Head (film)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Wikipedia
Featured:  Illustration: Portrait fantaisiste du marquis de Sade (1866) by H. Biberstein |
Head is a psychedelic film released in 1968, starring TV group The Monkees and distributed by Columbia Pictures. It was written and produced by Bob Rafelson and Jack Nicholson, and directed by Rafelson.
The name seems to be a sort of joke. The Beatles had released the film "HELP", and the physical beginning of a movie is called the "HEAD". "Head" is actually written on the beginnings of every reel of film produced just as "Tail" is written on the ends. A similar joke can be seen later in the movie - when they are playing a concert, you can see the word "Drum" on their drums instead of "Monkees". Additionally, a "head trip" was a common term in the late sixties, and this can also part of the joke. In 60s and 70s slang, "head" meant someone who used psychedelic drugs, as in "pot head," and "acid head." The name is also suggestive of oral sex. It is rumored that the title was chosen in the case of a sequel being produced, where it would be advertised as coming from the filmmakers who "gave you 'Head'".
The film featured Victor Mature as "The Big Victor" and other cameo appearances by Nicholson, Dennis Hopper, Teri Garr, Carol Doda, Annette Funicello, Frank Zappa, Sonny Liston and Ray Nitschke.
