| Rat Pfink a Boo Boo | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ray Dennis Steckler |
| Produced by | Ray Dennis Steckler |
| Written by | Ray Dennis Steckler (story) Ron Haydock (screenplay) |
| Starring | Carolyn Brandt Ron Haydock Titus Moede George Caldwell Mike Kannon James Bowie |
| Music by | André Brummer |
| Cinematography | Ray Dennis Steckler |
| Editing by | Keith A. Wester |
| Distributed by | Craddock Films |
| Release date(s) | September 1966 (USA) |
| Running time | 72 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | Unknown |
| Box office | Unknown |
Rat Pfink a Boo Boo is a 1966 film directed by Ray Dennis Steckler. Starring Ron Haydock and Carolyn Brandt.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the film—beyond the low production values—is a sudden switch in tone and plot that comes roughly forty minutes into the movie. As originally planned, the film was a straight-faced crime drama titled The Depraved, inspired by a series of obscene phone calls by which Steckler's ex-wife Carolyn was being harassed. During shooting, Steckler suddenly got the inspiration to make a parody of the campy Batman television series instead. As a result, in the middle of straight crime drama action, the star of the movie steps into the closet with a previously minor character and they emerge costumed as "Rat Pfink" and "Boo Boo", parodies of Batman and Robin.[1]
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Why the title is Rat Pfink a Boo Boo and not the more logical Rat Pfink and Boo Boo is the subject of speculation. According to legend, Rat Pfink and Boo Boo was indeed the intended title, but when the artist creating the titles made an error and rendered the "and" as "a", Steckler's budget would not stretch to the $50 needed to fix the mistake. According to Steckler, however, the choice of title was deliberate: "The real story is that my little girl, when we were shooting this one fight scene, kept chanting, 'Rat pfink a boo boo, rat pfink a boo boo ....' And that sounded great! But when I tell people the real story, they don't wanna hear it, so you better print the legend." [1]
The film is also known as:
C.B Beaumont is the girlfriend of rock and roll star Lonnie Lord, and is abducted by the Chain Gang. With his friend, Titus Twimbly, Lord decides to become "Rat Phink" and his friend assumes the pseudonym "Boo Boo". On their Ratcycle, the twosome eventually track down the Chain Gang and rescue his paramour. However, they must then defeat Koga, an escapee gorilla from a local zoo. After that is resolved, a parade is held in honor of the heroes.
Ron Haydock performs four songs for the film: "I Stand Alone", "You Is A Rat Pfink", "Runnin' Wild", and "Go Go Party"
The movie was filmed in Griffith Park and Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Jerry Saravia gave the film one star, saying: "It isn' t that the film is bad as much as it has nothing to offer. At least Steckler's first film, "The Incredible Strange Creatures, etc." had a nervous energy and real style. This film looks to have been made by eight-year-olds in their own backyard! Maybe that was the point but there are funnier bad movies than this one." [2] A printed media review is located in Freese, Robert. In: Psychoholics Unanimous (San Diego, California, USA), Jerrica Lee, Vol. 63, April 2009, (MG).
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