The Mamas & the Papas Movies

This hour-long documentary examines the short but tumultuous history of the Mamas and the Papas, who became one of the biggest pop groups of the late '60s, crafting such hits as "California Dreamin'," "Monday, Monday," "I Saw Her Again Last Night," and "Dedicated to the One I Love," before romantic tensions, creative differences, and drug abuse broke up the quartet at the height of their fame in 1968. The Very Best of the Mamas and the Papas features interviews with group members John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, and Denny Doherty, as well as several friends and contemporaries, including John Stewart, Scott McKenzie and Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane (who replaced the late Cass Elliot in a latter day version of the group). The film also includes the group performing a number of their hits, utilizing vintage concert footage and television appearances (including highlights from their guest spot on The Ed Sullivan Show). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The first concert film of the rock & roll era, Monterey Pop is an invaluable record of some of the major musical figures of the late 1960s. The organizers of the Monterey International Pop Festival, held June 16-18, 1967, wisely chose to record the proceedings on film for commercial distribution. Even if some of the festival's big acts -- The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, and Buffalo Springfield -- didn't make the final cut for various reasons, the roster of performers who did reads like a who's who of the era: Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin), Simon & Garfunkel, and The Mamas and the Papas (that group's leader, John Phillips, was one of the festival's principal organizers). The festival's "international" tag is well-earned by one performer in the film: Ravi Shankar, whose final-day performance was one of the festival's highlights and closes the movie on an exuberant note. Though the festival seemed to be anticipating nearby San Francisco's Summer of Love, the film chooses to concentrate on the musical performers, with only brief intimations of the burgeoning counterculture. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi

In 1965 and 1966, some of the biggest names in rock & roll appeared on the TV series Hullabaloo, and this home video collects two classic episodes from the show, featuring performances from a handful of great artists. First, Michael Landon is the host as the Byrds, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jackie DeShannon, and Chad and Jill play their latest hits. Next, Gary Lewis serves as master of ceremonies and performs a tune with his group, Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Joining Lewis are the Mamas and the Papas, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Rydell, and Noel Harrison. Filling out the tape are bonus performances from the Moody Blues, the Turtles, the Animals, and the Marvelettes. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi