Peter Tork Movies

Filmmakers Paul Lovelace and Sam Wainwright Douglas invite viewers to follow the tale of two true American originals in this documentary detailing the collaboration between fiddler Pete Stampfel and guitarist Steve Weber -- aka the Holy Modal Rounders. It was during "The Great Folk Scare" of the early 1960s that these two eccentric souls collided in New York's Greenwich Village, and their partnership was soon solidified thanks to a mutual appreciation for American roots music and early psychedelia. But this was only the beginning, because over the course of the next four decades Stampfel and Douglas would exist on the fringes of the music industry while gaining a steady cult following. From their work on the Easy Rider soundtrack to the lost years and ultimately a shot at redemption in the form of a 40th anniversary concert in Portland, OR, this is the story of the American outlaw subculture at its most volatile and luminous. Special appearances by Dennis Hopper, Sam Shepard, Loudon Wainwright III, John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful, and Peter Tork of the Monkees give testament to the endless influence of a duo that beat the odds to endure for four decades and counting. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The Brady Bunch Movie pays tribute to the 1970s TV show while poking gentle fun at it. The Brady family, led by father Mike (Gary Cole), still live in their suburban, split-level home and are still throwbacks to the era that spawned them. Eternally perky wife Carol (Shelley Long) is the perfect homemaker, while the kids' behavior is as wholesome as their loud, time-warp pastel clothes. Meanwhile, the greedy, selfish modern era swirls dangerously around them, embodied in next-door neighbor and real estate agent Ditmeyer (Michael McKean), who wants to buy the Bradys' property and turn the neighborhood into a giant mall. But no amount of money or prodding can persuade the Bradys to give up their home. Director Betty Thomas contrasts the overlit sitcom look of the Brady house interiors (faithfully recreated from the series) with real locations and natural grit for the modern L.A. scenes. The result is a satire that deftly spoofs the idea of staying true to old-fashioned values without ever passing judgment on those values. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

It's Career Day at Adams High, and Cory (Ben Savage) does not look forward to the lecture delivered by his dad Alan (William Russ), who is "only" a grocer and thus nowhere near as glamorous as the other parents' kids. Meanwhile, Shawn stays at Cory's house while his dad Chet (Blake Clark) searches for Shawn's mom, who has run off to parts unknown with the family's trailer. And yes, that's former "Monkee" Peter Tork as the father of Cory's classmate Topanga (Danielle Fishel). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This is the official Monkees videography. It is a behind the scenes look at the phenomenon that was and still is the Monkees. The video features several clever music videos from their album Pool It, amusing tour footage, vintage film clips, interviews, and many special surprises. This reunion tour does not include Mike Nesmith in the lineup. ~ Karla Baker, All Movie Guide

The Monkees -- Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, Davy Jones and Peter Tork -- didn't really enjoy being labelled the Prefab Four back when their TV series was all the rage in 1966. With the help and support of Bob Rafaelson (co-producer, co-writer and director) and Jack Nicholson (co-producer, co-writer, and, if you look closely, bit player), the Monkees expressed their displeasure over being packaged for popular consumption in the non sequitur masterpiece Head. At least, it seems that the film is an indictment of the merchandising of pop stars. It's hard to tell at times, because Head literally has no plot; it is instead a patchwork of loopy sight gags, instant parodies, "camp" cutups, musical numbers and wry inside jokes. Clips of such old movies as the 1934 Karloff-Lugosi epic The Black Cat pop up every so often, as does an impressive lineup of pop-culture icons: Victor Mature, Annette Funicello, Sonny Liston, Frank Zappa (he's the one leading a cow) and Ray Nitschke, as well as such movie-trivia "answers" as Timothy Carey, Vito Scotti, Teri Garr, Percy Helton, Logan Ramsey, Carol Doda, and pre-Divine cross-dresser T.C. Jones. The best bits include a lengthy Golden Boy parody which does double duty as a lampoon of the network's efforts to create "personalities" for the individual Monkees, and a psychedelic buck-and-wing performed by Davy Jones. One gag, in which Micky Dolenz blows up a Coca Cola machine, is usually excised from TV showings. Head did zero business when it first came out thanks to poor distribution, but it has since become a fixture of midnight-movie showings and campus cinema classes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Suffering from writers' block, Peter visits a nightclub hypnotist, The Great Oracullo (Monte Landis). But instead of curing Peter, Oracullo drugs the poor Monkee and places him under his evil spell. The other Monkees try to rescue Peter by pretending to succumb to Oracullo's hypnotic powers -- but are they merely pretending? Watch for cameo appearances by frequent Monkees' director James Frawley as Oracullo's henchman Rudi Bayshore, Burgess Meredith in his familiar Batman guise as the Penguin, and Frank Zappa -- as Mike Nesmith. Songs: "Daily Nightly", "Gonna Buy Me a Dog, "Valleri, and "Mother People", the latter tune written by Zappa. First broadcast on March 11, 1968, "Monkees Blow Their Minds" was written by Peter Meyerson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Monkees head to England when Davy inherits the lavish estate of Sir Malcolm Kibbee. Upon arrival, the boys discover that they'll have to remain for five years, lest the estate fall into the grubby hands of family wastrel Lance Kibbee the Sot (Jack Good). Bernard Fox (The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched) appears as Sir Twiggley Topper Middle Bottom, while veteran character-actor Reginald Gardiner is seen as the butler. Song: "Star Collector". Written by Coslough Johnson, "Monkees Mind Their Manor" represents the directorial debut of Monkee Peter Tork, who uses his given name of Peter H. Thorkelson for this purpose. The episode originally aired on February 26, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Taking a break from his customary duties on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Pat Paulsen acts as the "official narrator" of this Monkees-style science-fiction spoof. When Micky is kidnapped by aliens from the planet Zlotnick, he is replaced by a look-alike robot. Quickly realizing that their fellow Monkee isn't "himself," Davy and Peter try to warn the Department of UFO Information of an imminent alien attack. Nita Talbot co-stars as Pat Paulsen's assistant, while perennial James Garner sidekick Stuart Margolin plays the captain. Song: "Star Collector". Written by Coslough Johnson, "Monkees Watch Their Feet" first aired on January 15, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Telecast as the final first-run episode of The Monkees on March 25, 1968, "Mijacogeo" was co-written and directed by Monkee Micky Dolenz. The title was an amalgam of the names of the Dolenz family: Micky, his mother Janelle, his sister Coco, and his father George (the episode is also known as "The Frodis Caper" -- another "inside joke" in the Dolenz clan). This time around, the Monkees try to save the world from Glick the Wizard (Rip Taylor), who has created a device capable of "freezing" people to their TV sets (something the sponsors of this series wouldn't have minded in the least!). Songs: "Zor and Zam" and "Songs of the Siren". In addition to Dolenz, Dave Evans and John C. Anderson contributed to the teleplay for "Mijacageo." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the best of his many Monkees' guest appearances, Monte Landis is cast as the devilish Mr. Zero. When he sees a lovely harp for sale, Peter wishes that he had the talent to play the instrument. Suddenly, Mr. Zero appears, offering to grant Peter the ability to play the harp in exchange for his soul. When the time comes for Mr. Zero to collect on his unholy bargain, Mike demands that Peter be given a fair trial. Unfortunately, the jury is comprised of Zero's former "clients," including Billy the Kid (Peter Canon, Attila the Hun (Lee Kolima), and Blackbeard (Ted de Corsia), and presiding over the proceedings is the infamous Judge Roy Bean (Vincent Beck). Songs: "Salesman" and "No Time". Scripted by Robert Kaufman from a story by Kaufman, Gerald Gardner, and Dee Caruso, "The Devil and Peter Tork" was originally telecast on February 5, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Joey Forman, who previously appeared as the title character in the Monkees episode "Captain Crocodile," returns as the villainous Dragonman in "Monkees Chow Mein." While dining at a Chinese restaurant, Davy inadvertently picks up a fortune cookie containing a top-secret message. Captured by the Dragonman's henchmen, Peter and Micky must rely on the "MonkeeMen" -- Davy and Mike -- to come to their rescue. Future MASH regular Mike Farrell shows up as FBI Agent Modell. Song: "Your Auntie Grizelda". First telecast on March 13, 1967, "Monkees Chow Mein" was written by the series' story editors, Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Miracle of miracles, the Monkees are selected as "typical young Americans of the year" by the editorial staff of Chic magazine. But when snooty chief editor Madame Quagmeyer (Patrice Wymore) takes one look at our heroes, she decides to chuck their real personalities and aggressively reinvent them as suave young sophisticates. Predictably, she fails. Songs: "Laugh" and "You Just May Be the One". First telecast on February 27, 1967, "Monkees à la Mode" was written by Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having previously appeared as a gangster boss in the Monkees episode "Monkees in a Ghost Town," comedian Rose Marie projects a more benign -- but no less forceful -- characterization in "Monkee Mother." About to be evicted from their apartment, the Monkees are "adopted" by the new tenant, the maternally inclined Milly (Rose Marie). At first responding positively to Milly's effusions of affection, our heroes begin to worry that she'll love them to death, so they concoct a scheme to marry off the well-meaning widow. Songs: "Sometime In the Morning" and "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)". Written by Peter Myerson and Bob Schlitt, "Monkee Mother" first aired on March 20, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide