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)
Loading...
• 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.”
) to help our users cope with "trolls" and other commenters whom they find annoying. Go to our
Not one of my favorites. I don’t re-visit this one often. I enjoy Jim Backus too much to see him like this … ugh.
I love this episode. I have a sick obsession with ‘special appearances’ you used to see in TV and movies back in the 70’s. I hate how the current over-population of reality shows give celebrities easy outs for the quick cash grab. Take me back to the days when the B-list stars had to appear on Match Game, Hollywood Squares, or silly movies like this. There were concerts in the park; people laughed more…
Favorite riff: Oh no, he saw City Slickers II
It’s a film which I thought needed to be really skewered, in the style of the later SciFi episodes. The women are all so horrible at acting, especially the one who plays the teacher and erstwhile leader, that I felt no quarter should be given. But it does have a few funny riffs in there: “We need a real ‘stunt’ sign” and “We will provide you with sex, which is something men like!”
One of the main problems may be that its ‘comedy’ bits are execrable, as usual, and the only way you can riff at those is to groan loudly.
I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt with a 4.
This was released early on DVD-wise so I’ve watched it a lot. The subject film is right on the borderline for me… the newer the film the less I seem to like it. This one is close to being too new.
Maybe holding me back as well is the waves of shame given off by Backus, Hale, Lawford, Buttram, Palance and Godfrey. Sad really. Especially Backus.
Riffing is VERY good though. There are a lot of very female-oriented ( can I say ‘femmy’ ? ) riffs, not surpisingly given the subject matter, but it really shows some breadth to the writing.
Charlie was close, i could smell his perfume. picking up both on ‘Nam and kind of young kind of young kind of now Charlie. Well crafted riff.
great riff: Give us Jim Backus ! ( a stellar riff on ‘give us barabbus’ ).
Not sure how Renegade fits in with the whole seventies thing. Always seemed like an odd choice to me. I liked the Pitchers and the King / Riggs thing ( hey I grew up in the seventies ).
Was anyone else strongly reminded of Trace by one of the 2 villains ‘fishing’ at the beach ?
Hey, say what you will about this pile of poopie, it did have the star power. and yes, i peeked at the jiggling a couple of times…my place in Hell has been set i know… :cry:
“Alright, I’m just going to give in and look at the breasts.” Classic.
Dye @ #3 summed this up nicely. The movie’s attempts at humor somewhat diminish the riffing opportunities for MST3K and I don’t visit this episode too often. Nevertheless, I’ll watch it once in a while because it’s mildly amusing, the movie at least doesn’t “bother” me like Hobgoblins, the acting and plot are ridiculous enough to generate unintentional laughs on their own and it is a bit of distracting fun.
Shine shine shine shine shine
shine shine shine shine shine
shine shine shine shine shine.
Now that’s ’70s wordsmithing. And frighteningly, perhaps the highlight of the movie.
And for your enjoyment, some background on this emovie, courtesy of Wikipedia:
“Angels Revenge is a 1979 movie from Arista Films, directed by Greydon Clark. It is also known as Angels’ Brigade and Seven from Heaven.
…Of the actresses who played the movie’s seven female protagonists, however, the closest any had previously come to any degree of fame was Susan Kiger, who had been the Playboy Playmate of the Month for January 1977. Kiger played singer Michelle Wilson.”
Watching this movie, I can only see the “guest stars” and say, “Did you guys really need the money that bad?”
“She’s flat, but I think we can trust her.”
This movie needed more Alan Hale!
Favorite riff, from Mike: “You know I buffed my love once; I never shined it.”
Mike riffed in the movie about the swine flu, he was ahead of his time. Yes, the acting was horrible, Hobgoblins type horrible, but watching the girls try to sneak around the drug ring wearing white pant suits in the middle of the day was down right ridiculous!
Fox Force Five! Since i’ve had this on DVD for so long it’s become a favorite. The movie is more memorable than the host segments, maybe not unusual for late Mike-on-Comedy Central era… although i have a soft spot for all ‘Earth vs Soup’ sketches.
More trivia: the Greer sisters (Elaine the cop and Little Trish, almost the same age) were contributers to ‘You’ll Never Make Love in This Town Again,’ a seamy behind the scenes Hollywood tell-all. (I always suspected that producer Donn Greer may have influenced the casting there.) And Darby Hinton went on to the Andy Sidaris classic ‘Malibu Express.’
I, apparently, am the only person on earth who absolutely loves Segment 2 in this episode. So simple, so beautiful, so fitting. Damn you, Fonzie. “Fire in the hole!”
Crow: I’d like a drug please!
Crow: Hey, you’re giving away the plot!
Mike: I have a feeling that Johnny Wadd is going to be in this…
Crow: It’s the T & A Team!
Tom: Kelly LeBroc’s Heroes!
“Women CAN make a difference!”
?: Oh, the director just wrote that so he could get laid…
“Get the Turret gun ready!”
Mike: The turd gun?
Crow: I bet the phrase ‘Where’s my cocaine’ was heard a lot on the set of this film…
Crow: Jack’s not getting paid enough to run.
“Hey, Dummy, don’t hurt him too bad!”
Tom: He’s our only customer!
Crow: Jimbo! Jimbo, I’ll be a man for you, Jimbo!
I like this episode, this is usually one of the first ones I show people when I’m introducing them to the show, the movie is just instantly accessible (even though hardly typical MST3K fare).It’s fun and has-been packed, and the chicks are mostly hot- but what’s up with the main character teacher lady’s weird face? For the record, my favorite chicks are the flat-chested cop, the ‘Asian one’, and the spunky high school girl. Which girls do YOU like best?
There’s a scan of the Susan Kiger centerfold at Tom’s Temple of MST3K Stuff: http://www.mst3ktemple.com/mstmov-11mature.html
I’m the first to complain about lazy season six host segments (and Mike as the Fonz certainly epitomizes them) but I love the amnesia-into-Renedage opening, “Chocolate Jones & The Temple of Funk”, and the closer. In the poopie tape Trace knocks over the console when he falls, I wish they left that in the actual show (they also could’ve used Dr. F spraying the ‘Pam’ into his mouth from- I think- Teenage Caveman).
Arguably the least dignified take on Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, even more so than Battle Beyond the Stars. And when you’re less dignified than Corman, you’re in a bad way.
Shine shine shine your love, shine shine shine your love….I felt bad for everyone in this film, but especially for Peter Lawford. he really did not seem to be aware of anything going on around him, though his scenes did provide for one of my favorite riffs:
“By this time my lungs were aching for booze”
I absolutely love this ep. It just has a lot of elements that I like. I think the riffing is awesome thoughout. The host segments are just goofy and random. I agree #2 R.D.E. about the celebrity guest appearances. I miss the 70/80’s themed shows that were all formulated around guest stars. My favorite riff is “How about shinin’ my steak!”. I was working at a steak house at the time, so that just clicked with me. Honorable mention: “Wish I hadn’t bought a playgirl. Aw heck! They’re still nude.”
this is only film where your rooting for the drug dealers. The worst acted movie i ever seen. My favorite riffs “the bad news bear are going to lose today.” “It’s the T&A Team.” Jack isn’t getting paid enough to run.” I have hear dbaout the booik the gree sisters did. the young one says she had a lesbian experience with vanna white at the playboy mansion which vanna white totally denies. she also had affair with of the actors of melrose place i think that was the show.
This is one of the few episodes that I don’t have a copy of, and I’ve seen it only once. I of course remember it being generally awful, but one point always stuck in my head. I recall groaning the loudest at the introduction of the ninja character, whose name was something like Keiko Ogawa…from VIETNAM. You’ve got to admire the acute cultural awareness of 1970’s America. I mean, be reasonable, who can keep track of all those non-American countries anyway?
No wonder our fighting men couldn’t hold out in ‘Nam, being pitted against all those ninjas.
I possibly took special offense at this because I lived in Japan when I was younger, but seriously…you’re telling me that no one in L.A. associated with this movie knew someone from Asia who could fact-check them? Further evidence of the sloppiness of these bad films; the contempt is well-deserved.
This would go well on Dr. F’s display of tough pills to swallow. A celebrity car crash if ever there was one. So unbelievable you just have to watch, and much of the time I feel my face getting hot, I’m that ashamed for the cast. A fascinating display of has-beens and never-weres. I love the beach scene, especially when they tongue the binocular guy’s ears. It’s absolutely disgusting to look at and listen to, but it’s fantastic if you know it’s coming, just to see the look on an unsuspecting viewer’s face. “THEY’RE SUCKING OUT HIS BRAIN!”
Other faves:
When Alan Hale answers the phone: “Shining Your Love!”
“If he’d turn down the air conditioner, that Caddie could catch him.”
“I’d like to buy a drug, please?”
My favorite is the horse whinny during Shine Your Love.
Damn, now that song’s going to be stuck in my head all day.
I love this episode, an excellent riff of one of the most cheerfully brain-dead movies to appear on the show. Also, Crow’s amnesia and Chocolate Jones and the Temple of Funk are two of my favorite host segments from this season.
A bit of trivia: Angel’s Revenge director Greydon Clark is also responsible for Season Ten’s Final Justice.
This is the episode with the gun-totting Jim Henson, isn’t it?
“Hiiii-oooooh!”
Maybe other riffs were funnier, but the best one has to be Crow’s: “You know, this was Jim Backus’s first movie after he died”, stated so matter-of-factly. It’s somehow mean but sympathetic at the same time, a quality difficult for even the Brains to pull off consistently, but desperately needed for dealing with a movie featuring so many beloved stars you never wanted to see like this.
Considering that it had that one actor we mostly know from his Date in MSTory entries explaining how his character was cut out entirely for time, I thought the whole point of the Fonzie-Cannon and Spelling mansion sketches was to just get segments 3 and 4 out of the way as fast as possible and avoid cutting even more, so I’ve always liked them.
Of course, the Renegade thing and any other sketches that were kinda’ nonsensical for the ’70s motif can’t strike me as such, since I’m just young enough to only know that decade from myth, legend, and reruns I saw when I was 4. I’ve often said how Hobgoblins hits me below the belt because it dredges up everything wrong with ’80s pop-culture, and my fonder memories can’t shake the dreck off for a full 18 hours; so I ask those of you who consider yourselves children of the ’70s: does this experiment have the equivalent effect on you?
Everyone talks about Rhino’s DVD history but forgets the VHS days: this one got released in a 3-pack, but was the only episode in said 3-pack! It also included Shorts Vol. 1, and in keeping with the “shorts” motif, the middle space between the 2 tapes contained official MST3K boxer shorts, giving us a wonderful connection to Servo’s hobby introduced in MST3K:TM.
And I feel it was a strong enough ep. to support its own 3-pack, maybe because the movie just had so much crammed into it. My second sememster as a college junior was the time I had a consistent circle of friends with which I watched dang-near every ep I owned, including Manos, Eegah, and Red Zone Cuba, but this ended up being our finale before the summer break, and everyone agreed it was a suitable send-off. Whether that’s because it achieved the MST equivalent of “epic”, or just because it had that fun, summery feel, I dunno, but I have watched this one more than a lot of others.
I concur with sampo regarding the host segments, although I always get a chuckle out of Crow singing “Make a wish, bay-bah, and love will make it come true…”
It was also painful to see Jim Backus, Peter Lawford and Jack Palance reduced to doing such trash by the late-70s. Whenever I see them in this I keep remembering Johnny Ride in “The Sinister Urge” pining over how he used to make good movies.
Overall however this is one of my all-time favorite episodes. The plot of the movies is so ridiculous and the “actresses” performances so horrible that it just begs to be ripped by the Brains, and they don’t disappoint.
Great riffs throughout, as some of you have already noted. Several favorites of mine:
Mike expressing his fear that Johnny Wadd’s going to appear.
When one of the girls, inexplicably dressed in an evening gown in the middle of the day, says she’ll take care of those guards at the gate, Servo replies: “Semper Fi, Marine!” Priceless!
When two guards on horseback ride past two of the “Angels” hiding in a culvert Crow replies: “those were big dogs”.
When two of the Angels are revealed tonguing an oily crook’s ears, Servo yells out, “Aaah, they’re eating his brain!”
When one of the Angels is trying to jump off the roof into the van and is going “Ohhhh, ohhhh, ohhhhh”, Crow replies “Ohhhhhh, Popeye!”
Just a wonderful ripping apart of what Forrester calls a “70s Jigglefest”!
4.5 out of five.
As bad as this movie is, you still have to admit that it’s not as bad as those Charlie’s Angles Movies.
From wikipedia:
I liked the 70’s relief pitchers bit. However, instead of Tug McGraw, maybe instead they should have dressed up like Kent Tekulve, now that would have been something….
I like how 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. WTF?
It screams 1979,The women jiggling everywhere the “Farrah” hair the goofy dialog. The only thing it didn’t have was “Sister Sledge” belting out “We are Family” which I kept expecting as I watched the film. :???:
I love this episode. The 70’s movies are always great. Too bad there weren’t more of them on MST3k. So cheesie.
When the druggie drops a reefer, Mike, I think says, He’s a Smarties dealer!
Oh, and during the Jim Backus scene, “You know, this makes me appreciate the quiet dignity of Pat Buttram’s performance.”
I put this in my top 15, easily.
I’m not getting all the love for Jim Backus? I mean is this really a step down from “Gilligan’s Island” or “Mr. Magoo”? I mean this is the same Jim Backus from the unwatchable “C.H.O.M.P.S.”! It doesn’t seem like he was too discerning about what material he was given.
I enjoy this episode. The movie is a lot of fun, great riffs. The host segments are good, also a lot of fun.
Oh, and of course, Crow: “I’m just going to look away until the funny part is over.”
Oh, and another thing: The first time I saw this I thought Servo said “Beer and porn do make the **** go faster” but figured out it was ‘shift’ the next time I saw it.
Did those gals REALLY cut the drug dealer’s dick off? Because that’s what they implied but he seemed to be walking around fine mere hours after the ‘surgery’…
About lame host segments … this episode’s ‘Segment 1’ is an artsy screenplay review … There are a few of these types of Host Segments within recent box sets I have and they are very annoying. I’ve been skipping them and getting back to movie segments. They were just a horrid idea. Maybe good for a few choice movies in which they would have flowed with the movie presented — otherwise they were greatly OVER DONE through this part of the series, and I think it is sad.
I’m definitely in the “love this episode” camp. The riffing is nothing short of brilliant throughout. The host segments are obviously hit-or-miss, though. Both Crow’s amnesia and Chocolate Jones & the Temple of Funk make me laugh out loud every time, and the Mads as Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs is at least watchably funny. Mads as Tug McGraw and Rollie Fingers, M&TB as Renegade, Mike as Fonzie, and aaron Spelling’s house are wastes of time, imo (I never watched Renegade either).
Re: Zee @ 34: I’m pretty sure they didn’t actually do any, um, surgery. They just did it to scare him into passing out. Funny, huh? :neutral:
Oh how I love this episode, let me count the ways.
Movie:
* I’m going to quote Servo back from Mitchell in regards to movies from the 70s in general, “Anything with wakka-jawakka in it is okay by me.”
* Like Crow, I also like this more than City Slickers II.
* Some of the has-been appearances really aren’t that surprising; Alan Hale and Jim Backus of course did not sign up for residuals from Gilligan’s Island (as the entire cast thought it would flop) and this was filmed after Arthur Godfrey basically ruined his career after some controversial remarks on the Tonight Show (IIRC).
* Just like in Danger! Death Ray the only reason the heroes succeed in their mission in this movie is because the villains are even more incompetent than they are.
* Director Greydon Clark makes a cameo appearance by directing the movie that Terry is doing stunt work in. I like to joke that he spent more time focusing on whatever movie that is than this one.
* Too bad Joel never got to do a Jack Palance movie, his impressions using the Jack Palance Impersonator back in episode 405 are just as hilarious as the ones done in this and Outlaw.
* Favorite riffs:
“All right, paperboy, if you miss the porch one more time…” – Mike
“We now continue with International Hide-and-Seek!” – Crow
“What a great idea!” – Servo
Host Segments:
* Being a fan of random humor, I found them hilarious in this episode.
* This is only the first (that I can recall) time where the bots actually destroy Mike, with many more maiming and even killing to come his way later (especially in season 9).
* I think they did use the footage from the outtake shown in Poopie! for the final segment when Forrester knocks over the panel. They of course cut the shot to the moment of impact if they did.
* Favorite line: “Oh, come on, there’s nothing you can put in somebody’s food that’ll turn them into the cast of Renegade. AAH!”
Wow…no love for “Chocolate Jones and the Temple of Funk”? I loved that bit for the names alone! “Smudgy the bootblack” and “Sweet Momma Stringbean,”and the “Boo-tique deBoo-tay?” All comic genius! :cool:
Once again, Tom refers to Joe Don Baker with “Oh, great. Mitchell’s here.” Now I’m sure they used that Jim Henson HIYO! in a previous episode but I can’t remember which.
Favorite Lines:
“It’s the T&A Team!” pretty much sums up this movie. And by the time I decided to give up and stare at the breast, Crow also comments about giving in.
I do love this episode, I confess – kind of embarrassing for a heterosexual, middle-aged female, but there it is…I think I just take pleasure in all these women, chosen for their looks (mostly) who couldn’t act their way through the Hooters menu. There’s something so perfectly 70s about the two women toward the end of the movie, going to rescue the teacher, skulking through the bushes in their high heels and inappropriate clothes…makes me laugh every time I see it.
I actually enjoyed the “Renegade” skit – so nonsensical, plus Mike was pretty hot with the long hair & stubble; I also liked Crow’s attempt at Blacksploitation.
Re #34, The Bolem, this movie does perfectly capture the essence of the 70s: pretentious “ideals” packaged in cheesy, simplistic plots. Loved all the 70s references! (I’m more a child of the 60s, so can’t say that it ruins my childhood memories.)
Favorite riffs: “James at 15 miles an hour.”
“The Mom 2000, when you have to get them to piano lessons safely!”
“It’s a wet teacher contest.”
Zee, #15
Thanks. You’ve given me a whole new reason to rewatch Phantom Planet to check mout Yvette Vickers. :wink: Of course, our doofus hero (possibly still dazed by conemplating nthe good and the beautiful) had to have a fixation with the silent girl.
==================================
More on this movie (Seven from Heaven). I wonder what take ’70s feminists had? Did they even get past the schoolmarm bumbling around in nher purse? Well, perhaps they concluded that women can make a difference…IN CONTRIBUTING TO A REALLY, REALLY BAD MOVIE. You know, I may just hate this movie even more then I do the citizens and officials of Rutland, Vermont!
grab #31. Maybe.
But Thurston Howell III & Mr. Magoo have the dignity of the Dalai Lama compared to Lindsey J. Naziguy.
He had a good honest career for decades before he fell on hard times ( one assumes ). He was a welcome presencce in some big movies back in the day ( jeez I sound like Halliwell ).
And as a Genie for Bugs Bunny, he will live in my heart forever for his ‘nyaharl nyaharl nyaharl’, ‘no no theah fah too sahnsitav’
This is one of those episodes that grew on me, slowly, like a tripped out 70’s jiggly fungus. It just seemed to get funnier and funnier each time I watched it.
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.
I’m not a huge Jim Backus fan, but his scenes are painful to watch. Most of the “comedy” momemts are horrid. But honestly I think the beach scene is the worst. Just not funny at all – but Mike and bots actually pull you through it.
“Shine your Love” is up there with “Yipes Stripes”. Once you think of the song, you are doomed to hearing it play in your head over and over again. And remember friends, never shine your love in your poopie suit. You’ll regret it.
Forgot to mention one of the great little visual gags with Crow, when he makes raspberry sounds on Terry Grant’s bare stomach while the girls stand in a line in front of the van. Such sight gags were always lots of fun. How many were there in all the eps?
That “little Trish” thing cracks me up every time. “Yes, little Trish!”
“Wet teacher contest” is my favorite season 6 riff.
At #43
In addition to all those things Jim Backus also played James Dean’s dad in Rebel Without a Cause. Certainly that has to be worth something.
This is a fun episode. I wish they would have been able to tackle more 70’s & 80’s cheese like this.