200 Motels (1971) on Netflix
The Mothers of Invention travel from show to show, and the tour brings them to Centerville. The musicians chase groupies, want to get paid, and are beaten up in a cowboy bar.
- Netflix2.7/5
- IMDb5.6/102,573 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes50%
Trailer
Plot summary
Centerville is a small fictional town, and it is where the Mothers of Invention land while touring. The story is told in unconnected vignettes that alternate with concert footage of the group, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs as well. Between the numbers, the musicians look for groupies and for the money they are owed, and a visit to Redneck Eats, a cowboy bar, leaves them beaten up. An animated interlude presented as a dental hygiene movie shows Jeff, a bassist, weary of the comedy music he plays.
Cast
- Mark Volmanas Member of Mothers of Invention
- Howard Kaylanas Member of Mothers of Invention
- Ian Underwoodas Member of Mothers of Invention
- Aynsley Dunbaras Member of Mothers of Invention
- Janet Neville-Fergusonas Groupie #1 (as Janet Ferguson)
- Lucy Offerallas Groupie #2
- Jimmy Carl Blackas Lonesome Cowboy Burt
Show all 20 cast
- Martin Lickertas Jeff
- Dick Barberas Bif Debris - The Vacuum Cleaner
- Don Prestonas Don
- Judy Gridleyas Chorus Leader
- Jim Ponsas Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited)
- Euclid James 'Motorhead' Sherwoodas Motorhead Sherwood (uncredited)
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about 200 Motels (1971)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Frank Zappa's film was the first feature ever photographed on videotape and then transferred to 35 mm film, a process that allowed the novel visual effects seen throughout it.
- Bassist Jeff Simmons quit the Mothers of Invention just as his cartoon counterpart does in the film, and was replaced for the shoot by Martin Lickert, who was Ringo Starr's chauffeur.
- A concert booked at the Royal Albert Hall after filming was canceled when a representative of the venue judged some of Zappa's lyrics obscene. Zappa sued for breach of contract and lost in 1975, after the judge, Mr Justice Mocatta, heard "Penis Dimension" and asked whether he had to listen to it.
