The Bowdoin Orient

February 9, 2001
Volume CXXXII, Number 15

Rock and roll in Sills Hall

by JIM FLANAGAN - COLUMNIST

   If you've had a week like I've had, all you want to do this weekend is party like a rock star. Maybe that isn't an option for you, but the Film Society can help. This weekend, we are presenting a series of Rock and Roll crossovers: films with rock stars doing what they do best, being rock stars. On Friday night, we have a special treat. February 9 marks the 37th anniversary of the Beatles' appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.
   To commemorate the event, Audrey (the biggest Beatles fan I know) made sure she got to choose the films we show. Good choices, I'd say. As for Saturday night, we wanted to show Rock and Roll High School with the Ramones and Cool as Ice with Vanilla Ice, but we couldn't get a copy of either.
   This is a real shame, because everyone needs to see Cool as Ice; you have no idea how good it is. But the films we do have are good substitutes. As always, the movies will be shown in Smith Auditorium, Sills Hall, and are free and open to the public.

   A Hard Day's Night - Friday at 7pm
   Help! - Friday at 9pm
   Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - Saturday at 7pm
   200 Motels - Saturday at 9pm

   A Hard Day's Night (1964)
   Directed by: Richard Lester
   Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison,
                 Ringo Starr
   This film takes place at the height of Beatlemania, and stars the Fab Four as themselves. What the film tries to do is shows you, the obsessed fan, what a "normal" day in the life of the Beatles is like. Somehow, I don't think it was this crazy. The soundtrack features some great songs, including: I Should Have Known Better, Can't Buy Me Love, and the title track. The formula for this film was used in Spice World, but somehow I doubt it was as good. Then again, Meat Loaf is in Spice World… Rated G

   Help! (1965)
   Directed by: Richard Lester
   Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison,
                 Ringo Starr
   OK, so if A Hard Day's Night was an attempt to show what the Beatles' life was like, I have no idea what they were trying to do with this film. Ringo happens to put on a ring that was once owned by the victim of a religious cult that believes in human sacrifice. Since Ringo has the ring, he needs to be the cult's next victim. I haven't seen this movie, but apparently there are also some mad scientists and a member of a spin-off cult after the Beatles, plus some police who are trying to help. Sounds pretty silly to me, but I'm betting it will be good. The soundtrack features: You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, Ticket to Ride, Yesterday and the title track. Rated G

   Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1983)
   Directed by: D.A. Pennebaker
   Starring: David Bowie, Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder,
                Mick Woodmansy, Angela Bowie
   Recorded on July 3, 1973, this film documents the final appearance of David Bowie's alter ego Ziggy Stardust, and his backing band, the Spiders from Mars. There are some outlandish and amusing costumes, and the backstage segments are pretty neat. Songs include: Ziggy Stardust, Watch that Man, Changes, Space Oddity, Let's Spend the Night Together, Suffragette City and Rock 'n' Roll Suicide. A pretty good setlist, even if it doesn't include those classic vocals "I'm David Bowie, I'm David Bowie, look at me goey!" It is said that this film is only for true Bowie fans, but come on, who isn't a Bowie fan? Rated PG

   200 Motels (1971)
   Directed by: Tony Palmer and Frank Zappa
   Starring: Frank Zappa, the Mothers of Invention, Keith Moon,
                Ringo Starr
   There's not much to say about this movie other than it is extremely weird. But it's made by Frank Zappa, what else would you expect? Although there is little to no plot, the film is a group of true stories about what occurred to the Mothers while on tour. As FZ says in the opening of the film: "Touring can make you crazy, ladies and gentlemen. That's what 200 Motels is all about." I think that about sums it up. If you feel your life is too mundane, come see this film. Rated R