Movie: (1979) Seven beauties form a paramilitary vigilante squad to shut down a gang that is selling drugs to teens.
First shown: 3/11/95
Opening: Crow remembers that he has amnesia
Intro: Desperate for ratings, Dr. F. turns M&tB into the cast of “Renegade”
Host segment 1: Crow latest screenplay is a “black-sploitation” film
Host segment 2: Mike does his Fonz, Crow and Tom disapprove
Host segment 3: Aaron Spelling’s house passes by the SOL
End: Tom demonstrates the shame-o-meter, the Mads are Bobby Riggs and Billy-Jean King
Stinger: “Shine your love!”
(247 votes, average: 4.65 out of 5)
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• I’m torn about this episode. The riffing is great, consistently hilarious. The host segments however, are mostly blah. The result is one of those “good not great” entries.
• This was on Rhino’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 2
• I just noticed that there is no apostrophe after “Angels” on the title card, so I have removed it, though it makes the title grammatically confusing.
• References. However, here are two I caught that they don’t mention: The much-lamented TV show “The Duck Factory” and Crow’s warning about his “elaborate network of trusses,” a reference to the “Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute,” bit on Saturday Night Live.
• By chance, this was the last episode ever shown on Comedy Central, in late December of ’96.
• When it debuted, it was the first new episode in nearly two months and the beginning of three eps in three weeks as the season came to an end.
• I kind of like the “amnesia” opener, because it’s just silly and doesn’t try to be anything more than that. It also reminds me a little of Scifi Channel-era Crow–and maybe that’s not just a coincidence, since future Crow Bill Corbett joined the writing staff with this episode.
• But the intro, with Dr. F and Frank dressed as Rollie Fingers and Tug McGraw, and transforming M&tB into the cast of “Renegade,” is, as the kids say, random. Maybe it’s because I never watched a single episode of “Renegade” (and in fact had never heard of the show when I first saw this episode). I dunno. It just seemed to go nowhere.
• Segment 1, in which we get yet another reading of yet another spec script by Crow, also kind of goes nowhere. But I will grant that it’s building toward a classic segment in season seven, so I will cut this one some slack.
• Segment 2: Another random concept (Fonzie?). It’s cute and it’s short but I’m left just going: “Huh?”
• Callback to the “rape” scene in “The Violent Years.”
• Segment 3, featuring Aaron Spelling’s house: well, of course mad prop props to whoever built the house. Just gorgeous. It’s a cute idea, and I do appreciate that they don’t belabor it. Still, it’s hardly a laugh riot.
• The classic line, “By this time my lungs were aching for booze,” is such a great payoff for fans who’ve been faithfully watching since the second season.
• The end segments, featuring the shame-o-meter, and a funny bit with Frank and Dr. F dressed as Billie Jean King and the now almost completely forgotten Bobby Riggs, almost save it for me, but not quite.
• Cast and crew roundup: Executive producer Louis George also worked on “Final Justice,” as did producer/director/screenwriters Greydon Clark.
In front of the camera, Jack Palance was also in “Outlaw” and Alan Hale Jr. was also in “The Crawling Hand” and “The Giant Spider Invasion.”
• CreditsWatch: Host segments directed by Trace Beaulieu. And it is with this episode that the team, struggling to manage their workload as they began working on “MST3K: The Movie,” added “additional contributing writers” Bill Corbett and Drew Jansen.
• Fave riff: “It’s Dworkinfest ’78!” Honorable mention: “Show him the wiener.”
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The thing I remember from the “Aaron Spelling’s House” bit is seeing a part from the AMT plastic model of the U.S.S. Enterprise. It’s the round thing on the side of the house that could be an exhaust fan. The part is actually the front end cap of the bottom hull that held the large deflector dish antenna. That always stands out from this episode. I don’t know why. . .
I don’t know why but I often forget this was a Comedy Central episode. It just that that Sci-Fi era feel.
The amnesia opening was cute. Crow sure did remember a lot for a bot with amnesia.
As Milwaukee Brewers fan old enough to remember 1982 I enjoyed the appearance of Rollie Fingers even if he was wearing the wrong uniform.
When Tug McGraw err… I mean Frank berates Mike’s ratings I flashed back to when Dr. Erhardt would do that to Joel on a regular basis during the KTMA season.
Many commented on it four years ago and I’ll echo it: Frank doing Tug McGraw by deadpanning “I’m Tug McGraw” is hilarious.
Sampo> I’ve never seen an episode of Renegade either. But I do recall it being advertised incessantly so I still laughed.
Mike’s Fonzie isn’t that bad. In fact it is better than his Urkel. But it doesn’t go over nearly as well.
Favorite Riffs:
Crow “All right. You know what? I’m just giving in and looking at the breasts.”
Crow “This was Jim Backus’ first film after he died.”
Tom “This Tom Clancy novel really losses something in the film version.”
A barrel goes flying during an explosion. Tom “that was some hot chili.”
The teacher is pulled from the pool after the drowning torture. Crow “Would you like a glass of water.”
Roman Martel #45: My wife is super annoyed by the teacher and her Olive Oyl “Ohhhh, ohhhh, ohhhh, it’s in here somewhere.” So naturally I’ve trained the cat to mimick that sound.
So how did the divorce proceedings go? I imagine you at least got the cat.
In the opening host segment, I love how they cut away just as Mike is swinging.
Was that one of the hobby hogs from The Wild Rebels that Mike was holding?
I think it’s quite telling how all the guests stars get listed in the opening credits before the title character actresses.
Perhaps my brain is playing tricks on me, but I recall a review of this episode which claimed that the protagonists go skinnydipping in the drug lord’s pool at the end of the uncut film. Can anyone confirm?
While the riffing was strong, it wasn’t quite strong enough to counter the general horridness of the film. Along with the mostly weak host segments, I only give three and a half stars.
Favorite riffs:
Dear Ranger Rick forum, I’m a forest ranger in a small midwestern town.
“you got the wirecutters?”
How about the underwire cutters?
And this was Carter’s hostage solution?
It’s Miles O’Keefe with breasts.
(That’s something of a redundant statement.)
It’s the T&A Team.
Great, I have to hire protection from Mary Crest Elementary.
This is one of Cole Porter’s worst songs.
“Women can make a difference.”
The director wrote that so he could get laid.
“Now let’s get a real actor in here, please?”
That would blow the budget, sir.
She rejected me. I’m going to go use drugs.
She must be engaged to Sean Penn.
These survivalists couldn’t survive a grape embargo.
And we’re thinking of starting a fascist petting zoo.
You know, now I appreciate the quiet dignity of Pat Buttram’s performance.
I’m starting to root for the drug dealers in this movie.
This doesn’t do it for me like that similar scene in The Violent Years.
The director doesn’t have Ed Wood’s passion for this kind of material.
I hope those are stunt tongues.
Mom! Mom! A bunch of girls took my drugs and snagged on me!
Geez, it was just the Johnson family going to Mass.
Oh my God, you’re nude!
Oh, my bone is sticking through my le- hey an agate!
There weren’t too many episodes in Season 6 that resonated with me, but Angels Revenge did. I am painfully aware that bills have to be paid, but what were Arthur Godfrey, Alan Hale, Jr., Jim Backus, and Pat Buttram thinking? Lawford is another story.
Favorite lines:
[World Amusement Company credit] I have yet to be amused.
[White jumpsuits] They rely on camouflage. It’s gorgeous out there, a little too gorgeous.
I detect the liver-spotted hand of Aaron Spelling is behind this.
“You got the wire cutters?” What about the underwire cutters?
So, these were the Carter years. Well, I do sense a malaise here.
Charlie was close, I could smell his perfume.
You know, beer and porn do make the [shift/****—you choose] go faster.
I still like this better than City Slickers II.
It’s the T&A Team.
I’m gonna put the suit on the aliens gave me. [He does look a little like William Katt.]
Jack’s [Palance] down years.
This is some hard turf isn’t it? The mean streets of Ojai [California].
Jack’s not getting paid enough to run.
Arthur [Godfrey]…put a ukulele under his tongue.
[Alan Hale, Jr.] He looks a lot like Gertrude Stein.
“Nobody deserves a beating like that.” Pauly Shore does.
“Women can make a difference.” The director wrote that so he could get laid.
“She’s a top model.” That’s why they shoot her in Mall parking lots.
[woman dons brass knuckles] She must be engaged to Sean Penn.
This was Jim Backus’ first film after he died.
If only poor Jim [Backus] had gotten residuals from Gilligan’s Island.
Now I appreciate the quiet dignity of Pat Buttram’s performance.
This is offending one-celled animals.
“Just shut up and take your clothes off.” This doesn’t do it for me like that similar scene in the Violent Years. Director doesn’t have Ed Wood’s passion for this kind of material.
I bet the phrase “where’s my cocaine” was heard a lot on this film.
D-Cup Day. More Jackie O. than Jackie Chan.
[Jack’s Cadillac] In response to the energy crisis, Cadillac produces this new sub-compact.
[Peter’s Doberman] “See Baby here, he loves me, but if I lost control of him for one instant, he’d tear my throat out.” But he’s great with kids.
“Try to clean this mess up.” Hey, it’s your dog.
[a very agitated Lawford painting] Sinatra won’t talk to me! It’s not my fault JFK stayed at Crosby’s house.
It’s a wet teacher contest. They’re drowning Cousin Itt.
And Mark Spitz wins another gold medal in the Jean Jacket freestyle.
Greg Louganis goes motorcycling. Hells Angels on Wheels starring Ester Williams.
[Lawford falls in pool] By this time my lungs were aching for booze.
Final Thought: This one just screams 1970’s, and “by this time MY lungs were aching for booze”. I give this one 4 out of 5 stars.
An okay ep that works better than it should for me for two reasons:
1. The nostalgia factor for those of us who grew up with this dreck.
2. That Asian chick is super-hot in a bikini.
Come on everyone, let’s not dwell on the lame aspects of this film. SHINE YOUR LOVE!!
I did read somewhere that the “Miller” Elaine mentions (Neville Brand in the credits) is their guy in the police department who covers up for them. “Covers up” meaning, of course, their illegal actions since everything else is pretty much right out there. Too bad his role got cut out because it would explain how they never get arrested.
“Susan, do you have any tampons?”
Believe it or not, my favorite riff was when Stacks is running down the street and Crow says, “I’m gonna put on the suit that the aliens gave me!” The first thought that hit me when I saw him was of William Katt and to hear them refer to him was like they read my mind. BTW, William Katts mom is Barbara Hale of Giant Spider Invasion fame.
ETA: Curse you Tom Carberry! I read through the whole thread to see if that riff was mentioned. But I leave the keyboard for a while and you sneak it in past me.
#29: they buy a van off the lot without haggling, fix it up with all sorts of weapons and high-tech gadgetry, and then have to steal ammunition
Well, that’s obviously because they spent TOO MUCH on the van and weapons and high-tech gadgetry and when it came time to get the ammunition, they were unexpectedly out of money. It was their first anti-drug vigilante project and they let their enthusiasm run away with them. Clearly, they should’ve watched last week’s “Money Talks” and learned about how to set themselves a budget.
Great episode. I just want to mention two points.
A] MAN BASHING – the ladies threaten to cut off the man’s area. You would never seen a woman tied up and a man threatening to cut off her lady bits. Double standard.
B] I really did not want to see an aging Peter Lawford’s man boobs. It was disturbing.
(all thumbs up)
Servo: “Look! It’s anonymous!”
Gotta love it.
ok so if one were to apply “super human” qualities to this movies ‘stars’ one could assume the following:
Teacher Woman-ability to lose maps in her magical purse of holding. has street contact Jimmy Vandersteen in 3rd period Home/Ec… which she forgets until it’s too late.
the Amazing Love Shiner- sings disco waaay past it’s experation date. also has ability to make Arthur Godfrey ‘freak out.’ her sidekick the ‘skipper’ keeps fans at bay.
Sister-Woman- ability to turn crappy vans into ’70’s luuuuv macheeeens. arch enemy-Jim Backus
Sleazy Model Lady- ability to distract truly,truly stupid, stupid men.
‘Hello Mistah Eddie’s Fathah’ girl- can mimic any asian culture, scares kids and dogs, carries a sword and uh is hot in a bikini.
Super Cop- can march in a straight line, has several police informants despite being ‘the flat one.’
oh yeah ‘she’s running and running and running girl’ she can uh run alot.
just a little something on my mind. please don’t try to kill me with a forklift. thank you, won’t you?
This movie has to be one of the most idiotic they ever riffed, and it’s one of muy favourite episodes. I always wondered how much did Clark paid people like Alan Hale, Godfrey, Lawford, Backus and Palance.
I can understand people not liking the host segments, but I still think Chocolate Jones and the Church of Funk is a guaranteed box offcie hit. The highlight of the movie is the song, “Shine, Shine your Love”, about the joy that is shinning one’s love. I do it daily!
For some reason, my favourite riffs are:
“World Redneck Headquarters”
“Our empire is crumbling”
“Flush the waxworms!”
“Jack is not being paid enough to run.” (Wait, or was it from Outlaw, I don’t rememeber.)
“Died in Vietnam.”
And the discussion about what caused the 70’s. I have to be honest, I share their dislike from the 70’s, an ugly decade in my humble opinion, that has appeared in other episodes, like the Amazing Melting Man or the Touch of Satan.
I give this episode five shined loves.
When I’m not all-too-briefly shining my love, I’m hating this episode.
Oh, I forgot: “I’m Tug McGraw.”
This is one of my favorite Season 6 episodes. I find Sampo’s comment that the host segments ‘went nowhere’ kinda strange because that pretty much sums up most of the Mike era host segments to me.
Anyway, good riffs, good old fashioned 70’s real breasts and a Gilligan’s Island guest star work for me. I lost it the first time I heard Crow say he was just gonna give in and look at the breasts. Me too, pal!
I love this episode. mostly for the jack palance riffs.
“i was lucky to get a spot”
is one of those understated lines that caught me off guard and nearly knocked me out of my chair.
and I frequently refer to myself or others working for booze.
This episode was an old favorite, I used to put this one on all the time and watch it when I was going to bed (back when I used to watch stuff while trying to go to sleep), but now, upon rewatch, it doesn’t really seem like the classic episode I used to love. Don’t get me wrong, I still like Angels Revenge just fine, it’s just one of those “good-not-great” episodes.
I, for one, really, really LOVE the intro segment of this episode. After the amnesia opening bit (“the last time I had amnesia….”), we get Dr. F and Frank dressed up as 70s relief pitchers Rollie Fingers and Tug McGraw. Extemely random, I know, but that’s one of the reasons I love it. Also, Dr. F looks GREAT as Rollie (for more appreciation, see my comment at #95). At the time of viewing, I was familiar with Renegade (which was and is lame, bytheway) and I liked Mike and the bots’ transformation. The little motorcycle had me cracking up.
As for the Host Segments, I agree, they aren’t that great. I do like HS#1, if just for the names Crow throws out there (“Sweet Mama Stringbean”) and the way it relates to previous segments and a segment to come (in Season 7). HS#2 and #3 aren’t very good or funny or relevant to the movie (Fonzie?), but at least they don’t overstay their welcome and end quickly.
As for the movie, Angels Revenge is a crap-tastic piece of 70s cheese. It’s so so stupid. Why do they need to steal ammunition? Why is the singer in the group AND the model? What skills do either of them bring? Do they really think this is an effective way to fight the war on drugs? What’s up with the tone of the movie? There’s cartoon sound effects and jiggly comedy, but then they kill, maim, and blow up almost everybody in the movie. Stupid, stupid movie. Like Crow, you just have to “give in and look at the breasts,” because really, there is nothing else to see in this movie (other than the shaming of Jim Backus).
The riffing is okay, but it seems to be the strongest in the front half of the movie, while the back half seems to have more of Mike and the bots just watching the movie and not commenting. I guess you could say this movie is “top heavy.” hahahahahaha. GET IT??
–
RIFFS:
Mike: “I have a feeling Johnny Wad is gonna be in this.”
Crow: “Mary Kay-Kay-Kay.”—–callback to MANOS!
Crow: “I detect the liver spotted hand of Aaron Spelling is behind this.”
Mike: “Welllll, they snuck into the oooooooold west!”
Crow: “Wish I hand’t bought a Playgirl. Ah, heck, they’re nude anyway….”
movie: “…turret gun.”
Mike: “Turd gun?”
Crow: “I’d like a drug, please.”
Crow: “We’re addicted kids, 10 million strong and growing.”
Crow (as Jack Palance): “Joints? Doobies? Spleefs? Reefers?”
Mike: “In the 70s, you could take an abstract concept like ‘shining your love’ and just go with it.”
Crow: “This is Jim Backus’ first film after he died.”
movie: “I know who can help us.”
Crow: “Marjoe Gortner?!”
Crow: “I bet the phrase ‘where’s my cocaine’ was heard a lot on this film.”
Mike: “They are gonna get SO high!”
Mike: “My Charlie Daniels T-shirt was in there!”
Servo: “That was some hot chili!”
–
****Movie Facts: This movie’s cinematographer was Dean Cundey, who would also shoot most of John Carpenter’s best movies, including Halloween, The Fog, Escape from NY, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China, as well as the entire Back to the Future trilogy, Romancing the Stone, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Road House, Jurassic Park, and Apollo 13. Cundey would work with both Greydon Clark and Jack Palance again on the 1980 horror film, Without Warning.
–
Angels Revenge,
lots to look at,
little to love.
Unless you SHINE SHINE, SHINE YOUR LOVE!
3/5
:heart: :heart: :heart:
Run-of-the-mill episode. Movie isn’t a standout but riffing is good. Host segments are strangely poor.
I enjoy this episode a lot. It’s basically the Brain’s way of saying, yes, we know we’re cancelled (Dr. F referring to “bad ratings”), so let’s wrap this thing up in style. The whole episode kind of feels like a throwback to a season two episode, with the abstract host segments and the call backs like “I don’t fink on soul brother” and “By this time my lungs were aching for…” We get another Crow spec script, which are always fun. And lots of 70s pop culture spread throughout the host segments, which compliment the movie nicely.
The Host Segment one about Renegade is great. Renegade was over on the USA Network at the time, and probably was one of MST’s competitors in the late night slot. Cracks me up, every time.
I’m also a big fan of “Final Justice,” the other Greydon Clark film MST did.
It’s very fitting that this was the last episode show on CC.
Here is an interesting topic for discussion and analysis:
Greydon Clark was the Roger Corman for the 70s’.
An eclectic mix of genre’s.
A mix of new and out to pasture actors and technical crew.
Low to very low budgets.
Very MSTable final products.
…and begin.
Embarrassment, thy name is ‘Angel’s Revenge.’ The jiggling I find not too titillating, though the girls are pretty, but in a dumb prepackaged 70’s way. The guest stars are the problem: if the shame-o-meter didn’t exist, it would have to be created for this movie. My favorite girl is the teacher: she has a refreshing, natural earnestness (with some stupidity) that isn’t forced, much like Peaches from Racket Girls. And yes, IIRC, she is there because she is the producer’s wife.
Host segments like HS#1, where Crow is learning to work through his amnesia, are a joy to watch unfold. A clever concept, Crow reveals in increasingly convincing ways, that he does NOT have amnesia, while remaining adamant that he does. And I learned from this experiment, to always be aware of what size Dashiki I wear, if I’m ever called upon to wear one.
I love this episode but with caveats.
I find the entire opening sequence slow from a riffing perspective….I usually skip right up until the freeze frame right before the opening credits.
I love the Tug McGraw/Rollie Fingers randomness and the Renegade bit….but, the Spelling house segment has to be one of their all-time weakest.
HOWEVER, every single Backus, Palance, Gottfried riff is a home run.
4.5 stars.
#94 sez Elaine the cop looks like Kate Hudson. Every time I see Little Trish, I feel, very strongly, that she resembles Diane Lane.
Not too shabby, considering it was almost impossible to look good in the 70s.
I have this on an old tape that I think has been wearing out on me. Just love the 70s references. It’s just ingrained in it so much. The jokes about gas-shortages and Chevy Vans. The music! I noticed the Jokes were getting meaner after Joel left. Still, I find it very funny for the most part. I swear I see that beach and rock formation on movies and tv shows all the time. I swear it’s the same place just judgeing by the shape of the rock. Kind of wanted to look up pictures of the blonde one… so I did.
Jim Henson “Hi Ho!” Get’s shot “OH!”
“One drug, please.”
“I’m going to put on the suit the aliens gave me.”
“Don’t watch the giggling.”
“Kelsey Grammar told me to wait here.”
“It’s anonymous.”
“What caused the 70s?”
“By this time my lungs were aching for booze.”
“You shot me, now I’m sober!”
“I think I can sun-bath nude up here.”
“I’m the NRA and it’s fun.”
“She’s so thin I hate her.”
“stump grinder.”
“…and all the drugs will be gone.”
“Addicted kids, 10 million strong and growing.”
“She picked me up in her Chevy van…”
“Which one is Bruce Jenner?”
woah, Bruce Jenner. Take a picture of him now and compare it to him then. I have vague recollections of what a big olympic star he was. Even when I became old enough to remember stuff, I knew he was a big deal. Man, that’s sad. :)
HOw do you do a show that supposed to have 7 cast members in the 70s. That’s way to much. And what about the late 70s? High Gas prices. International conflict. Bad economy….
Oh… no. that’s now.
This is the only time the title card for the movie comes up after the first commercial break (at least, in the original airing version), isn’t it? Hobgoblins has a similarly very, very late title card but that comes in just before the commercial break.
What do you think happened to writer Drew Jansen? It would be nice to track down all these lesser-known MST workers and ask them about their time on the show.
I love this one. The movie tries to convince you it’s a serious action movie, and then it breaks out the Hannah-Barbara sound effect library.
An observation I made some time ago is that this is probably the only MSTed movie (I haven’t seen them all, so I can’t say with certainty) that passes the Bechdel test. For those not in the know, the Bechdel test is designed to illustrate the way Hollywood movies portray women, and in order to pass it, a movie must feature
1. two named female characters, who
2. talk to one another,
3. about something other than a man.
This movie features 7 main female characters who talk mostly about how awful drugs are and what their plan is to stop them. The only other such movie I can think of that passes it all is even more ironically Hobgoblins, in which there is exactly one scene where the two main female cast have a conversation in which one of them offers the other a jacket, and the other rudely declines the offer.
It’s worth noting that even the creator of the test acknowledges up front that passing the test doesn’t make a movie feminist, and Angels Revenge and Hobgoblins illustrate that better than most.
Oh, duh. I’m watching The Crawling Eye, and the two female cast just had a conversation about leaving the hotel. So that’s three.
Several years and many, many more viewings later I find I still love this movie unironically. In retrospect combining the A-Team with Charlie’s Angels was a fantastic idea! I think it has a weird tone maybe characteristic of the time, where it is occasionally tongue-in-cheek, but also over-the-top violent at times.
One of my favorite plot holes that I haven’t seen mentioned: That Michelle Wilson is recruited first for her recognizability–yet she is never identified by the many criminals the Seven encounter. “Hey, aren’t you Michelle Wilson? Why are you trying to stab me?”
@ #128: I applied the Bechdel Test to several MST3K movies, and more of them passed than didn’t. If you click on the link in that post to the original comic, you’ll see that it says nothing about the female characters in question having to be named. But even if you insist on both being named, there are plenty that pass. Among them are The Corpse Vanishes, Time of the Apes, Gamera vs. Guiron, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Crash of the Moons, Bride of the Monster, The Atomic Brain, Bloodlust, The Violent Years, Racket Girls, Incredibly Strange Creatures, Devil Doll, The Screaming Skull, and Girl in Gold Boots. And those are just the ones I’m certain that both characters were named.
@ adoptadog – I too am a heterosexual, middle-aged female who loves this episode!
@ Jerry (#28) – I lost it when you mentioned Kent Tekulve! The ’79 We Are Fam-I-Lee Pirates are my all time favorite team.
Favorite quotes:
(When the girls are gathered together before invading the drug compound) “It’s unonomous!”
(As the Tina Louise-ing one and her chauffer are meeting Jim Backus) “I hope those are load-bearing straps!”
This was a fun episode! Pure 70’s cheeze. Bad action (and bad acting), bad comedy, bad guest stars (but Jack Pallance is awesome) and bad music! 4 out of 5 from me and easily one of my faves from Season 6!
I just loaded it into the DVD player and my memory was correct. The bass in the menu soundtrack is very BOOMY. Very 70’s with an overworked high hat. I love this one. I loved it when they did the right thing and without a word just blew Mike away, almost like it was agreed to beforehand and scheduled.
@Depressing Aunt: Thanks for letting me know I’m not imagining the resemblance (4 years later). I’m not even a Kate Hudson fan, it was just undeniable.
Still in my top 3 episodes (it was my first after all). As soon as I hear the title, the riff that instantly comes to mind is “The Bad News Bears are gonna lose that game today, aren’t they!”. Also, the ridiculous image if Lil’ Trish saying, “I can help!” and gathering up random nuts, bolts and tools makes me chuckle for the sheer randomness of it. Is she planning to help them win the war on drugs with her cleaning skills?
The movie just has this strange mix of cartoony innocence and greasy 70’s sleeze that makes it unforgettable and endlessly riffable.
“So, Mike, what caused the ’70s?” I’d really like to know that myself, frankly. This is right up there with San Francisco International and Riding With Death as one of the ’70s-est movies the show ever did. Unlike those episodes, though, this movie is so soul-crushingly stupid that I have a hard time getting into the riffing.
Now, don’t get me wrong – stupid movies are usually MST3K’s bread and butter. Just look at how well they knocked it out of the park with idiotic junk like Village of the Giants or The Skydivers or The Incredible Melting Man. But this movie is a different kind of stupid, with a thick ugly layer of chauvinism on top. After the umpteenth scene where the so-called heroines distract the bad guys by writhing at them and showing off their lady-things, I just want to grab this movie by the shoulders and shake it violently and scream “STOP IT!” I’m a very vocal supporter of strong female characters in all forms of fiction, so the fact that this movie features six female protagonists and attempts to pass them off as genuine action heroes when there isn’t a single distinguishing character trait among them aside from “having breasts” makes me want to punch a wall.
Sorry, I’m ranting, but this is a touchy subject for me.
I know there are good riffs in this episode. I have it on right now as I’m typing this, and I’m definitely laughing. But the loathsomeness of this movie seems to overwhelm whatever goodwill is generated by the riffing, and my memory of what makes me laugh seems to vanish mere seconds after it occurs. This is a very unmemorable episode, is what I’m saying.
Ironically, the uncharacteristically weak host segments seem to define this episode a lot better in my mind. They’re all disappointingly short and not terribly funny, but dammit, at least they give me something to focus on that isn’t this movie. And Frank’s Tug McGraw is still classic.
This is an old favorite of mine. The ridiculous Charlie’s Angels rip-off action, the disgusted reactions of M&TB at the alleged comedy, shooting Jim Henson in the final motorcycle chase…even the short host segments don’t bug me since it led to more time spent on the movie. Also, nice call back to the Urkel jokes in San Francisco International.
@128&130: wow, was this the conversation that sparked our long national nightmare of delineating every films BQ? Interesting.
I still love Angels Revenge, and found the original is currently playing on Amazon Prime if anyone’s curious.I think the missing scenes were also compiled by someone on YouTube recently if the references to “Miller” made anyone else want to see the missing parts. Turns out the cop was originally trying to infiltrate extremist groups (like Jim Backus’ gang I guess) but came to respect the Seven too much.
The movie has a very 70s, amateur-but-filled-with-professionals vibe that’s endearing, but mostly it just comes across as a pilot for a show that never went to series. Did we already do a Weekend Discussion about episodes we’d like to see go to series? This would definitely be one for me.
Darby Hinton had at least one good role in Andy Sidaris’ “Malibu Express”, which would also make for good riffing fodder if anyone at Rifftrax wanted to do a, um, spicy movie.
While I loved the ’70s, love ’70s nostalgia, and love most of the ’70s movies that MST3K riffed, this one seems to get worse for me upon repeated viewing instead of better. Perhaps it’s the cartoon-y sound effects. Maybe it’s the cringeworthy performance of…. well, everyone in the movie. I find the riffing good but not great and most of the host segments boring. Dr. F as Rollie Fingers is great but then I like Trace as almost anyone/anything.
Guess if I want to enjoy ’70s movies I’ll take a double feature of Riding with Death and Laserblast instead of AR.
By the way, I enjoy reading each episode’s Bechdel Test results; don’t know why it bothers anyone. I like reading any kind of movie trivia like that such as cameo appearances by directors, instances of the Wilhelm Scream, and so on. Carry on, Sitting Duck!
This remains one of my favorite episodes, thanks entirely to the amazing riffing. They did an outstanding job with this embarrassing little lame ’70s faux girl-power sleaze-fest, to the point that I can bear to watch poor Jim Backus and Peter Lawford (“I may have been shot”) and of course Jack Palance.
When I rewatched it recently, the riff toward the end, when there’s a still picture of The Seven (“Hey, where was Bruce Jenner in this movie?” “He’s the one on the left.”) really caught me. Wow! That was an incredible bit of prognostication!
Yes, I remember that bit, as well as their later series (“The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show”). It was a loooooooooooong time ago, though.
As a student of old time radio and early TV, I liked Mike’s riff as Arthur Godfrey accepts his applause: “You’re all fired! You lack humility!”
The “Asian Chick”, Lieuh Chinh, playing a Vietnamese character with a Japanese name, went on to star in “The Joy Luck Club”, probably the only one involved in this film to go on to something notable.
As noted above, Angels Revenge passes the Bechdel Test. The title characters have multiple non-male conversations.
This Renegade sounds like a Seventies-fied version of The Fugitive.
Was Ford really desperate enough at the time to want some product placement in this movie?
So how did Jack turn the tables on the schoolteacher? Was it in a cut scene?
Personally, I thought the first City Slickers wasn’t all that great. But that’s just me.
If Tom had wanted it to be pronounced sha-mom-eh-tor, he shouldn’t have had the label say Shame-O-Meter.
@ #29: IIRC California has some of the stricter gun laws in the nation. Stealing them from a bunch of incompetent militants likely ran less risk of legal entanglements.
Tom Carberry #121: Greydon Clark was the Roger Corman for the 70s.
I’m pretty sure Roger Corman was still Roger Corman in the Seventies. :P
Favorite riffs
It’s gorgeous out there. A little too gorgeous.
Dear Ranger Rick Forum. I’m a forest ranger in a small Midwestern town.
“You got the wire cutters?”
What about the underwire cutters?
Charlie was close. I could smell his perfume.
And this was Carter’s hostage solution?
It’s the T&A Team!
You shouldn’t wear spike heel boots on a commando raid.
“I’m a schoolteacher.”
I carry a badge.
Great, I have to hire protection from Mary Crest Elementary.
This guy should not be school superintendent.
Jack’s not getting paid enough to run.
“Don’t hurt him too bad.”
He’s our only customer.
This is one of Cole Porter’s worst songs.
“Women can make a difference.”
The director wrote that so he could get laid.
“Let’s get a real actor in here, please.”
That would blow the budget, sir.
She’s flat, but I think we can trust her.
This is made out to Gabby Hayes.
Sometimes a bazooka is just a bazooka.
You and your date will be chauffeured to exotic Centerville, Minnesota.
This was Jim Backus’ first film after he died.
These survivalists couldn’t survive a grape embargo.
And we’re thinking of starting a fascist petting zoo.
Now I appreciate the quiet dignity of Pat Buttram’s performance.
I’m starting to root for the drug dealers in this movie.
Jim Backus gracefully closes his career.
The director doesn’t have Ed Wood’s passion for this kind of material.
I hope those are stunt tongues.
You’re listening to K-PLOT.
Mom! Mom! A bunch of girls took my drugs and snagged on me!
Look, just take a Watchtower and read it!
Geez, it was just the Johnson family going to Mass.
Oh my Gawd, you’re nude!
I think it’d be fun to waster a pusher.
This all works fine until they go to the car wash.
Oh, my bone is sticking through my le- oh hey, and agate.
It’s a fiendish plot to ruin her hair with chlorine.
Greg Louganis goes motorcycling.
By this time, my lungs were aching for booze.
Wha the hell did Abe Vigoda have to do with Watergate?
i laughed so hard when i heard that when i rewatched it sometime ago.
Focus on the buoy, just focus on the buoy…
It’s a really bad sign when Alan Hale Jr. gives the most realistic performance, but I love this movie, every bonkers 70s moment of it. Everything is just so random. A schoolteacher scoping out a drug processing plant enough to make an, *ahem*, detailed map of it before she seeks out help? Of course! A famous singer dropping everything to join a one-horse vigilante group instead of making millions and just paying professionals? Sure! Insulting Laurel & Hardy homage? Why the heck not!
It’s made all the more ridiculous by the decision to chop out half of the big action set piece and stick it at the beginning of the film as a half-hearted framing device. It took me a few viewings to catch that, but now it’s really obvious.
As for the random host segments, the only one that I really remember is Crow’s blaxploitation script reading. I know others think they could have gone farther, but I think they went just far enough before breaching the poor taste barrier.
I don’t care though, I still love this episode!
Fave riff
Mike: So these were the Carter years?
Servo: Well, I AM sensing a malaise here…
Regarding the Jenner riff back when Bruce was a thing he did drag skits sometimes iirc, so the line they said wasn’t quite as prescient as it now seems.
Finally, we get to my first episode. The year was 1996. The small town I lived in did not carry Comedy Central at the time, so I was completely oblivious to this show. I was on a weekend trip with friends to Minneapolis – we stayed at a hotel for the night. The TV was on, someone was flipping through the channels, when suddenly there appeared this movie from the 70’s. There was a silhouette at the bottom of the screen, and they were talking about the movie. It was unique and yet strangely familiar. I had to know more.
After I returned home, I found a MST3K newsgroup (remember those?) and started tape trading. I built a library of over 100 episodes before the show went off the air. I went away to college, and my interests changed, as did many other facets of my life.
Fast forward to 2013. I was watching the Netflix season of Arrested Development, when who should appear at the bottom of the screen but that familiar old silhouette in a cameo appearance. It re-sparked my interest in Mystery Science Theater 3000, and since then I have watched and re-watched enough episodes that surely I must have seen every episode by now.
I contributed as much as I could afford to the Kickstarter when it happened, and I am eagerly awaiting Season 11. It has been a joy to follow along with my fellow MSTies in this episode guide.
This is one the better episodes, IMHO.
The amnesia skit is great. The Rollie Fingers/Renegade skit also works for me. (The tiny motorcycle as the effect wears off always cracks me up.) The black-sploitation screenplay skit is OK. The Fonzie skit is really pretty lame, one of the worst they’ve ever done, but at least it’s short. I liked the “Aaron Spelling’s house” bit. The Shame-O-Meter is pretty good, and I liked the Bobby Riggs/Billie Jean King bit too. (“Rectify this, ya lousy woman!”)
But the movie is what really puts this episode near the top. The movie itself combines the unique and excruciating painfulness of sexism, bad comedy and a lame ’70s made-for-TV-movie. It doesn’t even work very well as the typical T&A shlock that it tries so hard to be.
But it’s so bad, so stupid, and has a lot of cameos, it ends up providing plenty of fodder for great riffs. My favorite, which sums up the movie quite well, comes near the beginning as the camera looks up at the gal climbing the ladder: “Hey, you’re giving away the plot!”
Wow, what a mess of a movie. It comes across like it was made by a bunch of modestly intelligent 8th grade boys who had just hit puberty and were completely unable to handle it. The sort of teenage boy that frequently walks into walls and traffic because he’s staring at a girl.
I’ve seen plenty of movies that only exist to show off some T&A, but rarely is it done so blatantly and so artlessly that it becomes so off-putting, bordering on repulsive. Particularly when it is presented with a patina of feminist empowerment, which consists of the idea that you can take down The Man by distracting him with your tits. Though I imagine this tactic would work on the film makers. I hope the actresses got paid enough to embarrass themselves like this but I doubt it.
Amazon Video has the un-MSTed version. If you’re a Prime member, you can watch it for free.
There are a couple of really disturbing things about this movie:
1. The fact that somebody thought a T&A jiggle fest needed to include an underage teen girl.
2. The teen girl getting so excited and gleeful during the sword mutilation scene.