| The Apple | |
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US DVD package art |
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| Directed by | Menahem Golan |
| Produced by | Yoram Globus Menahem Golan |
| Written by | Menahem Golan Coby Recht Iris Recht |
| Starring | Catherine Mary Stewart George Gilmour |
| Music by | Coby Recht |
| Cinematography | David Gurfinkel |
| Editing by | Alain Jakubowicz |
| Distributed by | Cannon Film Distributors (theatrical), MGM (DVD,2004) |
| Release date(s) | 1979 (West Germany) / November 21, 1980 (U.S.A.) |
| Running time | 86 mins. (90 mins./preview print) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Apple (a.k.a. Star Rock) is a 1979 musical science fiction film starring Catherine Mary Stewart and directed by Menahem Golan. It is a discoesque rock opera-styled feature, set in a futuristic 1994, dealing with themes of conformity versus rebellion and infused with Biblical allegories (namely the tale of Adam and Eve). It is one of the few movie musicals that has not yet been a live musical.
The film was a low budget attempt by the young Cannon studio to capitalize on the success of music-oriented films like Saturday Night Fever and Grease. Set in America but filmed in Germany, it was released in West Germany as Star Rock in 1979. The film was critically panned and a box office bomb when given an extremely limited U.S. release in the fall of 1980 under its current title. It may have underperformed in theaters because of the waning popularity of disco music and its rather campy plotline. However, in later years the film has gone on to enjoy a small cult following.
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Alphie (George Gilmour) and Bibi (Catherine Mary Stewart), two youths from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in Canada, travel to America to take part in the 1994 Worldvision Song Festival. Despite being the most talented performers, they are beaten by BIM (Boogalow International Music) and its leader, Mr. Boogalow (Vladek Sheybal), who use underhanded tactics to secure a victory. The duo are approached by Mr. Boogalow to sign to his music label, but soon discover the darker side of the music industry. Bibi is caught up in the wild lifestyle BIM offers, while Alphie risks his life to free her from the company's evil clutches. He eventually convinces her to run away with him and the pair live as hippies for several years (and produce a child) before being tracked down by Mr. Boogalow who insists he owns Bibi's soul. However, the two are saved by the Rapture, and all good souls are taken away by Mr. Topps (aka God).
The film was originally conceived as a Hebrew stage musical by composers Coby and Iris Recht,[1] but after meeting with movie mogul Menahem Golan, the Rechts agreed to prep the story for an English-language musical film.[2] Golan wrote the script, Coby composed the music, Iris wrote the lyrics[2] and songwriter George S. Clinton was hired as an assistant to polish the lyrics, since the Rechts' English was minimal.[3]
Cattle-call auditions for the film were held in London in 1979. Catherine Mary Stewart was on her way to dance class when she encountered a few classmates heading in the opposite direction to audition for the film, so she tagged along.[4] "The director, Menahem Golan, was sitting by watching the proceedings and I noticed that he was doing that ‘frame thing’ with his hands and fingers and looking through towards ME," Stewart said.[5] Stewart planned to perform her own songs, but having no professional singing experience, the producers decided to switch her voice. "Even though the coach I was working with thought I would be able to do the work, the producers got cold feet and hired Mary [Hylan], a professional singer, before we recorded anything."[6]
Filming took place from September–December 1979 in West Berlin, Germany.[7]
A soundtrack album was released by Cannon Records in 1980.[8] Versions of several songs on the album (Coming, Showbizness, Master, Child of Love) differ substantially from those used in the film, and Joss Ackland's song Creation (a variation of Universal Melody) didn't make the final cut of the movie. The album has never officially been issued on CD. Often wrongly credited was Yma Sumac[9] who did not appear, nor was her music used.
In 2008 there was a mixup booking the print for a screening at L.A.'s The Silent Movie Theatre, so MGM sent over uninspected reels marked "Screening Print."[10] Presumably this was the original preview print, as it was edited differently, it included several additional scenes that were cut out of the widely released version (including the missing Child of Love and Creation sequences) and the special effects of Mr. Topps' car were incomplete.[10] This version was screened a few times at The Silent Movie Theatre,[10] and it subsequently ran at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in August 2008.[11]
The Apple was released on a Region 1 DVD by MGM Home Video on August 24, 2004.
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