HEAD (prod. #8888), a Columbia motion picture starring that popular TV rockband The Monkees, opened at the Studio Cinema and Greenwich Theaters in New York City. A gala was held at the Columbia Pictures studio on West 54th Street attended by The Monkees, Janis Ian, Andy Warhol, Boyce & Hart, Carole Bayer, Lester Sill, Bert Schneider, Bob Rafelson, Peter Fonda, Peter's brother Nick Thorkelson, and his grandmother.
A Raybert Production of A Columbia Pictures Release, directed by Monkees TV producer Bob Rafelson (his first film), written and produced by Rafelson and Jack Nicholson, and executive-produced by The Monkees TV show co-producer Bert Schneider, it featured many movie, sports and TV icons by the likes of Victor Mature, Sonny Liston, Annette Funicello, Carol Doda, Ray Nitschke, and a youthful Teri Garr (billed in the movie as Terry Garr). The songs featured in the movie were "Porpoise Song" by Gerry Goffin & Carole King, "Circle Sky" by Michael Nesmith, "Can You Dig It" and "Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again" by Peter Tork, "As We Go Along" by Carole King & Toni Stern, and "Daddy's Song" by Nilsson.
Trivia Footnote: The principal photography was a 3-month, 10-day shoot between February and May 1968 in Screen Gems Studio 7 and on location in California (Gerald Desmond Bridge, Long Beach; Pasadena Rose Bowl, Pasadena; Playa Del Rey; Bronson Canyon; Palm Springs; Columbia Ranch, Burbank; Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles), and and Paradise Island, The Bahamas. Unfortunately, a misleading ad campaign (a balding man's face? No indication of the group appearing in the film?) and a mistimed release date, due to a painfully prolonged postproduction process (November 6, 1968? Two months after The Monkees TV show's official cancellation [and the day after Richard M. Nixon defeated Hubert Humphrey in a knockdown, dragout vie for The Presidency!]?) helped sabotage this otherwise fun-loving crowd pleaser, which landed with a tumultuous thud at the box-office with a meager $16,111 in ticket sales. But HEAD has over the years developed quite a cult following among moviegoers and Monkees fans.
