(1971)
3
Andrea LeVasseur
A truly bizarre head movie, 200 Motels claims to be about life on the road for the touring musician. One of the first feature-length movies to be shot on videotape and transferred to 35 mm film for the theatrical release, it was made in less than a week in England with a minimal budget. Having no plot to follow coupled with the amateurish cinematography makes for an intentionally disturbing cinematic experience. However, the tacky production design, bold colors, and jarring edits that seem to be chosen at random are classic components of late-'60s and early-'70s psychedelia. Made during Zappa's artistic fascination with the rock & roll touring lifestyle as evidenced in his albums of the time (Chunga's Revenge, Fillmore East), the cast includes real-life groupies including Pamela Miller, who later authored I'm With the Band: Confessions of a Groupie. A must-see for Zappa fans, the dialogue is filled with in-jokes and references. Like Zappa's music, 200 Motels is provocative, funny, and an over-the-top satire; but unlike the musician's recordings, it is not as finely crafted. Featuring the music from the album of the same name with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, this project met one of Zappa's longtime goals of recording with a full symphony.
200 Motels on AllMovie
200 Motels (1971)
