Movie: (1964) A naive Senate candidate finds a reform school escapee hiding in his home.
First shown: 11/23/94
Opening: Mike and Tom prepare Crow for a secret mission
Intro: Crow’s mission to Deep 13 ends in failure
Host segment 1: Mike gives Crow and Tom bionic noises
Host segment 2: A kitten with a whip visits on the Hexfield
Host segment 3: Mike hazes himself, much to the Bots horror
End: On the SOL, Mike opens up a Dr. F. piñata and reads a letter, Dr. F. has a Frank piñata
Stinger: “I’ll be a celebrity! And so will you!”
(157 votes, average: 3.73 out of 5)
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• In his introduction on the Shout DVD, Mike acknowledges that this episode is not a fan favorite. I’m sure we’ll find some folks who adore it, and I like it okay, but he’s right, it’s not a standout. The movie is dumb, the characters are dumber, but it is a competent Hollywood product, featuring several recognizable Hollywood stars, a rarity for MST3K. The riffing is somewhere between good and great most of the time. Plus the host segments have several notable moments.
• This episode can be found on the Mystery Science Theater Collection, Vol. XXV.
• References.
• This episode was the kickoff ep of the 1994 Turkey Day marathon, the one hosted by Adam West.
• The biggest problem with the movie, of course, is that the Senator character is so crushingly stupid, and blows, like, four opportunities to extricate himself from this situation, only to be saved by random chance and the good intentions of strangers, when, let’s face it, he doesn’t really deserve it. But as dopey as the plot may be, it does become a bit engrossing at points. Even Mike appears to get into the poor guy’s predicament at one point when he hollers “Just go, you idiot!” at him.
• The opening segment, with Crow being launched down the umbilicus into Deep 13, only to be met by Dr. F. (or somebody wearing Dr. F’s coat) caused much excitement on the internet. “The Squab is in the hole” was a phrase that was repeated often.
• Who knew Mike smells like rain?
• Callback: “The Crawling Eye!” “Uh-uh, no way…” (Sinister Urge)
• Segment 1 is a slight bit of fluff without a real payoff, but it’s one of those segments that works because the performers are so comfortable with each other.
• Segment 2, well, give Kevin credit for valiantly diving into the role. Again, not much of payoff. Who is working Kevin’s tail?
• The riff “Typical road trip with a headliner,” is a reference to the stand-up comedy road trips many of the cast and writers lived through in their younger days. Four or five comedians would pile into a car and drive from comedy club to comedy club in the upper Midwest, and according to all the reports, whoever the headliner was among the group tended to be a prima donna.
• Segment 3 is hilarious, especially the bots’ reaction. And, I have to admit, I’d completely forgotten it.
• This is another one of those movies from that era of ’50s-’60s sophistication that depict middle-aged couples cheerfully taking in the show at a strip club (another place you see it is TISCWSLABMUZ). I do not think this happened much in real life.
• Non-spaghetti ball bumpers: datebook, beaker, bulletin board, movie canister (a rare four-fer!).
• I definitely hear Bridget among the kids’ voices at the end. Not sure about any others.
• Oh, and I love that the guy who resolves all the plots is named Sgt. Enders.
• Cast and crew roundup: cinematographer Joseph Biroc also worked on “The Amazing Colossal Man” and “SST: Death Flight.” Art director Alexander Golitzen worked on “This Island Earth,” “Revenge of the Creature,” “Leech Woman,” “Mole People,” “Deadly Mantis” and “The Thing That Couldn’t Die.” Set designer John McCarthy also worked on “Radar Men from the Moon” and “San Francisco International. Joseph Gershenson was head of the music department at Universal Studios, so you’ll see his name on many credits as composer or arranger.
In front of the camera, Ann Doran was also in “Painted Hills.” Patrick Whyte was in “The Mole People.” Leo Gordon was also in “Attack of the Giant Leeches.” Gary Lockwood was also in “Magic Sword.”
• CreditsWatch: Host segments directed by Jim Mallon
• Fave riff: “Hey! Bingo-balls! Siddown!”
One episode I haven’t seen yet but sounds like I should ASAP.
Don’t forget about Doodles Weaver!
( Ann-Margret is hot ).
5 stars
Wow Sampo and I are really in synch on this one.
This one of the very few films I knew before it was MST’d.
Tough call, tough choice, by far the most ‘serious’ ( in a couple of ways ) film they’ve done. Yes it’s exploitative but it ain’t cheap. The quality and casting are up there. Interesting choice for them. Almost ( Almost ! ) as if they chose to riff Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf or something by Eugene O’Neill.
Anyway, that being said, this has got some of the very best riffing they’ve ever done
( Ann-Margret is hot ).
The open credits riff complex is glorious. From Ann Margrock to the UPC code.
Fave riffs after the opening credits.. probably the Tijuana bar scene… a big greasy bucket of great riffs. Starting with Amy Grant channeling Tom Waits for Jesus loves me ( me and Sampo again )
( Ann-Margret is hot, and she’s something like 23 at the time if this film, so I don’t feel too creepy about it. Funny, she is the same age as my Mom, and the character she plays is my daughter’s age now. And I am now the same age that Forsythe was then. Freud would wet himself. ).
Where there host segments ? yeah I guess so. The secret mission bit was actually quite enjoyable. The other ones were harmless enough. Mike is Queen Victoria ( ? ) and the bots reaction there to.. good stuff.
( did I mention that Ann-Margret is hot ? )
One other thing… the music in this movie is darn good.
( oh and KWAW came out about 2 years after Lolita, clearly an imitation )
( RAM Chips, oops I mean : Ann-Margret is hot )
As the resident animation geek ’round here, allow me to throw in my own bit of trivia for this episode: the Looney Tunes cartoon that Ann-Margret watches on TV at John Forsythe’s house is “Canned Feud”, released in 1951 and directed by Friz Freleng. A.K.A. “the one where the mouse keeps hiding the can opener”. It’s one of my favorite Warner Bros. cartoons (and I was surprised to see it in a Universal movie – you’d think they would have just used one of their own Woody Woodpecker cartoons or something). It’s kind of a surreal experience to see the MST3K shadowrama accompanied by such trademark Looney Tunes sound effects as “zurrup” and “fwee-fwee-fweep”. Also, Doodles Weaver cuts off the end of the cartoon for some reason (in the full version, Sylvester gets his can opener – but finds that the kitchen cabinet is locked, and the mouse has the key).
Okay, enough geeking out, on to the episode itself. I remember not being too enthralled with this one the last time I watched it – I thought the movie was too talky and the guys couldn’t get many good riffs in edgewise (the aforementioned Looney Tunes scene features a 45-second stretch of silence from Mike and the bots because Ann-Margret and John Forsythe just won’t shut up). But I’m willing to give it another go, because I do know there’s fun to be had. This episode does contain one of my all-time favorite “ugly guy” riffs, after all (“Do you have a different face you could wear?”).
I do love Crow’s excursion into Deep 13. It’s surprisingly extravagant for this show, and it’s something I didn’t expect them to try, but given that they had a lot of stuff going up and down the Umbilicus this season, I guess it only makes sense that they’d try to escape through it. And of course, this skit gave me one of my favorite Poopie tape moments (“Hi, I’m not in this”).
Nice, solid outing from the guys, featuring a movie so punishingly stupid you can’t help but scream at your TV. It’s like a moronic Mr Smith Goes To Washington and Visits a Brothel.
I could have done without seeing Mike in Victorian Lady garb, though. It’s funny and all, but Mike is just too good in his role and it’s frankly a wee bit disturbing. Mike seemed awfully comfortable dressing up as a woman. Almost TOO comfortable. I dunno, if I were Bridget, I’d be a tad bit worried.
Kevin’s Kitten With a Whip segment reminded me: I always wondered who operated the ‘bots when their usual owners were off playing other characters. Was there one guy on staff charged with back-up ‘bot duty, or did the job just get tossed to whatever intern was free? Anyone know?
Medium #3 – Yes, Ann-Margie is VERY hot, but also very creepy. Later in the movie when she goes on a vocal rampage, she has this look in her eye that makes me very uncomfortable.
Also, I couldn’t help but notice the very weird undertones of Annie wanting a father-daughter attachment with the senator but showing a certain physical attraction to him.
Ick.
I have agree with sampo first time i saw this i thought it was awful. I look at this episode and now i think it is a good episode. host segments are weak in this one. The riffing is good. For a real treat watch viva las vegas with ann margret just so you can see her basically drewl and lust for elvis in every scene. Like the girl in the short young man’s fancy. it’s so funny to watch.
Here is a factoid. Richard anderson was not the the orginal oscar goldmen in the six million dollar man show. it was darrin mcgavin from kolchak the night stalker and xmas story fame. He just did the pilot didn’t do the show because abc wanted him for the kolchak show.
I remember this one being a classic example of an episode that gets better with repeated viewings. Didn’t care for it the first two times I watched it but I laughed much more than I remembered when I watched it again last year.
@ #5: Jef Maynard was the go-to puppeteer stand-in whenever they needed Trace or Kevin in the Hexfield. After he left the show at the end of Season 6, Patrick Brantseg took over as MST3K’s resident puppeteer understudy.
Say, I just thought of something. Wasn’t there some talk not too long ago of there possibly being a remake of this movie? I think Lindsay Lohan was supposed to star, which would work perfectly since she already kinda looks like Ann-Margret. (I think this was before the whole “chug, crash, rehab” phase of Lohan’s life, though, so it’s probably on hold until she cleans up her act.)
This was the episode where I wrote “MST is starting to suck.” The movie was depressing, and the riffs were dreary. When I first saw it, I turned it off halfway through.
I revisited it recently, and actually did get a laugh out of the absurd deus ex machina ending. The dramatic scene with the cartoon playing in the background was also funny too. But all in all, it’s not one of the episodes I like to revisit.
Yeah, the Guys do a great job with this one, but the movie’s action and situations makes me want to go into the screen and punch every member of the cast for one reason or another.
Sampo, that’s an interesting question, about women in the 50′s and 60′s going to strip clubs. Another episode in which that happens is “The Brain that Wouldn’t Die.” I wonder if my mom would have cheerfully sat in a strip club with my dad and another couple. I’m guessing she wouldn’t have put up with it, but maybe once on a lark? Perhaps. Never thought to ask her that question.
If anyone wants to hear a funny behind-the-scenes story, check out Kevin’s entry for this episode in the ACEG book. You’ll find out just how much Kevin really enjoyed playing the kitten with a whip in Segment 2.
This is one episode that I don’t watch very often; when it first ran, I wasn’t all that hot on it but came around to it on later viewings. The host segments are okay, although how can one not be amused by a celebration of bionic noises—and a completely gratuitous Shields and Yarnell reference? And it’s also nice to see that Crow folds up for easy storage.
Technically, the movie wasn’t bad—the main problem is that the John Forsythe character is, to coin a phrase, dumber than a bag full of hammers. It’s also nice to see that a potential Senatorial candidate doesn’t read the newspaper—and in fact just lets them pile up in the yard. And that deus ex machina at the end—the riff “Oh, and we went in and cleaned your house and you were elected Senator and the dying girl cast the deciding vote” wasn’t too much of an exaggeration!
Some favorite riffs:
“How many hutches do they need”…“Can I offer you a hutch?”
As John Forsythe is talking to Ginny, “It’s my gin distributor.”
“It’s probably the Senate ethics committee dropping by unannounced…again.”
“Tonight on Medical Senator.”
“Mom, dad, Laurence Olivier?”
Creamy! (I wonder if that’s related to “squishy.”)
#12 Brandon – The “strip club” in Brain that Wouldn’t Die seemed to be a bit subdued, not anything more than the Rockettes or Las Vegas showgirls do, and there are women who love to see those acts.
Fully agree with Sampo on this one. It is one of those episodes that kind of run from your brain out your ear when the episode is over, but when watching is pretty good. As for John Forsythe’s character’s motivation for not escaping, I would suggest the viewer take another look at Ann-Margaret.
What do you think the over/under line is on how many times Kevin’s wife has brought up the “Kitten with a Whip” sketch when trying to make him do things like chores and going to parties?
I’ve given this one several chances over the years, thinking that as sometimes happens an episode I didn’t particularly care for the first or second time around would grow on me, but this one never has.
Again, I don’t fault the Brains, they do their best, and yes there are some funny lines and scene,but as I’ve noted before there are some movies – particularly dark ones – which they seem to have trouble with, and this is no exception.
Sure, the movie’s lame, otherwise it wouldn’t be on the show, and there are some notable actors in some stunningly bad performances which I’m sure they don’t look back on fondly, but I just couldn’t get into this. It’s wearying to watch after a while.
There were plenty of classic episodes in Season Six, which I consider along with season four their best, but this isn’t one of them. Not even close.
Two out of five.
I like my ladies hot’n'creepy, and Ann-Margret is a whole lotta both!
Cheers, jjb3k, good to have that answered. It always generates a nice little episode of cognitive dissonance when you see one of the guys – especially Kevin with his distinctive voice – play someone else, while the ‘bots just hang out as is nothing is amiss. Very trippy, if you think about it too much. And I do. Sad.
Fave Riff:
Beatnik – “Man, don’t you dig the desire NOT to communicate?”
Crow – “I’m Not Telling!”
Worst line from movie:
“Now cool it you creep, and let’s co-exist!”
Really, the hip-speak in this one is some of the worst i’ve ever heard … ‘I feel no pain’, bla bla bla.
#615 is my least-watched episode from season 6. Ok riffing but the movie just puts me to sleep. The last 30 minutes of the film are fairly well done, quite a lot of tension in the scenes in Tiajuana when politician runs into his friends at the nightclub. The ending is rather lazy … one step from ‘it was all just a dream’.
New/knew, tale/tail? It must be Homonym Day on Satellite News today!
As for the movie, frankly, I always found this episode a bit torturous. The plot just seemed one little idea stretched to fit a whole movie, and depends on the audience being afraid of characters who are, essentially, just dopey beatniks. Ann-Margaret comes off like she’s doing some sort of acting class exercise after watching Rebel Without a Cause too many times. Sure, she’s mighty attractive, but she’s just too annoying to live.
The writing has to work so hard to keep the plot contrivances going that it just gets unbearable by about the halfway point.
Which is not to say that such a movie couldn’t make for good MST3K fodder, but this is one instance where, for me, the movie overpowers the concept and I just can’t bear to watch.
That said, the sight of Kevin in a cat suit is pretty awesome.
Also, Kevin is a huge LOTR fan, too, as he discussed when I interviewed him for the TMCM magazine:
http://www.mst3kinfo.com/satnews/brains/tmcm2.html
This is one of my faves. i love the non scifi shows. I think the monster movies are kinda an easy target. The dramas seem to be a harder target to hit. Kitten with a whip is one funny show. I could not wait for the host segments to end and the movie get going again.
This is one of the few movies they did that I don’t ever want to revisit after the first time. Yes, the Senator charactor is an idiot, but that isn’t the biggest problem. It is that the villain characters are so incredibly loathsome. I just can’t tolerate a movie like this, it’s like seeing torture porn without the gore.
Well, I learned a lot from this movie. Rest assured that if Ann Margret ever shows up at my door dressed in a flimsy nighty looking for a place to say, I’ll tell her to get lost and…ah hell who am I kidding? That woman is still red hot!
Agreed with #23 for the most part… While I wouldn’t call this one a favorite necessarily, every time I watch it I find the riffing to be generally very solid. Like others have said, the movie just goes completely off the rails with it’s conclusion, but it’s entertaining enough over the long haul to not be a detriment to the overall vibe of the episode. Sure, the host segments are weak… but I find that most host segments top out at amusing, so it doesn’t get a big knock for that. I gave it four stars.
I agree with Crowbot (#23). The dramas are way harder to riff than goofy monster or sci-fi movies. Does that mean I grade them on an easier curve or that I enjoy the craft more? Not sure. But I do enjoy this movie. The goofy dialogue is laughable (“You think you’re such a smoky something when you’re nothing painted blue!” The hell?) That the movie expects us to like the senator and fear the beatnicks is really an insult.
I like the bots vicarious reactions to Anne’s initial visit that they attribute to Forsyth. “The steering wheel’s about to snap in his hands.” “Gotta get her more clothes.” “There isn’t a shower cold enough for this guy.”
Surprised no one’s mentioned the one line that shows up in many later episodes: “I’m dying in a rush.”
And the guy says “but buddy.” Not in the intent that Crow thinks, but hearing that always cracks me up.
I haven’t seen this one in years! I vaguely remember Mike and the Bots pairing different animals with different weapons. Am i wrong? I thought it was funny.
This movie shamelessly recycles Mancini’s score for Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil.
I find David Stratton, John Forsythe’s character, to be to stupid to enjoy the show.
The host segments are fairly lame as well (in particular Kevin in the bathroom rug).
I missed all episodes from season six so again, I can’t comment, but I can comment on an oldie.
On the short before Mad Monster (season 1) one of the charactors says “what about the ray guns?” and Crow quickly quips “you mean Ron and Nancy?”. Ah, that line got me hooked. So clever.
Sampo, I always thought the line was “dingle-balls.” Aren’t those the things that guys use to line the perimeter of the roofs inside their El Caminos?
A favorite of mine, and one I come back to often.
“His hair is pulled back into a severe bun…”
Stickboy says:
“Sampo, I always thought the line was “dingle-balls.”
Same here.
I love the responses to the “hip” lingo.
“I’m dying in a rush” and i’m hooked on a feeling.”
“I feel no pain” and an island never cries.”
I never fail to crack up at those lines.
Whenever I see Ann-Margaret, all I can think of is her getting doused with soap suds and baked beans in the rock musical “Tommy”. She’s definitely is not afraid to look silly on film.
I agree that the right mood makes a difference–first saw this ep a few years ago and wasn’t really thrilled with it, but popped it in last week and loved it! Maybe the fewer brain cells I have, the easier they are to impress! Life should just keep getting better and better!
I’ll be honest- I barely remember this episode. The movie I seem to remember as fun, as with the host segments. I do remember the Poopie! bit that resulted from this episode.
Dark or not, I think this is the only MST3k that I literally hate all the characters and want to punch them. Or backhand, I guess, for Ann. Evil? No.
The other few dark movies they’ve featured don’t do this to me. I can see they are bad, or stupid, or have loathsome characters, but I don’t literally want to go into the screen and beat them to death as I do with most everyone on screen in this movie.
Sidehackers can be dark. Mighty Jack is literal torture for me, just being so pointless and wandering, but I just tough it out. This one, I tough-out, then just feel like punching the guy at the end, still.
you think you’re shiny something, but you’re nothing painted blue!
On the topic of using doubles to operate the Bots, I wonder who was doubling for Dr. F while Crow was wandering around Deep 13 (as noted on the Poopie reel, Trace was really behind the rock)?
In scenes where Kevin is a character on the Hexfield, I’ve noticed Tom is either completely silent or has his beak away from the camera when he does speak (since the audio is recorded later). This seems to be the case with Kevin since I can’t recall ever seeing Trace in the Hexfield.
#40: Omega2010
The “Turn your crank to Frank” sketch in “The Violent Years” had Trace in the Hexfield as Dr. Forrester.
The whole plot with the girl – Ann Margret – not leaving to get away was just so stupid, Any real senator would have made one phone and the girl wind up as a jane doe ten states away, End of movie!
Isn’t it dingo balls?
I think this Teenage Werewolf, Girls Town, & Untamed Youth are amongst a small handful of movies that MST did that really aren’t that bad. In fact I’ve seen some Hitchcock films that are not as “good” as this movie (and I’m a Hitchcock fan & I’m 28 so I’m not getting all nostalgic over Miss Van Doren.)
RE: #27
What he actually says is “Buck, buddy”– his friend’s name is Buck.
And the best line is “I’ll just walk home from here…” after JF is thrown from the overturned car that has just fallen over a cliff. Can’t say I blame him, at that point.
It’s “dingle-balls”.
This is one of my favorites. The movie certainly isn’t good, but it’s a cut above the usual fare, a good old-fashioned potboiler.
The riffing is top-notch. My favorite riff is the comment on the deus-ex-machina ending, which I can’t repeat exactly, but I think everyone remembers it.
And they knew who Doodles Weaver is!
Totally agree that while this movie is certainly a competant product of ’50s Hollywood, the riffing in no way suffers.
I feel that we can draw a number of parallels between this film and ‘Girls Town.’ It is competantly made, features quality Hollywood talent, and even boasts a decent soundtrack (even to garner the praise of Servo; ‘hey this is pretty good!’)
While Ann-Margret was certainly hot, all I can think of is her being the object of affection in ‘Grumpy Old Men.’
In addition to what #41 said, Mirror Forrester was in the Hexfield in the end of Last of the Wild Horses.
Puppy with a numchuk! Dik-dik with brass knuckles! Yak with a Kentucky long rifle! Hamster who writes a strong letter to The Times!
Well, those were a few of the few laughs I got with this one. Had it’s moments, but – real Dullsville, man, I mean it was like nothing painted blue, dig? HUH? The dialogue was some of the stupidest crap I’ve ever heard: “Everything’s so creamy.” “…shiny good”?
GREAT WRITING. I mean like, they had a REAL UNDERSTANDING of the youth of the day. Did anyone really talk like that? ‘Cause if they did, they should be reminded of it and punched in the face.
Some fave lines:
“Ann Margaret in The Woody Guthrie Story.” – Crow
“We’re about to see a political career come to a crashing halt.” – Mike
(When Ann says something about going somewhere)”Perhaps it was your pert acting ability.” – Crow
“There isn’t a shower COLD enough for this man.” – Crow
“How far can a metaphor be stretched before it snaps?” – Crow
“Tonight on Medical Senator.” – Crow
(When we see the streets of Tijuana and vendors are selling things, Servo says something like, get your cheap Mexican crap, or something to that effect – and then when we see balloons) – “Isotope models!”
Host segments were okay, I liked Crow going down to Deep 13 – and getting greased up by Mike (Servo – “I thought it was just because we liked him a whole lot.”). The pinata thing, and Mike hazing himself, not so much.
It seems in the later eps of this season, Dr. F stands a little too close to the camera, no? It’s annoying.
Not bad, not great. Movie is too boring to watch too many times.
I’d watch it more often but Anne Margret pisses me off SO MUCH in this movie and John Forsythe is such a spineless idiot that it takes away all the joy that Mike and the bots attempt to put into it.
I own the episode but I think I’ve watched it a total of 1.5 times.
Yeah….despite some decent riffing, I’ve got to agree that this is one episode that’ll send me running out of the room every time.
I definitely second the emotion that every character in the movie is just begging to be punched squarely in the nose…as well as the schmuck who wrote it. The horribly improvised-sounding “slang” talk aside, I have NEVER been able to tolerate movie characters who are supposedly intelligent, rational people, and yet they allow themselves to be victimized over and over again by one or more mental midgets. I don’t know why….it just infuriates me for some reason! I mean….I can only suspend my disbelief so far…
Ever since my first viewing of this episode, I can only watch as far as the first sketch with Crow, greased up and infiltrating Deep 13. As soon as that’s done, it’s time to switch it off and watch something else!
Mike makes a classy looking mid-to-late 1700s courtesan. In fact, he might be just a little too into it.
#49 Tarlcabot: “I’d watch it more often but Anne Margret pisses me off SO MUCH in this movie and John Forsythe is such a spineless idiot that it takes away all the joy that Mike and the bots attempt to put into it.
I own the episode but I think I’ve watched it a total of 1.5 times.”
I don’t know, I think it’s BECAUSE John Forsythe is such a raging moron that I find this episode to be hilariously enjoyable.
It’s not one of the series’ best, no, but it’s a fun episode that I don’t mind revisiting, especially those awkward scenes where John Forsythe is in a compromising situation and bumps into the people he knows.
I also love the alternate movie titles that Mike and the ‘Bots give the film when they see the words “Kitten with a Whip” on the screen.
And this episode might have one of my favorite stingers of the entire series.
I must admit…ALL of Mike’s drag appearences crack me up to no end. When it comes to dressing and looking like anything even remotely female, Mike’s big, square-shouldered, manly frame is just SO badly suited for the task…it elevates the whole concept to a classic, Monty Python-esque level. However, in Mike’s defense, you could at least say that he’s “slightly” more attractive in a dress than John Cleese or Graham Chapman. Only slightly, though…
Especially love that magic moment when his Kate Capshaw impression eerily morphs into Tina Turner. “I nevah, evah do anything nice…and easay…”
#53 You probably realized this already but you mean Kate Mulgrew. I agree, though, I also find Mike’s drag appearances to be quite funny. I’m not sure which I enjoy more, the Bots’ reactions from Kitten With A Whip(ie, backing away slowly) or Laserblast (fleeing in terror). My fav Mike in drag moment, though, is Where Oh Werewolf. Yes, drag and a song, yet a song that doesn’t drag.
I like this one. The “I’ll just dust for fingerprints” woman particularly got a lot of laughs from me, because you see that kind of strangely obsessed character pop up in stories like this to try to build up dramatic tension. They’re suddenly hyper-curious and pedantic to the nth degree. She’s just so damn nosey and M&tB rip on her excellently.
And yes, the terminal stupidity of our male ‘hero’ makes for a lot of fun as well.
#54 – If you’ve ever seen The Kids in the Hall, Mike’s Where – oh – Werewolf moment reminds me of Bruce Mcculloch’s female characters.
Sampo – Tom Waits? Yeah but could be more like Satchmo.
(Ann getting in bed w/teddy bear) -
“Russ Meyer’s Goldylocks!” / “Dear Penthouse, I’m an average stuffed animal from a small mid-western college”
(Buck in the streets of Tijuana) -
“cinnamon cripanos! where can I get cinnamon crispanos!”
(at the strip club)
“Wow! Amy Grant has really crossed over!”
(Senator yelling “Officers! over here! this man keeps annoying me, trying to sell me marijuana!”)
“one of my ideas worked!”
Not a top 10 for me, definitely above average though – - -
I concur with others on the board who have called this movie (despite its Idiot Plot) one of the more watchable flicks from MST3K. I also think that “Girls Town” and “Stranded in Space” should be added to that list.
“Well, she’s always been straight with me so far”
“This is for NAFTA! And this is for GATT!”
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I can’t believe how much negative feedback this episode has received. This is a personal fave of mine, and I think among Season 6′s best episodes. The riffing is fantastic; when they aren’t making hilarious remarks about the sexual innuendo between Ann Margaret and John Forsythe, they rip into the “hip” lingo and styles of Jodie’s friends. The host segments aren’t top-notch, but are reasonably funny.
All this, and Doodles Weaver too?!
fave riff: as John is watching Ann walk away towards the bus terminal, you hear Crow blurt out, “There isn’t a shower cold enough for this man!”
I always put the scenario of finding a young, hot fugituve woman hiding out in my home – and in my bed – along with the abduction scene from “The Violent Years”: under the category of “Never Gonna Happen to Me”!
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A just okay one for me. It’s an ep I always thought would grow on me because I really like the movie a lot. But liking the film, or finding it fun to watch, really has nothing to do with how much an ep will make me laugh in the end and that is how I rate eps. Similar story with Village of the Giants which is one of my fav movies but not really a A quality ep laugh-wise.
I wonder if it’s because both these films are too camp. Campiness doesn’t seem to work too well for MST…if I’m getting it right. That might be it.
And as for middle-aged women going to strip clubs in the 50′s and 60′s…why not? Of course they did. Do a little reading about burlesqe/stripper history, guys. I mean, come on. There are plenty of women who did, and still do, love the art of the tease.
Forgot my grade: B (good but not very good)
I wish they would give Tommy the MST3K treatment. That would be a trip.
Maybe not a fan fav, but for me, a sentiental fav. First episode I saw from start to finish, and I laughed a lot. My favorite riff: “Ann, can you move? We want to see Sylvester.”
i’ve watched the DVD acouple of times. i probably should watch it more, but the ineptitude of John Forsythe’s character is just too draining.
#50: movie characters who are supposedly intelligent, rational people, and yet they allow themselves to be victimized over and over again by one or more mental midgets
Uh, do you know much about ACTUAL senators…?
This is one of my top 10 favorites. The guys are hilarious! Also, I think this movie is actually good by itself. Sure, John Forsythe is really stupid and there are some silly bits, but the acting is pretty much what you expect for the early 60s, and I have seen worse acting in films that are considered classics. Also, the movie actually kept me in suspense and even though I thought John Forsythe was an idiot to get himself in this mess in the first place, by the time we get to T-town and meet Richard Anderson and his group, I was like “Ack! This is nuts!”. I thought it was clever how the film had Anderson mention he was going to T-town way earlier in the movie, but I forgot and was genuinely surprised. All in all, A great episode!
I must admit that it’s a tough movie to watch but being a huge Ann MargRock fan, I sacrifice my sanity for a while. Wowwie Wow Wow!
The LOTR riff probably came from Paul, who was the biggest Tolkien fan at Best Brains at the time
Isn’t Mike also a LotR fan?
I’m not a medium, I’m a petite #3: Funny, she is the same age as my Mom, and the character she plays is my daughter’s age now. And I am now the same age that Forsythe was then. Freud would wet himself.
But then Freud is all wet anyway.
Stan McSerr #28: I vaguely remember Mike and the Bots pairing different animals with different weapons. Am i wrong?
There was once a host segment where I believe Tom suggested ideal pets for various fictional detectives.
Perhaps it’s just me, but does the Steve Vance poster for this episode creep out anyone else?
FTW the tune Tom hums as they’re about to launch Crow is When Johnny Comes Marching Home.
Regarding Mike’s crossdressing in this episode, why do so many seem to think he’s suppose to be Queen Victoria? IIRC he’s meant to be Marie Antoinette. Certainly the style of wig he’s wearing would fit in better at 18th century Versailles than at 19th century Buckingham Palace.
So was the letter real or not?
While Ann-Margret is easy on the eyes, her interactions with John Forsythe are painful. Even with the riffing, I have trouble sitting through this one.
Favorite riffs:
How am I going to get to the hobo gathering?
We meet later and frag Shari Lewis.
I think Senator Kennedy might have handled this differently.
“Maybe your wife’s got some old thing she’s ready to throw away.”
Aside from me?
This car handles much easier after three martinis.
I honestly expected more people at my senatorial fundraiser.
All this and he still has a sense of humor.
This changes nothing. I’m still selling you to white slavery.
It is interesting how in the Shout! Factory Mike Nelson introduction he admits (as pointed out by Sampo) this is not a fan favorite. He further allows this film is way outside their wheelhouse as well.
So looking at the opening, do you suppose Mike is truly a fan of Jeff Dunham? Or is he mocking him. I know I’m a fan but I just can’t decide how he truly feels.
Last week we had three segments of Urkel. This week we get a minute of Crow in Deep 13. There is something I would have loved seeing arced through all the host segments of this episode. He could have created a little havoc there before being sent back.
This was a strange episode. The host segments were blah, the riffing was meh and the movie itself was this close to good. The MST last movie I came close to accuse of being good was Tormented and this story holds me in the same way.
Favorite Riffs:
Senator grabs and shakes the fleeing Kitten. Tom “I think Senator Kennedy might have handled this differently.”
“About this terribly funny thing that happened to you.”
Senator “On second thought it wasn’t that funny at all.”
Crow “Oh, Adam Sandler.”
Ron “I minored in poli-sci. Political Science”
Crow “You’re unemployed”
Mike about Midge “She looks like a Dodge Neon.”
Tom ”Hi”
[That’s a dated riff. Remember that launch add campaign? The car was on a billboard with the word “Hi” below it. It was such a polite little car.]
Probably my least favorite of all MST3K. Not because the riffs aren’t funny (it has it’s moments), but because the immense stupidity of the characters infuriates me. Not just the supposed wanna-be senator not taking any of a number of opportunities to escape (he’s a politician! he can just pay off someone to keep it quiet), but the general horrible dialogue by everyone.
Plus, I much prefer movies with sci-fi/fantasy elements. ‘Dramas’ are just boring.
This episode? It’s pretty creamy.
Pretty blatant use of Chekhov’s Razor.
This one’s grown on me in recent years. I just watched it again this past November as part of a full-length re-enactment of the 1994 Turkey Day marathon, and I found myself laughing a lot more often than usual. Great riffs I’d never really noticed before kept leaping out at me (“CLOTHES! Gotta get her more clothes!”, “Just doing a little foreshadowing if you don’t mind”, “Isotope models! Get your isotope models!”). I still get the most laughs out of the very last scene in the movie, though. “Do you have a different face you could wear?” still makes me bust up every time.
I’d agree that this is one of the better movies the show did. I think that’s why I like it – even when the riffing hits a dry spell (which does happen a couple of times in this one), I can still follow the movie.
I still don’t like this episode. The host segments were bad, the characters were stupid like everyone else has already said, the contrived ending was just ridiculous and I don’t think the riffing is good enough to save this episode.
The intro was OK but Crow really needs some better code phrases, my favorite of all time is “The dolphins are in the jacuzzi” from Shakes the Clown.
I’ll join the chorus and say that this isn’t that bad a movie despite the stupid characters (well, Forsythe was believable, he was playing a politician after all!) But it does have an odd title. I’m assuming that Ann was the titular “kitten”, and I guess the whip could be allusion to her dangerous personality disorder, but still…
The host segments were mostly fun, but this is one of the very few low points for Kevin. Yikes!
3 Stars
I should like this a little more than I do, but I’m giving this one the lowest rating so far–a 1 out of 5. The plot of this movie is tissue thin, Ann overacts, John underacts (he’d have more expression if he just phoned it in), and the supporting cast must have been embarrassed by the final product when they saw it on screen. I give Mike and the bots points for effort and riffing, but I think this was a poor choice for them. For me, this is Exhibit A in my overall rating of Season 6.
Crow: “You smell like rain.”
Mike: “Well, thank you!”
For whatever reason, this is one of my favorite MST3K moments.
This episode is from the small batch of episodes I had when I first became a fan of the show. I watched it a number of times and as such it’s still a favorite of mine. I don’t know why, but the movies that I get the most into with MST are still the ones where there’s a sympathetic character. Senator Forsythe is sympathetic, even though he is a moron. He’s a good man; everything he does in the movie is done in good faith with the intention of helping somebody. That he’s stupid is the reason we have something to mock.
In spite of the stupidity of the characters I do enjoy this episode. Things do seem to work out for David just as well as they do for John Forsythe’s character in the Hitchcock movie “The Trouble With Harry”. Check it out sometime. He gets involved with a very young and cute Shirley MacLaine and Jerry Mathers as a pre-Beaver Cleaver-type. The twist at the end is almost as much of a deus ex machina as this one, but in a much better and funny movie.
Given everything he does and doesn’t do here, could I see David as a Senator? Sadly, yes…
I try to get into this movie and every once in a while I’ll succeed, but I lose all sympathy for John Forsythe’s character cause he is SUCH A WIMP.
Yep, some of the riffs are excellent, but this is one of those shows that goes under the heading “Shows that are hard to swallow down”.
2 stars. An unmemorable episode except for Kevin dressed up a giant kitten. OK, maybe 3 stars.
To me this episode in general is fine. Not a highly memorable one, but not a bad one either. Very watchable. The movie on the other hand is one of the few they did on MST3K that I actually consider to be a genuinely good film that is worth watching on it’s own (and not because it is “funny-bad” on it’s own).
Yeah, I hate every character in the movie. Even David’s nosy, so-called friends. Why is your phone off the hook? Why are you in Mexico after all? Shut up, that’s why! It makes it a tough film to watch, though I really enjoyed it when I first saw it.
In the 90′s I was thrilled to find a tee shirt that featured Jodi’s face and the movie title. You bet I bought it!
I loved Mike’s take to the camera, twirling that curl and putting it in his mouth. It’s just crazy!
More Doodles Weaver!
This is not a great or classic episode, and as noted by others this is really outside of their wheelhouse, but it is a decent, okay, so-so episode and not the bottom of the barrel for Season 6 (that would be Dead Talk Back or Colossus and the Headhunters, for me).
The opening segment, with Crow going down to Deep13 is interesting from a technical standpoint (folding Crow, the use of the Umbilicus), but it’s not really that funny. It makes me smile, sure, but it never elicits any true laughter. The Host Segments are okay, #2 with Kevin as the Kitten with a Whip is fun, and HS#3 is a simple skit, but I like the bots (appropriate) reaction to Mike in drag.
As for Kitten with a Whip, John Forsythe is wooden and bland, Ann-Margret is sexy but also crazy and over the top (she’s just sexy and crazy in Carnal Knowledge (1971)), and this has to be the lamest home-invasion thriller ever. No threat, no thrills, and no tension. Forsythe is such a tool, why he puts up with any of these shenanigans is beyond me (oh yeah….she’s sexy..).
RIFFS:
Crow: “Hamster who writes a strong letter to the Times.”
Crow: “C’mon, make with the kitten!” —–slight callback to Bloodlust!, when Crow says, “C’mon, make with the fright already!”
gesturing at underwear,
Crow: “You know, some of those filthy things.”
Mike: “Oh no, I’m losing my buzz.”
Mike: “You turned off Doodles Weaver!!”
Forsythe is in the bathroom, sneaking out the window,
Crow: “I’m still in here, kind of a rough one.”
Crow: “I’ve never understood a single thing ever.”
Servo: “I really have to go, my back teeth are floating.”
Mike: “THRILL, as they exit.”
Crow: “WOW! Amy Grant has REALLY crossed over!”
cops chase after the supposed marijuana salesman,
Crow: “Hey, I want some, just a lid for the weekend, that’s all…”
-
This episode loses some of it’s creaminess as it goes on,
only 3/5 kittens.
I just want to add, I thought it was awesome to see Ann-Marget in the movie “Magic.” Her character falls for the bonkers Anthony Hopkins character, and I had such empathy for her. She did a lovely job.
I’m with the group that liked the riffed “Kitten With a Whip”. Not an all time classic like “Manos”, “Mitchell” or “Jack Frost” (and MANY others) but it’s good. It does have one of those “OWCH!” riffs where someone says “Mr. Letterman” referring to Dave’s late 80s and 1990s stalker. Her name was MARGARET too! I also got a kick of seeing “Charlie” and “Oscar” getting riffed as I was a child of the 70′s and watched both “Charlie’s Angels” and the “bionic” shows. BTW, were there any riffs about “Charlie’s Angels”?
Finally got to see it when the DVD set came out recently, and I agree that it was okay but not great because of the inanity of the movie. But at least I now know why Kevin was the Kitten With a Whip in subsequent shows (like Turkey Day). Like they say, the creamy always rises to the top.
Jody is one crazy basket of fruit.
That sums up the whole movie…
The Host segments are hit-or-miss, as most of season 6; but the crowning moment of the entire episode is not the bots’ reaction to (overly-eager) Mike pre-hazing himself by dressing in drag; no, it’s Mike’s painfully extended take at the camera as we realize he has embraced his new coy-coquette image a little too much. That sent me to the floor the first time I saw it.
@29, yes! and others who thought this movie was ‘too good’ to riff: Aside from the painful rock-stupidity of David, which the whole movie hinges on, the rest is a mess too. David, although well-meaning at first, is too weak/compliant in his own trouble for us to really care what happens to him, and the rest of the cast are loathsome enough that we cease to care about them either. The whole film-noir ‘lost night in Mexico’ vibe seems a cheap rip-off of “Touch of Evil.” Add to that, the common theme in MST films, the scary beatniks with their painfully beat lingo. I guess they’re scary because they are drugged-up or nihilists or something and therefore unpredictable, but it’s another cheap 60′s cliche instead of real story-telling. Add to that the embarrassing ending stapled onto this stinkfest, and you’ve got some major movie cheese. Even with all her scenery-chewing, Ann Margrock seems to retain the most dignity for appearing in this.
This is one of the *very* few episodes that I literally cannot watch from start to finish. It’s true. I know this to be true. I tried a few days ago. Made it to just after the second host segment and thought “Why am I putting myself through this?” It’s the movie. I love Ann-Margret, but this movie…
Wow. Just. Wow.
I can’t…
…I can’t…
…
…think…
…of what to say.
It’s…
…it’s…
Gah!
I can’t take this movie! No amount of riffing, no amount of jocularity or biting wit can save it!
No.
No.
No! You can’t make me watch it.
I won’t!
I shan’t!
No!
No!
Nooooooooooooooooooooo!
I love this episode. It’s one of my favorites of the Mike era. I find the whole thing to be absolutely hilarious. Middle of season 6 has an excellent stretch of episodes, the last truly good episodes, in my opinion.
This movie is also a favorite of John Waters, who used to show it to friends at Christmas, and occasionally will host public screenings of it.
Joe Bob Briggs wrote in depth about “Kitten With A Whip” in his book “Profoundly Erotic.”
I think Phillip’s post is in the deliberately over the top style of Ann-Margret’s acting in this film. Bravo!
Hal Hopper, who plays Carter the put-upon yet patient chauffeur, is entertainingly loathsome(very loathsome) in the Russ Meyer movie Mudhoney. Ultra loathsome even.
I highly recommend Mudhoney. And not just because of the glorious boobies. Too bad Ann didn’t star in a Russ Meyer picture…
“the last truly good episodes, in my opinion.”
Really? Wow!
I believe this to have been the first episode I saw all the way through, no interruptions, no tape cut off, no missing-the-other-half-of-the-syndicated-half-hour thing. So it has a special place in my heart, and man but John Forsythe is a lunkhead in this.
It’s a rare episode that’s actually professionally made, though. I mean, it’s bad, but the whole thing was filmed by people who knew tricky stuff like how to focus and light and edit and all that. It’s unusual for that.
This is part of a long stretch of great episodes, but this one is hard to get through at times because of how hard it is to swallow the stupidity of Forsythe’s character.
But it’s a change of pace to see a movie with at least four recognizable Hollywood actors, not counting Doodles Weaver. The riff about being in Carl Stalling’s house is exactly the kind of riff they mostly stopped making after this season (riffs about things from before 1975, that is).
I think “one of the last truly good episodes” is a bit much, as there are a few episodes from Season 8 I like a whole lot – Riding with Death, Prince of Space, Overdrawn – but I’d say the show never reached the heights of Season 6 again. This episode, though, is not the best from this stretch.
From the References page:
I always thought it was Ann-Margrock. –Twitch! Twitch!”
In the first episode of season four of The Flintstones, titled “Ann-Margrock Presents,” Ann-Margret played a prehistoric version of herself, who came to Bedrock to perform a concert and stayed with Fred and Wilma. She sang two songs in the episode, but “Twitch, twitch” is actually from a different song, “The Bedrock Twitch,” which Fred sang in the third season episode “The Twitch.
Thank you, References, for at least partly pointing that out. Mike’s big loud gaffe has been bugging me for years.
(The Bedrock-version Ann Margrock sang “I Ain’t Gonna Be Your Fool” in her episode–which itself came out of a crossover deal between Hanna-Barbera and Columbia/Screen Gems around the time Margaret was in the movie of “Bye Bye Birdie”–and Fred, in fact, only lip-synched “The Bedrock Twitch” from a record by prehistoric Elvis-clone Rock Roll. Not that I expected M&tB to know any of this, of course.)
I have nothing but white-hot hatred for this movie. I tried to watch the episode again a couple of months ago, and had to quit before I did violence to the TV. I wanted to crawl into the movie and strangle Ann Margrock. And I like Ann Margrock!.
My DVD has a bit of a glitch that stalled the playback at one point. I almost didn’t notice, and I suspect I’ll never try to get a replacement disc. This is one of the few episodes that, rather than being apathetic about, I actually avoid.
This is an episode that I do love (mostly because I absolutely am in love with Ann Margaret). However, this movie was one for years that I couldn’t remember anything about. The only reason I know I saw it on it’s premiere was because Crow going to Deep 13 was such an unforgettable moment that I knew I had seen it. Even when I watched it again when I managed to snag the entire series from a buddy (not talking as to how, I think we all know how) I still couldn’t remember the movie, just Crow in Deep 13.
Forsythe is a moron, Ann is so deliciously sociopathic and gorgeous. Yet, she played that character with such sympathy that I actually did feel bad that she *spoilers*
died.
All in all a good episode but not great.
CROW WAS IN DEEP 13!!! I can’t explain how awesome that moment was for me.
I’ve listened to this ep many many times on my iPod, but last night was the first time I actually (partially) watched it in years. One thing I had forgotten was how weinerish John Forsythe’s facial expressions are. Everyone (including Mike) takes issue with his blandness, and indeed he is vanilla as extract, but man does he have some “duuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr” expressions during this film, or at least during the first 30 minutes or so.
I also find it somewhat embarrassing how hard the screenwriter worked to make him seem like an “outsider” politician. At one point, he even states that being popular is not his primary goal. What? Can you imagine a politician today, IN THE ABSENCE OF AN AUDIENCE TO PANDER TO, making a statement like that? What else is politics besides a ridiculously overinflated high school popularity contest? My point here is that it makes ol’ John seem not noble and good, but confused and doofy.
Really good timing with the riffs, BTW. M&tB really work those sexy-time riffs in well with the onscreen action.
I remember this as a middle of the road (for Season 6 – my least favorite season) episode for me. But hearing all the gratingly ‘hip’ dialogue being repeated is bringing back bad memories. I do remember being unbelievably annoyed at how stupid John Forsythe was during the entire movie though. Good to see I wasn’t alone. Another one I’d toss in if I was going through the series in order, but not one I’d choose over about 100 other episodes.
If I had to choose my all-time LEAST favorite episode of MST3K, this would definitely make my short list. I don’t laugh much during it, and the movie just never really felt like it fit the show.
Saw this one for the first time when it came out on DVD. I thought it is pretty funny and enjoyed it. Solid episode.
I agree with a number of the other posters in that when I originally saw Kitten With A Whip years ago, I was less than enamored. The characters were above-and-beyond stupid (even for a MST3K movie) and Anne Margaret was grossly over-rated. But now with a fresh viewing… I don’t know if the episode was always that good or if my tastes changed… but all of a sudden it ranks as a worthy episode! Funny how time changes things.
Ouch, this one hurt! Between the stupidity of John Forsythe and the sociopathic personality of Ann Margaret, I wanted to abandon ship on this episode just after Doodles Weaver was turned off. I’m glad I stuck it out as it did get a little better (I thought the addition of the beatniks to the film actually made it more bearable), but man oh man was this extremely difficult to get through. The Brains make yet another valiant effort, but the movie just overpowers the riffing. I was actually looking forward to the host segments to give me a break from the movie just gnawing away at my soul.
2 of 5. I won’t be revisiting this episode anytime soon.
“Well, she’s always been straight with me so far…”
This is a criminally underrated episode. It’s a real shame that more people can’t get past the annoying movie (I’ll admit that it took me a few viewings to get into it. I’m still a pretty new fan by the way, young too) because I feel that this one has some of their funniest and sharpest riffs. It just gets better and better every time I watch it. And despite how idiotic the film is, I’ve come to appreciate it for what it is. It really is one of the better made films they covered even if it isn’t any good. It’s movies like this when the situations and characters are so over the top and insane that I just have to laugh about it instead of getting worked up over it. I also just love these crime/drama/delinquent movies in general and feel that they make for some of the best episodes.
Perhaps it’s only for a niche audience and I and others who enjoy this one will forever remain in the minority, but I say give me this over Pod People or Pumaman or whatever any time, 5/5
Perfect timing! I rarely read these weekly episode columns, but this ep. recently came out on DVD, and I just watched it a few days ago.
It was a first-time viewing for me. The movie itself, while competently made, seems like it would be pretty dull on its own and probably put me to sleep. The riffing was good, though.
Does anyone else have a glitchy DVD w/ horizontal lines popping up from time to time? Has Shout! addressed this? Or did I just get a bum one?