FRANK ZAPPA – VIDEO FROM HELL (V)(director/writer: Frank Zappa; cinematographer: Frank Zappa; editor: Frank Zappa; music: Frank Zappa; Runtime: 60; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Jill Silverthorne; MPI Home Video; 1985)
“If you’re not a Zappa fan, like me, I doubt if this film would make you one.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Strictly for Frank Zappa (“Baby Snakes”/”Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?”) fans. The documentary serves as a promo for Zappa’s past and future projects (“You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore”). The film captures Zappa in concerts throughout the world and it uses MTV-type videos in the background shots. It integrates everything into a “concept show” which includes music, talk, dueling guitars of Zappa and Steve Vai, interviews with the zany and pompous performer, displaying techie advances in editing and excerpts from the Baltimore, Maryland obscenity in music trials that had Zappa appear in court. There are clips from the following titles: “Uncle Meat,” “The True Story of ‘200 Motels’,” “You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore” and “An American Dissident.” If you’re not a Zappa fan, like me, I doubt if this film would make you one.

REVIEWED ON 11/24/2007 GRADE: C+

Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”

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