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{{Short description|1987 film by Frank Zappa}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Uncle Meat
| name = Uncle Meat
| image = Uncle Meat (film).jpg
| image = Uncle Meat (film).jpg

| image_size =
| caption =
| caption =
| director = [[Frank Zappa]]
| director = [[Frank Zappa]]
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| budget =
| budget =
}}
}}
'''''Uncle Meat''''' is a 1987 film written and directed by [[Frank Zappa]]. It was conceived in 1968 as a vehicle for [[the Mothers of Invention]],<ref name=Corcelli/> but remained unfinished until 20 years after the production began.<ref name=delafuentes>{{cite book |last=de la Fuentes |first=Manuel |author-link= |date=April 15, 2016 |title=Frank Zappa and the And |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xnsGDAAAQBAJ&dq=uncle+meat+movie&pg=PT63 |chapter=Zappa and his Cultural Legacy: Authorship, Influences and Expressive Features in Frank Zappa's Movies |publisher=Taylor & Francis |page=63 |isbn=9781317133148}}</ref>
'''''Uncle Meat''''' is a film written and directed by [[Frank Zappa]], released [[direct-to-video]] in 1987. Principal photography having never been completed, the videocassette is a "making of" documentary showing rehearsals and background footage from 1968 and interviews with people involved with the uncompleted production. The video has not yet been released on DVD.


==Plot==
== Cast (in alphabetical order)==
The film has been described as an unfinished "non-movie",<ref name=delafuentes/> consisting of three distinct plots, the first of which has been described as "Zappa filming Zappa filming".<ref name=delafuentes/> In the second plotline, a musician named Biff Debris ([[Don Preston]]) becomes obsessed with trying to produce a hit single, ultimately failing to achieve his objective before he gets old (and is now played by Stumuk, replacing Preston).<ref name=delafuentes/> The third plot is a love story between Phyllis Altenhaus and Debris as Phyllis works as an operator who falls in love with Debris while watching a video of a 1968 music performance by Debris. Years after, they meet and live happily ever after.<ref name=delafuentes/>
⚫
*[[Phyllis Smith Altenhaus]] as Herself/Sheba Flieschman (as Phyllis Altenhaus)

⚫
*[[Dick Barber]] as Himself
== Cast ==
⚫
*[[Massimo Bassoli]] as Adult Minnesota Tishman
{{castlist|
*[[Rodney Bingenheimer]] as Himself
⚫
*Phyllis Smith Altenhaus as herself and also sometimes as Sheba Flieschman (as Phyllis Altenhaus)
*[[Jimmy Carl Black]] as Himself
*[[Don Preston]] as himself (a.k.a. Dom DeWilde) and also sometimes as Biff Debris but most frequently as Uncle Meat
⚫
*[[Ray Collins (rock musician)|Ray Collins]] as Himself/Bill Yards
*[[Aynsley Dunbar]] as Himself/Biff Junior
*[[Frank Zappa]] as himself/The Imaginary Director
*Carl Zappa as Young Minnesota Tishman
*[[Roy Estrada]] as Himself
*[[Francesca Fisher]] as The Countess
*[[Aynsley Dunbar]] as himself/Biff Junior
⚫
*[[Ray Collins (rock musician)|Ray Collins]] as himself/Bill Yards
⚫
*[[Bunk Gardner]] as Himself
*[[Buzz Gardner]] as Himself
⚫
*[[Lowell George]] as Himself
*[[Dick Kunc]] as Himself
⚫
*[[Manfred Lerch]] as Himself
⚫
*[[C. Mercedes Lewis]] as Girl Who Was A Sofa
⚫
*[[Sal Lombardo]] as Himself
*[[Meredith Monk]] as Red Face Girl
*[[Meredith Monk]] as Red Face Girl
⚫
*Massimo Bassoli as Adult Minnesota Tishman
⚫
*C. Mercedes Lewis as Girl Who Was A Sofa
*Francesca Fisher as The Countess
*[[Billy Mundi]] as Rollo
*[[Billy Mundi]] as Rollo
*Stumuk as Elderly Biff Debris
⚫
*[[Janet Neville-Ferguson]] as Herself
⚫
*Dick Barber as himself
*[[Don Preston]] as Himself/ Biff Debris/Uncle Meat
*[[Fritz Rau]] as Himself
*[[Rodney Bingenheimer]] as himself
*[[Linda Ronstadt]] as Herself
*[[Jimmy Carl Black]] as himself
*[[Cal Schenkel]] as Himself
*[[Roy Estrada]] as himself
⚫
*[[Bunk Gardner]] as himself
⚫
*[[Euclid James Sherwood|Euclid James 'Motorhead' Sherwood]] as Himself
*[[Stumuk]] as Elderly Biff Debris
*[[Buzz Gardner]] as himself
⚫
*[[Lowell George]] as himself
⚫
*[[Art Tripp|Arthur Dyer Tripp III]] as Himself
*[[Ian Underwood]] as Himself
*Dick Kunc as himself
⚫
*Manfred Lerch as himself
⚫
*[[Haskell Wexler]] as Himself
⚫
*Sal Lombardo as himself
⚫
*[[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]] as Himself
⚫
*Janet Neville-Ferguson as herself
⚫
*[[Annie Zannas]] as Herself
*[[Carl Zappa]] as Young Minnesota Tishman
*[[Fritz Rau]] as himself
*[[Linda Ronstadt]] as herself
*[[Frank Zappa]] as Himself/The Imaginary Director
*[[Cal Schenkel]] as himself
⚫
*[[Euclid James Sherwood|Euclid James 'Motorhead' Sherwood]] as himself
⚫
*[[Art Tripp|Arthur Dyer Tripp III]] as himself
*[[Ian Underwood]] as himself
⚫
*[[Haskell Wexler]] as himself
⚫
*[[Tom Wilson (producer)|Tom Wilson]] as himself
⚫
*Annie Zannas as herself
}}


==See also==
==Production==
In 1968 Zappa decided to make a film featuring the original incarnation of [[the Mothers of Invention]]. [[Haskell Wexler]], who had used two of Zappa's songs in his film ''[[Medium Cool]]'', offered five days of his services as a cinematographer for free to Zappa.<ref name=Corcelli>{{cite book |last=Corcelli |first=John |date=August 2016 |title=Frank Zappa FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Father of Invention|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DtGGDwAAQBAJ&dq=Uncle+Meat+video&pg=PT241 |publisher=Backbeat |page=241|isbn=9781617136740}}</ref> Financial issues led to the production stopping as Zappa moved on to other projects, but a different form of the film was finally completed and released in 1987.<ref name=Corcelli/>
*''[[Uncle Meat]]'' - an album by [[The Mothers of Invention]]

===Style===
''Uncle Meat'' juxtaposes concert footage from the Festival Hall in London with a fictional narrative<ref name=Corcelli/> that combines elements of [[science fiction]] and road stories inspired by the band's sexual escapades.<ref name=Lowe>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAYfqgGf4yYC&pg=PA64 |title=The Words and Music of Frank Zappa |first=Kelly Fisher |last=Lowe |date=October 2007 |publisher=U of Nebraska Press |access-date=November 12, 2023 |isbn=978-0803260054 }}</ref> The second plotline serves as a criticism of the music industry, portraying the efforts of a musician to gain commercial success; this plotline is a [[political thriller]].<ref name=delafuentes/> The film utilizes footage from 1968, 1970 and 1982, as well as studio and live recordings from different concerts and years, which allowed Zappa to complete the film, which reflects on the existence and validity of his music over the course of time.<ref name=delafuentes/>

As in Zappa's previous film, ''[[200 Motels]]'', ''Uncle Meat'' explores the separation between documentary and fiction, encouraging the viewer to question whether they are watching real or recreated events.<ref name=delafuentes/> Zappa explores the difficulty of maintaining a career in film as an independent artist outside of the studio system. Having taken 20 years to complete the film, the screenplay had changed from what Zappa had initially planned, due to him adding footage to the project throughout the 20 year production.<ref name=delafuentes/> The character of Biff Debris serves as an allegory for the tensions faced by an artist trying to have his work released.<ref name=delafuentes/> While the dialogue of ''200 Motels'' emphasizes that the film is Zappa's, ''Uncle Meat'' is more distinctively the Mothers of Invention's film.<ref name=delafuentes/>

==Media==
The April 26, 1969 ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' review of the ''[[Uncle Meat]]'' album described it as a soundtrack to a film.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 26, 1969 |title=Album Reviews |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=uncle+meat+movie&pg=PA72 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=November 12, 2023}}</ref> The double vinyl was expanded on compact disc to include 41 minutes of audio from the film and the song "Tengo na minchia tanta", programmed before side 4 on the second CD (sides 1-3 are on the first CD). Author Ben Watson said that the additional tracks were a detraction from the album's original structure.<ref>{{cite book |last=Watson |first=Ben |date=January 19, 2012 |title=Frank Zappa: The Complete Guide to his Music |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XT4DAwAAQBAJ&dq=uncle+meat+movie&pg=PT22 |publisher=Omnibus Press |page=22 |isbn=9780857127389}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:1987 direct-to-video films]]
[[Category:1987 direct-to-video films]]
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[[Category:1987 comedy films]]
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[[Category:1987 documentary films]]
[[Category:1987 films]]
[[Category:1980s musical films]]
[[Category:1980s science fiction films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American comedy films]]
[[Category:American documentary films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Frank Zappa]]
[[Category:Films directed by Frank Zappa]]
[[Category:Films scored by Frank Zappa]]
[[Category:Films scored by Frank Zappa]]
[[Category:Films set in 1968]]
[[Category:Films set in 1968]]
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[[Category:1980s English-language films]]

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[[Category:1980s American films]]

{{1980s-comedy-film-stub}}
{{music-documentary-film-stub}}

Latest revision as of 00:12, 2 August 2024

Uncle Meat
Directed byFrank Zappa
Written byFrank Zappa
CinematographyEd Seeman
Haskell Wexler
Music byFrank Zappa
Release date
  • 1987 (1987)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Uncle Meat is a 1987 film written and directed by Frank Zappa. It was conceived in 1968 as a vehicle for the Mothers of Invention,[1] but remained unfinished until 20 years after the production began.[2]

Plot

[edit]

The film has been described as an unfinished "non-movie",[2] consisting of three distinct plots, the first of which has been described as "Zappa filming Zappa filming".[2] In the second plotline, a musician named Biff Debris (Don Preston) becomes obsessed with trying to produce a hit single, ultimately failing to achieve his objective before he gets old (and is now played by Stumuk, replacing Preston).[2] The third plot is a love story between Phyllis Altenhaus and Debris as Phyllis works as an operator who falls in love with Debris while watching a video of a 1968 music performance by Debris. Years after, they meet and live happily ever after.[2]

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

In 1968 Zappa decided to make a film featuring the original incarnation of the Mothers of Invention. Haskell Wexler, who had used two of Zappa's songs in his film Medium Cool, offered five days of his services as a cinematographer for free to Zappa.[1] Financial issues led to the production stopping as Zappa moved on to other projects, but a different form of the film was finally completed and released in 1987.[1]

Style

[edit]

Uncle Meat juxtaposes concert footage from the Festival Hall in London with a fictional narrative[1] that combines elements of science fiction and road stories inspired by the band's sexual escapades.[3] The second plotline serves as a criticism of the music industry, portraying the efforts of a musician to gain commercial success; this plotline is a political thriller.[2] The film utilizes footage from 1968, 1970 and 1982, as well as studio and live recordings from different concerts and years, which allowed Zappa to complete the film, which reflects on the existence and validity of his music over the course of time.[2]

As in Zappa's previous film, 200 Motels, Uncle Meat explores the separation between documentary and fiction, encouraging the viewer to question whether they are watching real or recreated events.[2] Zappa explores the difficulty of maintaining a career in film as an independent artist outside of the studio system. Having taken 20 years to complete the film, the screenplay had changed from what Zappa had initially planned, due to him adding footage to the project throughout the 20 year production.[2] The character of Biff Debris serves as an allegory for the tensions faced by an artist trying to have his work released.[2] While the dialogue of 200 Motels emphasizes that the film is Zappa's, Uncle Meat is more distinctively the Mothers of Invention's film.[2]

Media

[edit]

The April 26, 1969 Billboard review of the Uncle Meat album described it as a soundtrack to a film.[4] The double vinyl was expanded on compact disc to include 41 minutes of audio from the film and the song "Tengo na minchia tanta", programmed before side 4 on the second CD (sides 1-3 are on the first CD). Author Ben Watson said that the additional tracks were a detraction from the album's original structure.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Corcelli, John (August 2016). Frank Zappa FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Father of Invention. Backbeat. p. 241. ISBN 9781617136740.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k de la Fuentes, Manuel (April 15, 2016). "Zappa and his Cultural Legacy: Authorship, Influences and Expressive Features in Frank Zappa's Movies". Frank Zappa and the And. Taylor & Francis. p. 63. ISBN 9781317133148.
  3. ^ Lowe, Kelly Fisher (October 2007). The Words and Music of Frank Zappa. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0803260054. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  4. ^ "Album Reviews". Billboard. April 26, 1969. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Watson, Ben (January 19, 2012). Frank Zappa: The Complete Guide to his Music. Omnibus Press. p. 22. ISBN 9780857127389.
[edit]
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