Filmbrain's Screen Capture Quiz: Round 11, Week 9

Here's what I want to know: what sort of coercion tactics did Robert Stigwood employ to convince nearly 100 celebrities -- including such diverse names as Peter Allen, Carol Channing, Donovan, Sha Na Na, Curtis Mayfield, and Keith Carradine -- to come together to record a painfully vanilla rendition of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band for the so-bad-it's-good film of the same name? And who for a second believed that Peter Frampton and the brothers Gibb would make for great leading men? Oh, and another thing, how did Michael Schultz, director of such quality 70's black cinema as Cooley High, Which Way is Up?, and personal favorite Car Wash come to direct one of the whitest films of the decade? Janet Maslin summed it up best in her Times review: "This isn't a movie, it's a business deal set to music." Producer-mogul Robert Stigwood's greatest miscalculation (in 70mm no less) began with the idea of marrying the Beatles' music with two of the biggest musical acts of the day, followed by the decision to pad the cast with individuals who shouldn't come within fifty yards of a Lennon-McCartney tune, including Frankie Howerd, Donald Pleasance, and Stargard. A feeble attempt to tie about thirty of these rock classics into something resembling a plot is about the best you can say for Henry Edwards' screenplay. The film does have its saving graces. Aerosmith's take on Come Together is still pretty darn good, and Steve Martin (who was riding high at that time) has a bit of fun in his screen debut with Maxwell's Silver Hammer. I'll admit that I loved the film at 12, but now it's almost too sad to watch. Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees' attempts at emoting, especially during the I Want You scene, is about as bad as acting can get. This week: Something to warm the heart on a cold March night. In what film will you find this quintet of PVC-clad beauties? Submit your answers to this address. Good luck!

Comments

[mike]

don't forget George Burns singing "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite". Hilarious

[Juanita]

Mike, I think he sang "Fixing A Hole".

[dubarry]

now you're just f*ckin' with me, right?

[mike]

juanita, you have just destroyed my childhood but you are right.