200 Motels

1971
1h 27min
18

Directed by: Frank Zappa, Tony Palmer
Cast: The Mothers of Invention, Ringo Starr, Theodore Bikel, London Philharmonic Orchestra

Zappa's only completed feature film is a deliberately ramshackle mess, combining a story about the weirdness of life on the road as a touring musician with masses of cheesy early 70s video effects, weird jokes and live performance footage, plus Zappa appearing both as himself and played by a Beatle. Very much of its era, but the music is dazzling – by turns abstract modern music and rock frenzy – and it's like nothing else you've ever seen.