends up as a confusing mess.

** The character Opal in "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" would later be mentioned again during "Teenage Wind" on ''Music/YouAreWhatYouIs'' (1980), where the lines "where's my waitress?" is also mentioned again. The character in "Teenage Wind" also says he "could go to a midnight show of "200 Motels"". In the same song the teenager protagonist wants to go to a midnight show of "200 Motels". Opal would also reappear on the album "Thing-Fish" (1984). On "No, Not Now" on ''Music/ShipArrivingToLateToSaveADrowningWitch'' (1982) "cowboy pants" and a "waitress" are mentioned again.

** The character Opal in "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" would later be mentioned again during "Teenage Wind" on ''Music/YouAreWhatYouIs'' (1980), where the lines "where's my waitress?" is also mentioned again. In the same song the teenager protagonist wants to go to a midnight show of "200 Motels". Opal would also reappear on the album "Thing-Fish" (1984). On "No, Not Now" on ''Music/ShipArrivingToLateToSaveADrowningWitch'' (1982) "cowboy pants" and a "waitress" are mentioned again.

Before the arrival of Internet ''200 Motels'' was very difficult to find and could only be ordered on video through Zappa's own company. Therefore it is safe to say that the CultSoundtrack album has probably reached more people than this BrokenBase film project. Just like ''Music/ChungasRevenge'' (1970), ''Music/FillmoreEastJune1971'' (1971) and ''Music/JustAnotherBandFromLA'' (1972) the album features Mark and Howie from Music/TheTurtles as lead vocalists and deals with {{Satire}} about rock artists on tour and groupies.

'''Disc One'''

'''Disc Two'''

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** "Dance Of The Rock & Roll Interviewers" contains a musical phrase from "Mystery Roach" and "A Pound For A Brown (On The Bus)" (from Music/UncleMeat) (1969).

** A plastic bag is mentioned during "The Sealed Tuna Bolero", bringing up "plastic" imagery again from ''Music/FreakOut'' and ''Music/AbsolutelyFree''. "Liquor stores" from "Hungry Freaks Daddy" (''Music/FreakOut'') are mentioned again in "Centerville".
** "Aroma" is mentioned during "Dental Hygiene Dilemma", another conceptual continuity topic that Zappa would revisit during "Dirty Love" (''Music/OverNiteSensation'') and "Jewish Princess" (''Music/SheikYerbouti'').
** Women "painting up their face" in "She Painted Up Her Face" was an image that Zappa visited earlier during "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" (on ''Music/FreakOut'') and "Harry You're A Beast" (''Music/WereOnlyInItForTheMoney'').
** The character Opal in "Lonesome Cowboy Burt" would later be mentioned again during "Teenage Wind" on "You Are What You Is" (1980), where the lines "where's my waitress?" is also mentioned again. In the same song the teenager protagonist wants to go to a midnight show of "200 Motels". Opal would also reappear on the album "Thing-Fish" (1984). On "No, Not Now" on "Ship Arriving To Late To Save A Drowning Witch" (1982) "cowboy pants" and a "waitress" are mentioned again.

* LovableSexManiac: Aynsley Dunbar.

** Music/JeffBeck dreams of quitting the band and forming his own heavy group "like Music/GrandFunkRailroad", for whom Zappa later produced an album: "Good Singin', Good Playin'". Music/BlackSabbath, whom Zappa was a fan of, is also mentioned.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Much of the film references inside jokes about Zappa's band members, including "Magic Fingers" where Jeff Beck's tennis shoes are mentioned, which are used "to beat a groupie off". Zappa did indeed also record band conversations in secret, like the film depicts.

** Jeff dreams of quitting the band and forming his own heavy group "like Music/GrandFunkRailroad", for whom Zappa later produced an album: "Good Singin', Good Playin'". Music/BlackSabbath, whom Zappa was a fan of, is also mentioned.

** "This Town Is Like A Sealed Tuna Sandwich" would be quoted again during "Bogus Pomp" on "Orchestral Favorites" (1978).

** Billy the Mountain in "Dental Hygiene Dilemma" would reappear during "Billy The Mountain" on ''Music/JustAnotherBandFromLA'' (1973) and "The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary" on "Studio Tan" (1978) and "Läther" (1993).
** Music/KeithMoon, who plays the nun in this film, would receive another nod in ''"We're Turning Again"'' on Zappa's album ''"Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers Of Prevention" (1986)'': ''"We can laugh at Keith Moon's jokes."''

** Billy the Mountain in "Dental Hygiene Dilemma" would reappear during "Billy The Mountain" on "Just Another Band From L.A." (1973) and "The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary" on "Studio Tan" (1978) and "Läther" (1993).

** French comic strip artist Creator/{{Gotlib}} spoofed the album cover with characters from his ''Hamster Jovial'' strip.

Before the arrival of Internet ''200 Motels'' was very difficult to find and could only be ordered on video through Zappa's own company. Therefore it is safe to say that the CultSoundtrack album has probably reached more people than this BrokenBase film project.

* BadGirlSong: The suite made of "She Painted Up Her Face", "Janet's Big Dance Number", "Half a Dozen Provocative Squats", "Mysterioso", "Shove it Right In" and "Lucy's Seduction of a Bored Violinist"

* CelebrityIsOverrated: Zappa's entire point about rock 'n' roll and touring, told very explicitly during "Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You?"

** A plastic bag is mentioned during "The Sealed Tuna Bolero", bringing up "plastic" imagery again from Music/FreakOut and Music/AbsolutelyFree. "Liquor stores" from "Hungry Freaks Daddy" (Music/FreakOut) are mentioned again in "Centerville".
** "Aroma" is mentioned during "Dental Hygiene Dilemma", another conceptual continuity topic that Zappa would revisit during "Dirty Love" (Music/OverNiteSensation) and "Jewish Princess" (Music/SheikYerbouti).
** Women "painting up their face" in "She Painted Up Her Face" was an image that Zappa visited earlier during "You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here" (on Music/FreakOut) and "Harry You're A Beast" (Music/WereOnlyInItForTheMoney).

** The line "What is that, musk? It's hip" from "Dental Hygiene Dilemma" would be re-used again during "Packard Goose" on Music/JoesGarage (1979).

** Car, dog and lice imagery can be heard during ''"Dental Hygiene Dilemma"'' and ''"Does This Kind Of Life Look Interesting To You?"'' A tie and Germans, another two conceptual continuity elements, are also referenced again.
** And, of course, the topic "groupies" had been referenced earlier on Zappa's albums. The lines "If your dick is a monster" and "Do You Like My New Car?" during "Daddy Daddy Daddy" are a throwback to the album "Fillmore East, June 1971" (1971).

** Jeff dreams of quitting the band and forming his own heavy group "like Music/GrandFunkRailroad", for whom Zappa later produced an album. Music/BlackSabbath, whom Zappa was a fan of, is also mentioned.
** "It's just as if Music/{{Donovan}} himself had appeared on my very own TV with words of peace, love and eternal cosmic wisdom" (...) it's the same and mysterious exotic oriental flagrance as what Music/TheBeatles get off on." - "Dental Hygiene Dilemma".