I've heard for years that this previously lost Warner Brothers musical comedy was an absolute trainwreck, but it's actually quite a sweet view of a mixture of various generations coming together for a purpose and revealing a bit of the purpose of previous generations. The Phynx is actually a fictional rock band brought together to save an oddball group of celebrities of generations past, some of whom will make the audience ask, "Who?" But it came at a time in entertainment history where there was a surprising nostalgia craze, and if the presence of Ruby Keeler and Patsy Kelly (soon to be featured together in Broadway's surprise hit "No No Nanette") isn't evidence of that, then how about a reunion of Johnny Weissmueller and Maureen O'Sullivan from the Tarzan movies, veteran lip popper Fritz Feld, Knute Rockne's Pat O'Brien (making a Reagan joke) and Slip and Sach from the Bowery Boys movies?
This film is "Help!" meets "The Monkees" meets "Hogan's Heroes", a deliciously screwy and often ridiculous concoction of a cry for the good old days vs. the disillusioned young facing an incoming decade with severe cynicism and distrust for anybody over 30, particularly Nixon voters. The music for the most part is forgettable but on occasion, energetic, and the four young members do have some talent and charm.
I certainly can do why this flopped, but somebody at Warner Brothers jumped the gun when they pulled it from circulation. Clint Walker, Butterfly McQueen, Joe Louis, Edgar Bergen (with Charlie of course), the Lone Ranger and Tonto and Patty Andrews are just a few others getting cameos, with George Tobias and Joan Blondell getting actual characters to play. I guess this will have to be removed from my "worst films of all time" list because in spite of its absurdities, i quite enjoyed it.
This film is "Help!" meets "The Monkees" meets "Hogan's Heroes", a deliciously screwy and often ridiculous concoction of a cry for the good old days vs. the disillusioned young facing an incoming decade with severe cynicism and distrust for anybody over 30, particularly Nixon voters. The music for the most part is forgettable but on occasion, energetic, and the four young members do have some talent and charm.
I certainly can do why this flopped, but somebody at Warner Brothers jumped the gun when they pulled it from circulation. Clint Walker, Butterfly McQueen, Joe Louis, Edgar Bergen (with Charlie of course), the Lone Ranger and Tonto and Patty Andrews are just a few others getting cameos, with George Tobias and Joan Blondell getting actual characters to play. I guess this will have to be removed from my "worst films of all time" list because in spite of its absurdities, i quite enjoyed it.