Frank Zappa (1971 Documentary)
Frank Zappa is a Dutch documentary for VPRO Television, directed by Roelof Kiers, originally broadcast on February 11, 1971.
The documentary features interviews with Zappa, Gail Zappa, Lucy Offerall and Pamela Miller. Moon Zappa and Dweezil Zappa can also been seen as very young children. The film shows a lot of footage recorded in Zappa's house and at stage with Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan during the Fillmore West concert on November 6, 1970.
Zappa is interviewed about his youth, love for music, personal life and politics. The documentary shows him composing music for the film 200 Motels and rehearsing songs like This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich (prologue). Unique footage of him and Wild Man Fischer playing guitar together is also shown.
Back in 1971 the documentary caused enormous controversy with Dutch TV audiences, even to the point that questions were asked in the Dutch House of Commons, "De Tweede Kamer". It was caused by the following scenes: Zappa's children walk around completely naked in his house and are babysitted by groupies Miss Lucy and Miss Pamela. Lucy & Pamela talk freely about their sex life on the road and even Zappa himself later admits that he commits adultery with groupies during tours, but that his wife is aware of this. Another scene features Zappa watching an amateur sex movie featuring Aynsley Dunbar with a groupie. Backstage footage of Zappa's band with groupies is also shown. The most notorious scene however showed Zappa using a vacuum cleaner on Miss Lucy's exposed breasts, while little Moon Zappa is present in the same room. Lucy even flatout says she's high at that moment.
Roelof Kiers also directed the documentary Frank Zappa Filmt 200 Motels, which was filmed around the same time. Parts of this documentary were featured in The True Story Of 200 Motels.
