Short: (1954) A look at the then-new techniques that enabled farmers to rush produce to market.
Movie: (1944) Ruined by — but in astonishing denial about — his boozy, carousing parents, a neglected essay-contest-winning young man gets involved with gangsters.
First shown: 9/4/93
Opening: Tom Servo is naked!
Invention exchange: The Mads present cake ‘n’ shake, and Frank bakes the exotic dancer right into the recipe; J&tB demonstrate the junk drawer organizer
Host segment 1: Joel analyzes the bots’ art therapy projects
Host segment 2: J&tB reenact the night club scene from the movie
Host segment 3: J&tB analyze troubled Jimmy from the movie
End: The bots try to reenact the cafe scene from movie to scam a hamburger, Joel reads a letter, the Mads are digging out Rodney
Stinger: “What? What’s so funny?”
(120 votes, average: 4.84 out of 5)
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• Another in a string of wonderful episodes. The movie is a little bland, but the riffing is great. And, you know, I begin to suspect that, for any given episode you can sort of tell whether the movie held their interest and sparked a lot of discussions and ideas or whether their minds were wandering, based on how much the host segments have to do with the movie. You can tell they were really following the movie this time. I watched this on a big screen (with Joel sitting next to me) a few years ago and the audience was simply roaring with laughter all the way through.
• Early versions of the Rhino packaging of this episode had a small goof. It lists the episode number as 424. It got fixed in later printings.
• Great line: “How many times have you gone rootin’ through your junk drawer muttering to yourself ‘Where’d I put that gun?’” Toward the end of the movie, our hero roots through the junk drawer in the hall table of his parents’ house, looking for a gun. Think that moment may have been the inspiration for this host segment?
• Now, duck news! Here’s Hugh McQuacken! They do the “quacking” gag five times, and it gets funnier each time. For those who don’t get it (and I remember that every time this show aired, a number of people would post questions online asking, “Why were they quacking?”), look at the wall of the hallway outside the door.
• The short would be incredibly depressing if not for the riffing. As it is, it’s still a LITTLE depressing.
• Sam Newfield did NOT direct “Jungle Goddess” as Joel says when his credit appears. He DID, however, direct the movies in episodes 103- The Mad Monster, 208- Lost Continent and 520- Radar Secret Service. He also directed the infamous “Terror of the Tiny Town,” the all-midget Western. Again, this was the era when you couldn’t just look stuff up on the then-fledgling, Usenet-based IMDB. What could have led them to have made that mistake? I’ll bet it has something to do with the use of the phrase “hamburger sammich with French-fried potatoes,” which is used in this movie and in “Jungle Goddess.”
• In the previous episode Crow was shattered. This week Tom gets painted. They really started doing stuff to the bots in this period.
• Then somewhat current reference: Joe Bolster. Joel is an admirer.
• Host segment 1 is, um, quirky, and only vaguely movie-related. Peggy Cass is an odd element.
• Segment 2 is a riot, especially Joel’s takes to the camera. I think it works so well because it comes IMMEDIATELY after the actual movie sequence. Nice to see Gypsy was willing to go along. Also, listen for another “wha happa!”
• I love the PA announcements J&tB do during the second song. “Cheese fries are up!”
• Another VERY movie-focused sketch in segment 3, and very funny.
• Obscure reference: the religious TV show “Insight.” I remember watching that a little, but to me they always felt like defanged “Twilight Zone” episodes.
• Some people wondered why Anne Blythe’s name is written on the tank. I suspect they’re just trying for World War II authenticity.
• I remember that somebody in the AOL MSTie forum – or it might have been on RATMM – had an idea for a MSTie cookbook. My submission was a hamburger sammich with French-fried potato garnish, complete with handgun on the side and a required trip to church every Sunday.
• That’s Brad Keeley as Rodney in his first on-camera role.
• Cast and crew roundup: As noted above: director Sam Newfield also directed “Mad Monster,” “Lost Continent” and “Radar Secret Service.” Special effects (?!) guy Ray Mercer also worked on “Lost Continent,” “Radar Secret Service,” “Last of the Wild Horses,” “The Sinister Urge” and “The Beast of Yucca Flats. Art director Paul Palmentola also worked on “Teen-Age Crime Wave.” Set designer Harry Reif also worked on “Radar Secret Service.” “Women of the Prehistoric Planet” and “The She-Creature” and was assistant director of “Gunslinger.”
In front of the camera, super-hottie Mary Beth Hughes was also in “Last of the Wild Horses.” Edward Earle was also in “The She-Creature.”
• CreditsWatch: Host segments directed by Trace Beaulieu.
• Fave riff from the short: “Texans!” Honorable mention: “A pre-teen is put to work; her beauty will soon fade.”
• Fave riff: How do ya like my swingin’ church, son? Honorable mention: o/` I knew I’d go from rags to riches… o/`
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Sharktopus: He laughed a lot, but I think he was laughing more at Trace and Kevin than himself. He specifically mentioned that he was impressed with some of the vocal things Kevin was doing in this episode.
Best Episode. re-watching this I realized I remember seeing the movie on TV back in the 70s or 80s, and thinking it wasn’t so bad. Which gets into the topic ‘what makes a good movie for riffing?’ . . . I submit the borderline movies are the best; that they are trying to tell a story and succeeding on some level, failing so obviously on the others. IAMP has pretty good acting, great sets and props and lighting, the characters are sweet and likeable, so much so that you root for Jimmy even though, as J&TB rightly point out, it’s really his own fault he’s in trouble, it’s all his fault. Just because someone lies to you doesn’t mean you must believe it. How stupid are you, Jimmy?
And I love the Al character at the end (for a minute i thought it was Gunther Toody) who gives Jim his second chance. Good example of finding a Christian person outside of church.
The running gags take it to another level cause they all work so well; about Jack Taylor’s place, the persistent lying, the booze, especially the Essay Contest. (“Suddenly…Jimmy is seized with an essay idea!”) Plus, this is a very early movie for MST, so mores/laws are a little different in the 40s . . . $20 is a heck of a lot of money; teenagers can drink liquor, though it’s not encouraged; even the PTA meeting should be attended with sensible dress, not frilly/flashy cocktail gowns and hats as Jimmy’s mom wears.
Yours accusingly,
This is one of the best Joel episodes. Segment 2 is hilariously like something out of the Muppet Show.
“LIAR! LIAR! LIAR!”
The movie seems pretty dark, but the riffing is excellent. HAAAIIIIL TRUCK FARMER! HAAAIIIIL TRUCK FARMER!
There was a public showing of this one at the Bryant Lake Bowl theater in Minneapolis last month. I hadn’t seen it in a while and I had forgotten just how great this episode is, and the crowd loved it.
Is it just me or did Crow’s shadowrama in the theatre look a little weird during this era? Like kinda shorter than usual.
Oh man, you guys are going to make me watch this tonight! Such a classic!
My all time favorite episode, 5 stars. I was fortunate enough to get Joel to sign my copy when I saw Cinematic Titanic in February.
Even if it’s “stuffing a complex experience into a nutshell,” I do like to think of this episode as a 1940s anticipation (I want to say it has a sort of “noir gloss” to it, but haven’t seen a lot of genuine film noir to know for certain) on the “juvenile delinquent” movies of the 1950s. For some reason, though, I keep looking at when it was made and thinking being drafted into the army would have been one solution, more or less, to Jimmy’s problems… The short’s good too in a “we all know better now, don’t we?” sort of way.
Best Episode Ever? Possibly. One could make a good argument.
Best Movie Title Ever? Absolutely. :laugh:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/I-love-Mary-Beth-Hughes/325569248515
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I know Outlaw won the Peabody- but to me, this is the Peabody episode. Perfect. Yes, I haven’t touched my hamburger in two weeks.
My Rhino copy of this episode has the packaging error misidentifying this as episode 424.
I love the way Joel plays the opening. He’s about to explain the premise of the show yet again when suddenly he sees the nude Tom Servo even though he’s been in plain sight the whole time.
The highlight of the Cake ‘n’ Shake is Frank’s delivery of “Now gluttony and exploitation now serves eight.” That would make another great catchphrase t-shirt. Meanwhile Joel’s junk drawer organizer is a bit of genius.
The Truck Farmer didn’t get a lot of love during the discussion four years ago. Me I’m invocating Sampo’s Theorem and say I love this one. It really brought out some grade A riffing.
I’m a sucker for a running gag. This film has two good ones: the riffs about winning the essay contest and the quack quack riffs.
Count me as one who finds Mary Beth Hughes very attractive. Is she a bombshell sex symbol? No. But she is incredibly tastefully attractive. I’d be proud to show her off if she were mine.
The nightclub re-enactment segment was actually quite well done. Trace and Kevin both did great puppetry as they played the incidental staff throughout Gypsy’s song. And how about that lip-syncing?
I love the riff where someone is called Senator Paul Simon. Anybody else remember the Saturday Night Live episode where he appeared when the host was Paul Simon the musician and the Senator was superimposed on the singer’s album covers?
No doubt about it. This episode was the first home run of the fifth season.
Favorite Riffs:
Truck Farmer:
Crow “Let’s take you back to the days when DDT was safe.”
Tom “Where else are people exploited? Down on the southern boarder.”
Joel “Praise the truck farmer. Bow down before him.”
Crow ”Worship the truck farmer at the church of your choice.”
I Accuse My Parents:
Joel “Well maybe he just suspects his parents at this point.”
Father “means another cold dinner I suppose.” Crow “vodka sandwiches.”
Shoe store boss “You ever sell shoes before?” Crow “a young Al Bundy.”
Jimmy is trying to measure Kitty’s feet. Joel “It says here your feet don’t exist.”
Kitty “…if someone dropped in accidentally and I had to introduce you.’ Tom “and I was in my underwear and you were on the trapeze.”
Jimmy looking at Kitty’s childhood pictures “You could tell you were going to be beautiful.’ Joel “what happened.”
Tom “it was your birthday last year.”
Charles Blake “What do you say kitten?” Crow “Meow”
Blake eyes up Jimmy as lackey. Crow “So Jimmy do you like your kneecaps”
Charles Blake “I see you go to the same bank I do.” Joel “Well they are your checks.”
Tom “I’d like to deposit some guilt and withdrawal some denial please.”
I can remember watching this ep on Comedy Central, alone in my parents’ living room. The “In Texas, there is an additional problem”/”Texans” riff from the short brought a sharp laugh from my brother, who was watching in the basement. He wasn’t a huge fan, so it was a pleasant surprise. He would repeat that riff for months afterwards. And I just found out his fiancee was a big fan of the show years ago too. But she doesn’t have any of the DVDs. Think I’ll loan them I Accuse My Parents…
And it was just my birthday on Tuesday, so I expect $5 from each of you.
I’m not 1000% in bed with this one. Plus you guys need a lone dissenting voice, right? I was always surprised it was an early ep to make it to video release; like Sidehackers I always figured they could get the rights cheap so there you go.
Enjoy it a lot, of course. Ack, what a crappy print, to point out one flaw. Truck Farmer’s far from my list of fave shorts. Fave line from the movie would have to be “What are ye doin’ in a Cocteau film, go home to yer mother, that’s a good lad!” Not only noticing how the style of the shot innocently happens to match up with French Cineastes’ take on film noir but throwing in a line delivered from another film archetype; that’s the sort of multiple levels MST3K worked on at its best.
“So what do you think of my swinging church, son?”
I listen to a lot of pop music from this era, the tunes here are good examples of B grade songwriting; semi-catchy, inane, forgotten even by adepts the year after their publication. Although they are better than junk that actually charted like “I put on my prayers and said my pajamas” or whatever it’s called.
The Host segments here are just absolute favorites for me, and great examples of the kind of segments i always enjoyed.
@102 Fred Burroughs: I agree the kindly Al character is a great example of a practicing Christian, and a nice touch. I do like the sweet-natured if old-fashioned reformation of Jimmy ending of the movie for that.
Still no rating for this one (and the next three I assume)? I wanna give it 5 stars!!
Very nice episode. Top ten for sure, maybe top five.
I usually skip the short, but I like it ok. Very watchable movie, the host segments are very good, though the 3rd is kind of meh to me.
Favorite lines
Eleanor Roosevelt’s pissed!
Jack Taylor’s got a great place!
Ready for our date?
Did I mention that she drinks?
She is putting on her tassels now.
Another favorite riff:
“Yes, the South starves while the North eats healthily!” (let that gnaw on your Yankee conscious :P)
In a perfect world, this would have been paired with “A Date With Your Family”…
And kind of scratch my head at Joel’s question in the short – “Wait, has anybody seen a truck yet?” – when before that the Bots’ riff “Oh, the Great Hank gets to work on the truck.” “Lay off! I’m sick today.”
But I’ve always loved this episode.
Truly one of the very best episodes of the show. It’s just plain fun. And I believe the oldest movie they ever did. I always lose it at the very end of the Truck Farmer short when Tom just starts yelling for no particular reason (that I can tell).
That and, of course, “Eleanor Roosevelt’s pissed!”
The fact that this is one of Joel’s favorite episodes just makes me like the guy even more.
Love this one.
I never won an essay contest in school but I was once the only one in the class who actually wrote one correctly. The teacher made all the others rewrite theirs but I pretty much got the hour off.
I love this episode. It does have more than one thing in common with the The Violent Years, which I also love. Have to say, though, that Jimmy is a much dimmer bulb than Paula. She knows she’s doing wrong but doesn’t care, while Jimmy is Mr. Clueless and doesn’t even know he’s committing crimes. Maybe that’s why Paula doesn’t get a happy ending but Jimmy does, even though they both kill someone. Structurally the movies are almost identical, as they are both almost entirely told in flashback, beginning and ending in a courtroom. I think that’s what makes those two episodes more alike than say The Beatniks and Teenage Strangler or any of the other teen angst episodes. Ah, youth.
In recent years, this became one of those sleeper episodes that grows on me with every repeat viewing. Everything from the movie with its rock-stupid protagonist and oddly-chapeaued love interest to the rapid-fire riffing and the great host segments make this one a winner. I can see why Joel cites it as his favorite.
The Junk Drawer Organizer: yet another invention exchange that’s gone on to exist in real life. I also love how they cut back to the SOL and Servo is suddenly his normal colors again. (“I’m better!”)
The Truck Farmer, often forgotten in the hallowed halls of MSTed shorts, it seems, yet still no less a classic. “Wait a minute, has anybody seen a truck yet?”
This is one of those episodes where you kinda can’t help but follow the movie. But if anything, that ratchets up the enjoyment levels even more, as the riffing in this one gets very movie-specific. Jimmy is such a rich mine of material (“I went and liberated France while you were singing!”), and they get a great host segment out of him too. There’s a lot of psychoanalysis put into this episode, and once again, I think the Brains paid more attention to this movie than the people who made it did.
Both this episode and “Last of the Wild Horses” taught me that Mary Beth Hughes was damn hot in the ’40s. :)
The final host segment is just so wonderfully bizarre. “Joel, you magnificent bastard, I read your menu!” I like how “hamburger and french-fried potatoes” from “Jungle Goddess” has long since evolved into “juicy char-broiled hamburger sammich with a french-fried potatoes garnish”. (Though does the line “What is happening to this family?!” count as foreshadowing?)
I gotta say, this is a great episode, but it’s not a classic. Most of it works like gangbusters, but The Mads’ Invention Exchange (the “cake n’ shake”) is kinda lame, Host Segment #1 is only okay, and the Truck Farmer short is also only okay, not one of their top 10… Overall though, I like this episode, the movie is one of their better (their best?) non-sci-fi/horror/genre efforts, the riffing is solid throughout, some good running gags, Host Segment #2 is very Muppet-y (as someone above pointed out) and of course, the junk drawer organizer, genius, I want one, etc…
You know, I could do without the songs in this one. Not really very good, in my opinion…but those scenes are funny, so I’ll allow it.
–
RIFFS:
–
short:
Servo: “Where else are people exploited? Down on the southern border!”
shot of a crop duster,
Joel: “Charley Varrick is employed!” ——reference to a great Walter Matheau crime/heist movie, but he doesn’t fly the crop duster, it’s Joe Don Baker (!) actually..
movie: “….bringing the vegetables to their peak.”
Joel: “I’m peaking, man!”
–
movie:
Servo: “I like Jello.”
Joel: “Elanor Roosevelt is PISSED!”
Crow: “Well then how about a bong?”
Joel: “Don’t ever sing that to me on a Monday..”
Joel: “Life on the lam, an affordable vacation.”
movie: “I’ve learned a lot about people..”
Crow: “..for instance, they’re bi-peds.”
Joel: “I found a toenail in my hamburger.”
—EEEWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
–
I Accuse My Parents is a GREAT title for a film,
but I think we can all agree that an even BETTER title would be,
I ACCUSE MY DRUNK FOLKS.
–
4/5
@ #123 — I, too, can see why the Brains got kind of caught up in the movie. It’s cheesy as all get-out but it’s just so darn ernest about it all. It kind of draws you in.
Quack, quack!
After rewatching this, I’ll say it’s average. The movie is okay and coherent but the story isn’t as compelling as it should be. The host segments are okay but not special. I did like the quacking every time the duck painting was visible.
Something I’ve wondered about is what Pa Wilson does for a living. It apparently pays well enough that he can afford to casually hand off twenties to his son and live in a swanky house, yet not enough to also afford a housekeeper to do the cooking and cleaning.
@ #121: You’re incorrect. The oldest movie they did was either Mad Monster or The Corpse Vanishes, both from 1942 (I Accuse My Parents was from 1945).
Favorite Riffs: “So, how about a little sugar for happy chef over here?”
“Let me guess, it’s your birthday.”
This one just might hold the record for “best running gags based on actual in-film content”, equaled only by a few others (“Blood Beast” being a close runner-up.)
The “hero” of this film was the luckiest guy alive.
* Has vice-ridden parents, but still comes out great.
* Lands a job on the first try.
* Lands a girl for his first customer.
* Is able to order alcohol while still 17.
** (Or, was held back a year and still manages to win a high-school essay contest at age 18.)
*** In any event, does not get carded while ordering!
* Gets the most pleasant mob-related job ever.
* Has a boss that helps him escape the police.
* Is saved from death by passers-by.
* Stumbles on a psychic diner-owner who sizes him up and fixes him.
* Despite stupidly running to the mob boss who tried to have him killed, dodges death twice due to police intervention and wrestling skills.
* Has a judge who throws legal rules out the window and lets him monologue his crimes away.
* Doesn’t serve a day in jail.
* Apparently ends up with better parents, a girl, and no mob reprisals whatsoever!
Fave riff: How do ya like my swingin’ church, son?
Okay, gotta admit–Favorite riff, too. :)
Joel’s imitation of Al’s obnoxious cheeriness hits the timing perfectly.
Favorite short riff:
(Crow & Servo sing along “eh-er-eh-er” with chirpy short-film music)
“It’s Duck News, with Hugh McQuacken!”
Almost 4 years (!!) after my earlier comments in the thread – it still holds true. This is my favorite episode – #1 “comfort food” episode for when I’m feeling down.
I had a weird dream last night. I was reading the comments for I Accuse My Parents and came across a post where the writer vented on how much they hated this episode. Then Sampo came up to me dressed as a Candy Striper (okay I made up that last bit, but the rest is true).
The fact that Jimmy is still making excuses means he’s still got a long way to go maturity wise. The primary distinguishing feature that divides the souls in Dante’s Inferno and Purgatorio is that the souls in Hell blame everyone but themselves for their fate, and the souls in Purgatory take complete responsibility for their destiny even if there are mitigating factors. Paradisio/Heaven is of course so perfect that the souls there are kinda boring to talk to.
Just wanted to say that reading this discussion was awesome. Made me laugh a lot. In fact, I feel……..well, I feel as if I’m on the kissway to the promise land.
One of my “Top-5” MST moments. When Jimmy has just shot the gangster, and the cops come busting into the room. Jimmy looks at the corpse, then at the smoking gun in his hands, and Joel adds in a panic-stricken tone, “Ummmmmmmmm……..I accuse my parents.” Comic gold.
An all-time great….5 stars. The only knock is the short which is just OK for me. But, the host segments, movie and riffing are among the best in the history of the series so it more than makes up for it.
“Are You Happy In Your Work” both in the movie and in the host segment is one of my favorite MST moments.
“Can I just tell you one more thing about my Mom” might be my favorite riff in the episode. It sums up everything that’s so hilariously pathetic about Jimmy and how improbable it is that Kitty would be attracted to him.
A theme I’ll revisit in later episodes this season is that I’m amazed at how good Joel, Kevin and Trace are together despite the fact that they all knew Joel was leaving so soon. Their chemistry here and in other classic Season 5 eps is as good as they had over the whole series. Joel is not coasting at all in his final season….he’s at the absolute top of his game and so are Trace and Kevin.
Watching an episode this good makes it so clear why I love this show.
I love this episode. I’ve seen it many many times and I laugh and laugh each time. The two songs from this film were actually sung by 2 different vocalists, even though they are mouthed in the film by the same actress.
I stumbled across the original music publishers’ (Livingston & Evans) website which looks circa 1996. In the links below you can listen to the original, uncut acetate demos which are only slightly better quality than the movie audio. In these recordings you can hear the conductor or session producer count down the recording which is kinda neat. I saved down the mp3’s so I can listen to “Are You Happy…” whilst at the laundromat…
ARE YOU HAPPY IN YOUR WORK? – Martha Tilton (1944)
http://livingstonandevans.com/SNGareyouhappy.html
LOVE CAME BETWEEN US – Mary Beth Hughes (1944)
http://livingstonandevans.com/SNGlovecamebetweenus.html
Justin
I Accuse My Parents fails the Bechdel Test. Both conversations between Kitty and Vera are about Jimmy.
Even with it’s reputation as one of the most beloved episodes of the show, I’m still a bit startled at how many Favorite Riffs I ended up picking out below.
I suspect a major reason the essay contest riffs don’t end up being grating is how they vary the content of those riffs.
@ #28: In the shot where the carrots arrive at the processing plant, I imagine that’s a truck carrying them. Certainly I find it unlikely that a tractor would be used to haul them there.
@ #80: I believe the, “Adolph Hitler on vibes,” riff is from The Rebel Set. Definitely a fourth season episode.
@ #122: To be fair, he’s mostly being a courier and not necessarily aware of what he’s carrying. Though he should find it suspicious that these deliveries occur at odd hours.
@ #131: IIRC eighteen was the legal age for alcohol back them. As for not getting carded, that could conceivably be done by the club’s doorman.
Favorite riffs
Stupid trees. God, I hate ’em.
Go Speed Farmer! Go Speed Farmer! Go Speed Famer! Go!
Most farmers like to listen to Igor Stravinsky while they farm.
Let me harness this thing here. Well I’ll be damned! I’m in Mexico!
I wanted to be a choreographer.
I’m from Canada. What am I doing here?
Yes, the South starves while the North eats healthily.
I was abused as a zygote.
I don’t have a mom. My dog ate her.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Can I make it to last call?
I wish my peers would get out of my head. I’m trying to sleep!
Well it says here your feet don’t exist.
She’s got a closet full of dead shoe salesmen!
And of course I was the last one out of Saigon.
“I guess you forgot tomorrow’s my birthday.”
It was your birthday last year!
I’m waiting for a call from the president, so I couldn’t dance anyway.
So then my mom says to Roosevelt and Churchill, she says, “What about some kind of Lend-Lease Program?”
So Jimmy, do you like your kneecaps?
Quite a long line at the Petty Larceny window.
Leave your soul with the receptionist.
“I like buying presents for you. It’s fun.”
But I always have to pay for them.
I’ll let you out the back door. Don’t tell the Nazis where I am.
If I had parents, I’d accuse them right now.
Stop mocking me, radio!
The glow of the essay contest is starting to wear off.
He’s taken to selling his essays cheap on the street.
This is a message from the other kids in the essay contest.
I won the Get the Crap Kicked Out of You Contest.
Problem with Mob. On lam. Accusingly yours, Jimmy.
On top of it all, my area is gone.
I’ve decided. I’m going to do something really stupid.
“I’ve had a lot of guys come in here broke. Never sent them away hungry.”
Got them piled out back.
“Seen all sorts in my time.”
But they don’t see me.
How do you like my swinging church, son?
I’ll kill somebody for you. Who do you want killed?
Sir, I just don’t understand the Holy Spirit. Is it a bird?
“Then the things you said weren’t true?”
“Of course they weren’t true.”
Except for about your lousy shoe career.
So how about a little sugar for Happy Chef over here?
“Realize now before it’s too late. This might have been your boy.”
Not that your boy would be quite so thickheaded as Jimmy.
Great riffing, great host segments, and yet once again not one of my favorites. Though I do put it high up among the Teen Crime movies they did, second only to Violent Years.
@ #131/140 re: drinking age: True. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._history_of_alcohol_minimum_purchase_age_by_state will tell what you need to know, but long story short, depending on the state, it’s possible. (Witness also e.g. The The Eye Creatures – they accuse the [supposed] teenagers of being drunk, but how they got their hands on alcohol doesn’t seem to be an issue.)
Also, one needn’t be held back to be 18 while still in high school; lots of people turn 18 during their senior year.
Perfect. Just a perfect example of MST. One of the best episodes ever.
Hey guys, been away for awhile. Can someone please verify this for me? Dosen’t Charlie have a bit part in Casablanca? I’m talking about the scene where Peter Lorre is arrested in Rick’s Place. I forget exactly what he says but it’s something like “When I need help I hope someone’s there” and Humphrey Bogart replies” I stick My neck out for nobody”. It sure looks like him.
So, has anyone ever dug into the Prelinger Archives deep enough to tell what’s different in the first edition of The Truck Farmer?
Probably had to cut out the nudity & occult imagery.
minor note: I think the radio moment would’ve worked better if Joel hadn’t “identified” it as The Fibber McGee and Molly Show. Even without that reference, Crow’s subsequent “Don’t open that door, McGee!” would’ve been funny to those of us who’ve heard of the show (or even funnier because it would’ve seemed to come out of nowhere, like some of the best riffs do). Those who haven’t heard of the show, well, giving the program name wouldn’t have done them any good, anyway. ;-)
If I had parents, I’d accuse them right now!
It’s odd that before I became a full-fledged MSTie I did not remember seeing this episode but I must have seen the short because I distinctly remember one specific riff in particular:
Narrator: Some carrots are canned…
Servo: and turned into carrot paint.
Why did that one line implant itself in my psyche waiting for that wonderful day when I finally saw the short again and learned what episode it came from? I don’t know.
To me the movie doesn’t really kick into high gear until the mobster hides in the closet and this goes from ‘boy meets girl’ to ‘The Fugitive’
Fave riff:
Crow (as Jimmy): I’m gonna run away! I have peanut butter, and underwear, and that’s ALL I need!
This is one of my favorite episodes (up there with Eegah!).
J&tB were VERY hard on the short. It also was a bit more left-wing then they usually got. They were really ripping into that capitalism thing here.
The movie was just so perfect. It’s slow with lots of pauses to drop riffs in, and the characters are all so stupid – from Jimmy on down – that it made it easy. Also, 31 year old high schooler syndrome.
And the host skits were on-point.
Overall, a classic.