The Original TV Spot (unreleased)

The most talked-about of all the Head trailers, glibly denounced over the years as a major contributor to the film's box office death... yet also seemingly unseen in its original form by anyone for four decades. Notable only by its complete absence from the Rhino DVD (and Criterion don't appear to have been able to track down a copy either).

A bit of minimalist concept-art created as a teaser for the original New York run, the oft-repeated suggestion that the hype campaign for Head began and ended with this commercial most likely grew from a quote in Glenn A Baker's biography Monkeemania (being one of very few biographical accounts of the movie in pre-internet days). The quote - from a disgruntled Peter Tork - described the TV ad thus:

"The Head promotion was so strange, so far out that it didn't connect with anybody. They had this sleazy media personality called John Brockman, the sleaziest looking guy you could find. He wrote a great book called The Late John Brockman. Anyway, they ran these ads on late night television which was just one minute of this guy's head with complete silence, and at the end he smiled slightly and the word 'Head' came up on the screen. That was all, no specific indications that it was a film. Now how the hell was anybody going to connect that with a new movie by the Monkees that they might have heard about?"

John Brockman pic in Monkeemania

NOTE: The correct title of the book Tork mentions is By The Late John Brockman and was published by Macmillan in 1969. The whole thing can be read online here

	Frame from 'NY Action', presumably culled from the initial TV Spot
	The same frame, as it appears in Head
	The same frame, as it appears in 'TV Spot 1' on the Rhino DVD

Tork's recollections in Monkeemania are illustrated by an off-monitor screenshot of the ad. This was not however created from scratch for the biography but a reprint of one of the many different photos used as part of the original campaign (indeed it appears to have been swiped, TV border and all, from the header of a February 1969 Cavalier article about Brockman and his various activities).

Although the original TV Spot hasn't been released in its original form, there are evidently snippets of it in three trailers which have been released, namely 'NY Action' and 'Theatrical 2' / 'Portuguese' on the Rhino DVD (and the Criterion Blu-ray/DVD). Meanwhile, the three Brockman TV Spots which also appear on those releases use the same footage - but with an added soundtrack and alternate captions.

'NY Action' features clips from the original ad scattered randomly amidst all the other film off-cuts. Many of these snippets of celluloid feature the 'HEAD' title overlayed onto various parts of the screen. 'Theatrical 2' / 'Portuguese' meanwhile edit a few of these snippets together in one block, so that the title changes place with each jump-cut.

Tork's description of the 'punchline' of the original commercial - Brockman smiling slightly at the end and the word 'HEAD' appearing onscreen - match the actions of the very short clip which appears in the film itself (albeit sans caption). The Rhino-released 'TV Spot 1' features the first caption ('Pictures') appearing onscreen at that exact same point - ie about 45 seconds into the action - with subsequent captions popping up on different parts of the screen and eventually spelling out an amusing disclaimer.

The existence of both off-monitor photos and clips of the silent ad showing the 'HEAD' title appearing on various parts of the screen suggests that the captions were originally presented in a similar manner to the broken-up phrase in Rhino's 'TV Spot 1'.

Note: As was generally the case, the original 60-second TV spot would have been accompanied by two shorter versions of the same, running at 20 and 10 seconds respectively.

Original Radio Spots (Rhino CDs and Criterion Blu-ray/DVD)

Two particularly avant garde sound collages featuring clips of songs and moments from the film, each lasting 60 seconds (banded as one track on the 1994 Rhino CD and the Criterion releases; presented separately on the Rhino Handmade Deluxe set). It's assumed that the first was intended to be broadcast before the New York premiere - two disjointed voices are added to the mix murmuring "Coming... Soon..." - while the second would be broadcast after the opening on November 6 1968 - the same voices are heard to say "Now... Playing..."

The two collages boast similar arrangements of the source material and appear, on first hearing, to simply be slightly alternate mixes. However, combining the two versions together (with 'Coming Soon...' mixed exclusively to the left and 'Now Playing...' to the right) reveals they may originally have comprised of two channels of a discrete stereo mix (albeit one without the vague allusions to cinema showings added). There are instances where clips can be heard panning from left to right and vice versa in a manner which seems too precise to be accidental.

Our own attempts to reconstruct that original stereo mix (with some very pretty visuals) can be found here.

It's doubtful that the kind of radio stations willing to run such an ad would have been broadcasting in anything other than mono on AM, so constructing an elaborate sound collage in stereo for that purpose wouldn't have made a great deal of sense.

For reasons which are unclear these Radios Spots run approximately 5% too slowly in comparison with the actual film. They were presented similarly sluggishly when sections were added to the soundtrack LP (most of 'Coming Soon...' was mixed into the track 'Opening Ceremony' while both ads appear on 'Swami (plus Strings, etc)'). Ironically, considering the bad feeling caused by dropping the group's live version of 'Circle Sky' in favour of Nesmith's own studio cut for the LP, the collage actually features a short clip of the live version.

It has always been assumed that the Radio Spot collages were mixed by Jack Nicholson. However, while most biographical accounts credit Nicholson with the construction of the LP (his official title on the LP sleeve is 'Album Co-ordinator'), the Radio Spots evidently pre-date the latter's editing sessions. The slightly slower running speed and the far more technically adventurous nature of the crossfading (on the 'stereo mix' in particular) when compared to the rest of the album suggest that these were already-completed items which Nicholson simply re-used while compiling the dialogue tracks.

It should perhaps be noted here that any comparisons made between the Head OST and other popular avant-garde tracks of the day - eg The Beatles' 'Revolution #9' or Frank Zappa's Lumpy Gravy - hinge entirely on the inclusion of the Radio Spot sound collage on the first and final tracks. The spoken sections on the rest of the LP are far more conservatively-mixed, consisting mainly of chopped up dialogue dubbed from the actual movie soundtrack three-tracks (indeed even the wide-panned 'stereo' present on a few of the items tends simply to replicate those original tapes - with natural dialogue in one channel and effects or music in the other).

While it's assumed that there may have been 20-second and 10-second edits of the two collages, no recordings of such have turned up yet.

NY Action (Rhino DVD and Criterion Blu-ray/DVD)

Given a fuller title, 'New York Action Trailer' for the Criterion releases. Our 'Changes' article attempts to isolate all the fragments, rushes, off-cuts, alternate takes and test footage utilised for 'NY Action', at least in re-edited bunches in terms of how it relates to the film itself. A full illustrated edit-by-edit breakdown of how the thing was constructed would take far more time than we're willing to give to it, suffice to say that the whole montage was cut together by hand from interpositives, seemingly at random (but realistically with a certain degree of care). Several of the offcuts were clearly cut into sections and redistributed throughout the piece, while others were allowed to play as one chunk. Aside from what appears to be the test-footage of the Victor Mature / Dandruff scene, none of the material features in the actual film - and yet, on the whole, depicts its myriad visuals perfectly. As mentioned earlier, the construction also features a few clips of the original Brockman TV ad, as well as a few frames of a SMPTE countdown clock.

The accompanying soundtrack is another audio montage of clips the movie, not dissimilar to the Radio Spots mentioned above. A simplified transcript follows:

	CACOPHONOUS BURST OF BRASS BAND MUSIC, ENDING WITH A DRUM ROLL CLIP OF 'THE PORPOISE SONG' FADES IN: "Wanting to be, to hear and to see / Crying to the sky..." [Note: 'The Porpoise Song' will fade in and out throughout the audio montage in real time.] DAVY Million dollar head, this... APPARENT LOOP OF THE INTRO TO 'CAN YOU DIG IT' BEGINS LOOP OF DAVY JONES FROM 'DITTY DIEGO' - VOCAL ONLY We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... [Note: This is from the original session tapes rather than the film mix - Micky Dolenz delivers that particular line in the latter.] MINNIE (Annette Funicello) ...don't! Please, no. UNIDENTIFIED MALE VOICE Ooh ooh, ooh ooh... [Note: This sounds like a sample of a man's voice, edited to make it sound like an imitation of a monkey...] CLIP OF INSPECTOR SHRINK - ALONG WITH SOUND EFFECTS OF COMPUTERS FROM THE SAME SCENE INSPECTOR SHRINK (Charles Macaulay) Leisure - the inevitable by-product of our civilization. FX: BUTCHER CUTTING MEAT INSPECTOR SHRINK A new world.... DAVY JONES We know it doesn't matter... INSPECTOR SHRINK ....whose only preoccupation will be... how to amuse itself. The tragedy of your times... UNIDENTIFIED MALE VOICE Ooh ooh ooh... INSPECTOR SHRINK ...my young friends is that you may get exactly what you want! DAVY JONES We know it doesn't matter... We know it doesn't matter... (CONTINUES UNDER) MIKE NESMITH ...cleaned and burned. Come on, Pete. UNIDENTIFIED MALE AND FEMALE VOICES: Head, Head. Head, Head. Head, Head. LORD HIGH AND LOW (Timothy Carey) Hey! Nobody walks out on me... TWO INSTRUMENTAL CLIPS OF 'AS WE GO ALONG' FADE IN AND PLAY SIMULTANEOUSLY [Note: This is the film mix with the jangly effect on the lead guitar] LORD HIGH AND LOW ...Not even myself! UNIDENTIFIED ORCHESTRAL TRILL OVER THE TOP CLIP OF 'THE PORPOISE SONG' FADES BACK IN: "...sings of castles and kings and things UNIDENTIFIED VOICE Ooh ooh ooh... CLIP OF 'DO I HAVE TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN?' FADES IN, AND OUT: "Didn't I do it right the first time / Do I have to do this..." THE JUMPER (June Fairchild) Aaaaugh. Ah-oh... DAVY JONES ...we know it doesn't matter... ...we know it doesn't matter... THE JUMPER I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna... FX: GUNSHOT / INDIAN YELPS MIKE NESMITH ...first by snipping the head off... 'PORPOISE SONG' FADES BACK IN "...the sky / The porpoise is waiting goodbye, goodbye... BOB RAFELSON Cut it. Print it, please. TESTY TRUE (Teri Garr) Suck it bef... CLIP OF 'DO I HAVE TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN?' FADES IN AGAIN: "Do I have to do this all over again..." DAVY JONES Million dollar head, this... UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Ooh ooh oooh ooh... MINNIE Davy, don't! Please, no. 'CAN YOU DIG IT' FADES BACK IN PETER TORK ...you see, David. It doesn't matter whether we're in the box or not! CLIP OF 'THE PORPOISE SONG' FADES IN AND OUT: "Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye..." ALL CLIPS FADE, LEAVING: UNIDENTIFIED MALE AND FEMALE VOICES: Head, Head. Head, Head. Head, Head. Head.... [Note: The last 20 seconds are a repeat of a section earlier in the collage.]

An annoying lack of information accompanies 'NY Action'. Although often assumed to be a TV commercial, the idea that any station would allow such a monstrosity to be broadcast in its entirety is doubtful to say the least (adding to which, at 2 minutes and 20 seconds it's far too long for a TV Spot).

At a wild guess, it could actually have served as the theatrical trailer for the initial run of Head at Studio Cinema and Greenwich Theater, New York. This would at least partially explain the title.

Although 'NY Action' runs to a full 2 minutes, 20 seconds, the accompanying audio montage was evidently assembled to last exactly 2 minutes. The last 20 seconds comprise of a repeat of an earlier section (the audio track actually cuts out momentarily before the repeated section begins).

As per the sound collage used for the Radio Spots, this is running about 5% too slowly - except for the 'Ditty Diego' session clip of Davy Jones. This suggests that the speed anomalies occurred while dubs were made from the movie audiotrack (while the Jones clip - being from an alternate source - wasn't affected).

'Campaign B' Radio Spots (Head Deluxe Edition and Criterion Blu-ray/DVD)

	Label of the 10" Columbia Records Radio Spot Announcements disc. Side 1: Cuts 1-2: 0:60 Cuts 3-4: 0:30      Cut 5: 0:10 Side 2: Cut 1: 0:60 Cut 2: 0:30 Cut 3: 0:10

Okay, so imagine you're handed a film starring one of the biggest bands of the 60s with several Number 1 hit singles under their belts, a band whose TV show won an Emmy, whose concerts are guaranteed to draw in crowds of screaming adolescents... Unfortunately, the film has no plot, doesn't fit into any one recognisable genre, and begins with a member of the group committing suicide. It's a weird, disjointed, confusing 86 minutes. How would you sell it?

Well, if you're part of a Columbia Pictures press team in 1968, you evidently use the problem to solve itself. You play up to the fact that nobody can adequately describe what the film's about and use that as its selling point.

There appears to have been three 60' ads in all, each most likely accompanied by shorter 20' and 10' versions. A few of these were made available as hidden tracks on the Rhino Handmade Deluxe set, Andrew Sandoval also played a few on his 'Come To The Sunshine' podcast in October 2010 and the Criterion release features eight of them (with only one of the 10' edits missing - although the tracklist of the actual 10" vinyl disc reproduced on the right suggests that there may never have been a shorter version of the third one anyway). We'll transcribe the longest version of each.

The first features four voiceover artistes:

	VOICEOVER 1 Head is an extraordinary Adventure. VOICEOVER 2 Oh, no, man, it's a Western! VOICEOVER 3 No it's not - it's a Comedy! VOICEOVER 4 Oh, you're all wrong - it's a Love Story! VOICEOVER 1 No, a Mystery! VOICEOVER 2 Look, I tell you, it's a Drama! VOICEOVER 3 It's not - it's a Musical! VOICEOVER 4 Well, if you ask me, I think it's a Documentary. VOICEOVER 1 C'mon, don't be silly, it's a Satire! VOICEOVERS ARGUE AMONGST THEMSELVES FOR A BIT GRAMS: 'THE PORPOISE SONG': "My my, the clock in the sky's pounding away, there's so much to say..." VOICEOVER 3 Columbia Pictures Presents The Monkees! VOICEOVER 4 And Victor Mature... VOICEOVER 2 ...and Sonny Liston... VOICEOVER 1 ...and Annette Funicello... VOICEOVER2 ...and Carol Doda in... VOICEOVER 1 'Head'. VOICEOVER 3 What's 'Head' all about? VOICEOVER 4 Only Victor Mature's hairdresser knows for sure! VOICEOVER 2 The Monkees - Micky, Peter, Mike and Davy - make 'Head' a new experience in motion pictures. VOICEOVER 3 'Head' - in Technicolor. This picture has been rated 'G'. GRAMS OUT

A popular ad for Clairol hair-colour products of the day had proclaimed "Does she, or doesn't she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure." The ad above parodies this with "...only Victor Mature's hairdresser knows for sure!", while the ad below offers up several variations of the same (a little cheeky, since actual Clairol ads had actually been running during broadcasts of The Monkees TV show in 1968).

NOTE: As with most trailers dating from around this time, very little regard is given as to whether the edits made to the musical score are 'on the beat'.

	GRAMS: 'AS WE GO ALONG' (INTRO) VOICEOVER 1 What is Head all about? VOICEOVER 4 Only Victor Mature's hairdresser... VOICEOVER 3 ...Sonny Liston's manager... VOICEOVER 4 ...Annette Funicello's wig-makers... VOICEOVER1 ...and Carol Doda's masseuse know for sure! GRAMS: 'AS WE GO ALONG' "I can tell by your face that you're lookin' to find a place to settle your mind and reveal who you are..." VOICEOVER 1 Columbia Pictures Presents... Micky, Peter, Mike and Davy... VOICEOVER 2 The Monkees. VOICEOVER 1 ...in 'Head'. GRAMS: 'AS WE GO ALONG' "There's so much to do in the sunlight..." VOICEOVER 3 In 'Head', Micky Dolenz somersaults off the Golden Gate bridge. VOICEOVER 4 Mike Nesmith battles a voracious vacuum cleaner. VOICEOVER 4 Peter Tork pretends to be dandruff. VOICEOVER 2 Davy Jones duels with Sonny Liston. VOICEOVER3 'Head'. In Technicolor. VOICEOVER 2 This picture has been rated 'G'.

One later Head poster had also used the byline '...only John Brockman's shrink knows for sure.'

Finally, a far less pantomimetic spot, with one voiceover artiste reading choice newspaper review quotes in a nice serious voice:

	GRAMS: 'AS WE GO ALONG' VOICEOVER Renata Adler in the New York Times says, "Head is a movie for a turned-on audience." GRAMS: 'AS WE GO ALONG' "Open your eyes, get up off your chair, there's so much to do in the sunlight... VOICEOVER The New York Daily News says, "A commentary on our times, spoofing politicians, movie-making, success and intellectuals..." GRAMS: 'AS WE GO ALONG' "Give up your secrets and let down your hair..." VOICEOVER Cue Magazine says, "A creative, inventive first film for the Monkees." GRAMS: 'THE PORPOISE SONG' (INTRO) VOICEOVER The New York Daily Column says, "America is making great and meaningful movies. Head is one of them..." GRAMS: 'THE PORPOISE SONG' (ENDING) VOICEOVER Columbia Pictures presents a new experience in motion pictures. The Monkees in 'Head'. This film has been rated 'G'. GRAMS ENDS

TV Spot 1 - 3 (Rhino DVD and Criterion Blu-ray/DVD)

So, how best to describe this, the only Brockman TV ad so far made available anywhere. Not so much an ad campaign as an exercise in cognitive dissonance - mixing together the 'Campaign A' and 'Campaign B' approaches to create a peculiar hybrid. The 60-second version of the ad can be viewed at IMDB here.

	CONTINUOUS SHOT OF JOHN BROCKMAN'S FACE FILMED ON MONOCHROMATIC FILM AUDIO: SLIGHT SOUND OF TAPE WIND VOICEOVER (FRUITY) Look up! Look down! Look out! MUSIC UNDER: KEN THORNE CUE FROM 'HEAD' - GOLF BALL SEQUENCE, CONTINUES UP TO THE POINT AT WHICH THE MONKEES (IN THE FILM) LAND BACK IN THE STUDIO. NO SOUND EFFECTS ACCOMPANYING. VOICEOVER Here come The Monkees! Micky... David... Mike... Peter... in Head. That's right, Head! Head has everything. Including... MUSIC UNDER: KEN THORNE CUE FROM 'HEAD' - A 'MARCHING' FANFARE. ONLY THE BRIEFEST SNATCH OF THIS OCCURS IN THE FILM (BEFORE AND AFTER THE WESTERN / CANNON SCENE) VOICEOVER Victor Mature... Annette Funicello... Sonny Liston... and other incredible surprises! What is Head? Head is the most extraordinary... MUSIC UNDER: KEN THORNE CUE FROM 'HEAD' - 'RED INDIAN' MUSIC. VOICEOVER ...Western... MUSIC UNDER: KEN THORNE CUE FROM 'HEAD' - FINAL CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE MONKEES AND 'THE BIG VICTOR' IN THE DESERT. VOICEOVER ...Comedy... Love Story... Mystery... Drama... Musical... Documentary... Satire... THE WORD 'Pictures' APPEARS ABOVE BROCKMAN'S FOREHEAD ON THE LEFT, THEN DISAPPEARS VOICEOVER ...ever filmed. THE WORD 'commercial' APPEARS ABOVE BROCKMAN'S MOUTH, THEN DISAPPEARS VOICEOVER And that's putting it mildly! THE WORD 'this' APPEARS ABOVE BROCKMAN'S RIGHT EYE, THEN DISAPPEARS MUSIC UNDER: CHORUS FROM 'PORPOISE SONG' BEGINS ("BUT THE PORPOISE IS LAUGHING...") THE WORD 'paid' APPEARS ABOVE BROCKMAN'S FOREHEAD ON THE RIGHT, THEN DISAPPEARS THE WORD 'a' APPEARS ABOVE BROCKMAN'S FACE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, THEN DISAPPEARS THE WORD 'Columbia' APPEARS ABOVE BROCKMAN'S GLASSES, DEAD-CENTRE, THEN DISAPPEARS THE WORD 'from' APPEARS ABOVE BROCKMAN'S FOREHEAD MID-LEFT, THEN DISAPPEARS THE WORD 'is' APPEARS BOTTOM RIGHT, THEN DISAPPEARS VOICEOVER Head. For General audiences. MUSIC OUT

TV Spots 2 and 3 are shorter versions of the above, running at 20' and 10' respectively.

Interestingly, the PR for Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency used similar tactics to this campaign, describing itself as 'a thumping good detective ghost horror whodunnit time travel romantic musical comedy epic.'

As mentioned earlier, the same 60-second stretch of film was used for both the original 'silent' campaign and this somewhat 'transformed' version and it's more than likely that the placement of the randomly-ordered words which spell out "This is a paid commercial from Columbia Pictures" replicates the manner in which the original ad displayed the word 'HEAD'.

The "paid commercial..." gag would have had extra resonance in November 1968 since the US would have still been recovering from the heavy rotation of Presidential election campaign ads, most of which ended with variations on that standard disclaimer. Richard Nixon actually became President of the United States on 6 November of that year - the same date as the International premiere of Head in New York.

Since the soundtrack was clearly not created with intent to accompany the Brockman visuals, it's always been something of a mystery as to where it originated from, and where - if anywhere - it was used 'legitimately'.

A few clues were to be found in 'Theatrical 1'...

Theatrical 1 (Rhino DVD and Criterion Blu-ray/DVD)

First revealed as an extra on the Rhino VHS edition of the film, and later included on their DVD.

Whereas TV Spots 1-3 deliberately mix up two campaigns, 'Theatrical 1' on the Rhino DVD appears to be unfinished or scraped together in a hurry from bits and pieces evidently prepared for another trailer altogether.

	MUSIC: 'CAN YOU DIG IT' (CHORUS): "Can you dig it / Do you know..." GRAPHIC: CAPTION: 'HEAD' FLASHES ONSCREEN IN VARIOUS COLOURS AND BACKGROUNDS GRAPHIC: CAPTION: 'WHAT IS HEAD' IN YELLOW REVEALS ITSELF FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AGAINST A GREYISH BACKGROUND BEFORE DISAPPEARING CUT TO EDITED 'DITTY DIEGO' SEQUENCE EXACTLY AS SEEN IN THE FILM - TWENTY TV SCREENS WHICH, ONE-BY-ONE, DISPLAY A CLIP FROM THE FILM - ENDING WITH VIETNAM EXECUTION AND THE SCREAMING GIRL. Hey, hey, we are the Monkees, you know we love to please A manufactured image with no philosophies We hope you like our story, although there isn't one That is to say, there's many - that way there is more fun You've told us you like action and games of many kinds You like to dance, we like to sing so let's all lose our minds We know it doesn't matter, 'cause what you came to see Is what we'd love to give you, and give it 1-2-3 But it may come 3-2-1-2, or jump from 9 to 5 And when you see the end in sight, the beginning may arrive For those who look for meaning, in form as they do fact We might tell you one thing, but we'd only take it back Not back like in a box back, not back like in a race Not back so we can keep it, but back in time and space You say we're manufactured, to that, we all agree So make your choice and we'll rejoice in never being free Hey, hey, we are the Monkees, we've said it all before The money's in, we're made of tin, we're here to give you more The money's in, we're made of tin, we're here to give you... FX: GUNSHOT CUT TO: AUDIO: 'THE PORPOISE SONG': "But the porpoise is waiting, goodbye, goodbye..." GRAPHIC: ANIMATED CAPTION (WHITE ON RED BACKGROUND) REVEALS ITSELF FROM BOTTOM TO TOP: 'HEAD'. GRAPHIC: ANIMATED CAPTION (WHITE ON BLUE BACKGROUND) REVEALS ITSELF FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 'IS THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (YELLOW ON RED BACKGROUND): 'ADVENTURE' . GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON BROWN BACKGROUND): 'WESTERN'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (YELLOW ON RED BACKGROUND): 'ADVENTURE'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (RED ON YELLOW BACKGROUND): 'COMEDY'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON PINK BACKGROUND): 'LOVE STORY'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (YELLOW ON PURPLE BACKGROUND): 'MYSTERY'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON RED BACKGROUND): 'DRAMA'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (BLUE ON ORANGE BACKGROUND): 'MUSICAL'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (YELLOW ON BROWN BACKGROUND): 'DOCUMENTARY'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (PINK ON YELLOW BACKGROUND): 'SATIRE'. GRAPHIC: CAPTION (YELLOW ON PINK BACKGROUND): 'EVER FILMED'. GRAPHIC: ANIMATED CAPTION (BLACK ON WHITE BACKGROUND) REVEALS ITSELF FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: '(AND THAT'S PUTTING IT MILDLY)' CAPTION DISAPPEARS. GRAPHIC: ANIMATED 'PACK SHOT' CAPTION (BLUE ON BLACK BACKGROUND) REVEALS ITSELF FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 'A COLUMBIA PICTURE © 1968 BY RAYBERT PRODUCTIONS. INC.' 'HEAD' 'TECHNICOLOR®' GRAPHIC: MPAA CAPTION: 'Suggested for GENERAL audiences.'

As mentioned in our 'Changes' article, there's the possibility that the 'Ditty Diego' sequence was originally prepared for use in a trailer in the first instance. This may be the 'teaser trailer' mentioned in the Pressbook under 'Accessories For Both Campaigns'. Or, y'know, it may not...

In comparison with the beautifully matted TV screen effect, the ensuing 'captions' section looks particularly cheap. Those who attempted to combine these visuals with the Voiceover's delivery of the same wording in Rhino's 'TV Spot 1' (yeah, okay, just us) discovered that they matched pretty well. Aside from the word 'Adventure' (which doesn't appear as part of the Voiceover script) it seemed pretty likely these captions were intended to be matte-overlaid onto scenes from the film (hence the rather broad background colours, which were never intended to be seen by the audience).

As an illustration, here's a fantasy Head trailer, showing how such elements could have been used.

Well, right ballpark... however, an answer of sorts finally arrived as part of the extras on the Criterion edition...

'Campaign B' TV Spots (Criterion Blu-ray/DVD)

It's all described in the Pressbook: 'One 60-, one 20-, one 10-second trailer that sell the exciting showmanship of the Monkees!' And so it does, after a fashion. This TV Spot does indeed feature the fruity-voiced voiceover soundtrack from the Rhino DVD Brockman ads, but with somewhat more relevant visuals...

	GRAPHICS: CARTOONISH ART DECO DESIGNS. VOICEOVER'S WORDS APPEAR ON THE SCREEN SIMULTANEOUSLY AS WHITE CAPTIONS. RUDIMENTARY ANIMATION SENDS RELEVANT WORDS 'UP', 'DOWN' AND 'OUT' AUDIO: SLIGHT SOUND OF TAPE WIND VOICEOVER (FRUITY) Look up! Look down! Look out! MUSIC UNDER: KEN THORNE CUE FROM 'HEAD' - GOLF BALL SEQUENCE. VOICEOVER Here come The Monkees! GRAPHICS: 'FALLING MONKEES' PHOTO FRAMED INSIDE A LARGE RED 'M'. CAPTION: 'THE MONKEES' AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE ZOOMS IN FROM RIGHT. VOICEOVER Micky... David... Mike... Peter... GRAPHICS: STATIC CARD FOR EACH MONKEE IN TURN. EACH FEATURES TWO 'HEAD'-RELATED PRODUCTION PHOTOS, TINTED IN VARIOUS GARISH COLOURS AND FRAMED IN OBLIQUE SHAPES. BANDMEMBERS' NAMES LETRASET OVER IN WHITE. VOICEOVER ...in Head. GRAPHIC: FLASHING 'HEAD' SIGN FILLS THE SCREEN - SAME GRAPHIC AS USED IN 'THEATRICAL 1' BUT IN BLACK AND WHITE. VOICEOVER That's right, Head! GRAPHICS: 'THAT'S RIGHT' CAPTION ZOOMS IN FROM RIGHT, WHITE ON PURPLE BACKGROUND; LARGE EXCLAMATION MARK, BLACK ON PINK BACKGROUND WITH WHITE 'HEAD' ON THE DOT. VOICEOVER Head has everything. GRAPHIC: SILHOUETTES OF MONKEES HEADS FLASHING BETWEEN BLACK AGAINST RED BACKGROUND TO MULTI-COLOURED AGAINST BLACK BACKGROUND. CAPTIONS 'HEAD', 'HAS', EVERY', 'THING' APPEAR ON THE INDIVIDUAL SILHOUETTES IN WHITE. VOICEOVER Including... GRAPHIC: STATIC CAPTION: 'INCLUDING', WHITE ON PINK BACKGROUND. MUSIC UNDER: KEN THORNE CUE FROM 'HEAD' - A 'MARCHING' FANFARE. VOICEOVER Victor Mature... GRAPHIC: PHOTO PLUS CAPTION OF VICTOR MATURE AGAINST RED BACKGROUND VOICEOVER Annette Funicello... GRAPHIC: PHOTO PLUS CAPTION OF ANNETTE FUNICELLO AGAINST PINK BACKGROUND VOICEOVER Sonny Liston... GRAPHIC: PHOTO PLUS CAPTION OF SONNY LISTON AGAINST RED BACKGROUND VOICEOVER ...and other incredible surprises! GRAPHICS: CAPTION: 'AND OTHER' - WHITE ON BROWN BACKGROUND; CAPTION: 'INCREDIBLE' - WHITE ON PURPLE BACKGROUND; ANIMATED CAPTION (REVEALS ITSELF FROM THE BASE UPWARDS): 'SURPRISES' - WHITE ON BLACK BACKGROUND. VOICEOVER What is Head? GRAPHIC: CAPTION: 'WHAT IS HEAD' IN WHITE REVEALS ITSELF FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AGAINST A REDDISH BACKGROUND BEFORE DISAPPEARING VOICEOVER Head... GRAPHIC: ANIMATED CAPTION (WHITE ON RED BACKGROUND) REVEALS ITSELF FROM BOTTOM TO TOP: 'HEAD'. VOICEOVER ...is the most extraordinary... GRAPHIC: ANIMATED CAPTION (WHITE ON GREEN BACKGROUND) REVEALS ITSELF FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: 'IS THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY'. MUSIC UNDER: KEN THORNE CUE FROM 'HEAD' - 'RED INDIAN' MUSIC. VOICEOVER ...Western... GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON RED BACKGROUND): 'WESTERN'. MUSIC UNDER: KEN THORNE CUE FROM 'HEAD' - FINAL CONFRONTATION. VOICEOVER ...Comedy... GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON ORANGE BACKGROUND): 'COMEDY'. VOICEOVER ...Love Story... GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON PINK BACKGROUND): 'LOVE STORY'. VOICEOVER ...Mystery... GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON PURPLE BACKGROUND): 'MYSTERY'. VOICEOVER ...Drama... GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON RED BACKGROUND): 'DRAMA'. VOICEOVER ...Musical... GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON ORANGE BACKGROUND): 'MUSICAL'. VOICEOVER ...Documentary... GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON BROWN BACKGROUND): 'DOCUMENTARY'. VOICEOVER ...Satire... GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON ORANGE BACKGROUND): 'SATIRE'. VOICEOVER ...ever filmed! GRAPHIC: CAPTION (WHITE ON PURPLE BACKGROUND): 'EVER FILMED'. VOICEOVER And that's putting it mildly! GRAPHIC: ANIMATED CAPTION (WHITE ON ORANGE BACKGROUND) REVEALS ITSELF FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: '(AND THAT'S PUTTING IT MILDLY)' CAPTION DISAPPEARS. MUSIC UNDER: CHORUS FROM 'PORPOISE SONG' BEGINS ("BUT THE PORPOISE IS LAUGHING...") GRAPHICS: VARIOUS STILL PRODUCTION PHOTOS TINTED IN VARIOUS COLOURS IN VARIOUS SHAPES AGAINST VARIOUS DIFFERENT COLOUR BACKGROUNDS. INCLUDING IMAGES OF DAVY EATING AN ICE LOLLY; VICTOR MATURE PLAYING GOLF; MICKY SUFFERING IN THE DESERT; SONNY LISTON IN THE SAUNA; MIKE STANDING ON THE BLACK BOX; DAVY AND SONNY LISTON OUT OF CHARACTER; VICTOR MATURE AND HIS HAIRDRESSER; PETER POINTING IN THE FACTORY; VOICEOVER 'Head'... GRAPHIC: PACK SHOT CAPTION (WHITE ON GREEN BACKGROUND): 'A COLUMBIA PICTURE © 1968 BY RAYBERT PRODUCTIONS. INC.' 'HEAD' 'TECHNICOLOR®' MUSIC OUT

Under the titles 'TV Spot 4' and 'TV Spot 5', Criterion includes the above, plus its acompanying 20-second edit (although not the 10-second version, which presumably couldn't be tracked down). Oddly, the soundtrack of the full version doesn't feature the Voiceover saying "For General Audiences" but the 20-second version does.

So that kind of explains the graphics in 'Theatrical 1' - although it's probably still worth pondering over the fact that a few of the captions are designed in colour there - but presented as plain white here. It's entirely possible that these TV spots - with their lack of actual film clips and reliance on production photos - were in themselves a hastily put-together compromise job.

Theatrical 2 / Portuguese (Rhino DVD and Criterion Blu-ray/DVD)

Finally, the bona fide 'theatrical trailer'. Described in the Pressbook as having been designed to work with both 'Campaign A' and 'Campaign B', it's mainly aimed at the latter. As per the TV Spot above, it dispensed almost entirely with the avant garde teasery and applied a lick of traditional 'salesmanship', with copious clips and another fruity voiceover, giving the whole project - for better or worse - some kind of mainstream comedy credibility.

The inclusion of several quite complicated sequences, presented exactly as they're edited in the movie (eg the quick-cut audience/dressing room scene), suggests that this trailer was assembled quite close to the movie's completion. However, as mentioned in the 'Changes' article, a couple of shots lack their final visual effects.

	'CAN YOU DIG IT' CLIP. AUDIO SILENT FOR TWO SECONDS, THEN OPENS WITH A FEW SECONDS OF THE SONG'S INTRO AND THEN CUTS STRAIGHT TO THE SECOND CHORUS. THERE ARE NO CUTS DURING THE 26 SECOND CLIP - IT'S EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS IN THE MOVIE. THE MUSIC ISN'T SYNCHED IN THE SAME WAY (BUT SINCE THE DANCERS' MOVEMENTS AREN'T CHOREOGRAPHED TO GO ALONG WITH THE ACTUAL TRACK, THIS HARDLY MATTERS. [NOTE: As the song fades we appear to hear the 'natural sound' of the dancers' hand-claps - which doesn't occur in Head at all.] VOICEOVER Not since 'The Ten Commandments'... MUSIC: KEN THORNE'S ARABIAN GALLOP MUSIC CLIPS OF ARABS ON HORSEBACK RIDING THROUGH THE DESERT TOWARDS THE MONKEES, WHO RECOIL FROM THIS ATTACK. SEQUENCE AS PER THE MOVIE, BUT WITH ONE MID SHOT OF THE BLACK SHEIK EDITED OUT. MUSIC: KEN THORNE'S 'RED INDIAN' MUSIC VOICEOVER If you liked 'Covered Wagon'... CLIPS OF RED INDIANS FIRING ARROWS INTO THE AIR FROM THE DESERT AND RED INDIANS SHOOTING AT THE WAGON TRAIN. [NOTE: As mentioned in the 'Changes' article, the latter shot may be from another film altogether.] SEQUENCE OF MICKY FALLING FROM THE BRIDGE INTO THE WATER. MUSIC: 'THE PORPOISE SONG': "Wanting to be, to hear and to see..." VOICEOVER Beyond 'From Here To Eternity'... MUSIC: TWO SNATCHES OF THORNE SCORE - ORIGINALLY ACCOMPANYING THE BEACH BUGGY DRIVING THROUGH THE WESTERN STREET AND THE 'SILENT MOVIE'/CONVEYOR BELT SEQUENCE RESPECTIVELY - UNDER CLIPS OF MONKEES LANDING BACK AT THE STUDIO AFTER BEING HIT BY THE BIG VICTOR'S GOLF CLUB. MIKE LANDS IN THE BIN, PETER LANDS ON THE BULL, STUDIO GRIP HITS MIKE WITH BROOM, MICKY LANDS ON BOOM MIKE AND KNOCKS OVER GRIP. OTHER GRIPS KIDNAP MIKE AND MICKY. VOICEOVER They can't be The Marx Brothers - they're too young! TWO CLIPS OF PETER ENTERING CANTEEN ON THE BULL AND ACE HITTING HIM WITH A CAKE (MINUS THE POV OF CANTEEN AND EXTERIOR OF PATRONS POURING OUT). CLIP OF 'THE BIG VICTOR' HITTING THE MONKEES INTO THE AIR WITH HIS GOLF CLUB VOICEOVER Columbia Pictures presents... THE BIG VICTOR LAUGHS. CLIP OF MONKEES FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. CAPTION OVERLAY (YELLOW/BLACK SHADOW): 'THE MONKEES' VOICEOVER ...The Monkees! QUICK CUT CLIPS OF MICKY, DAVY, MIKE AND PETER BEING KISSED BY I.J. JEFFERSON VOICEOVER Micky, Davy, Mike, Peter. MUSIC: FRENETIC DRUMMING VOICEOVER ...in 'Head'. CAPTION (STROBOSCOPIC, RED AGAINST WHITE; WHITE AGAINST RED): 'HEAD' VOICEOVER That's right - 'Head'! EIGHT SNIPPETS OF ORIGINAL BROCKMAN TV SPOT EDITED TOGETHER - ONSCREEN CAPTION CHANGES PLACE WITH EACH CUT. CLIP OF MONKEES DOING THE DANDRUFF COMMERCIAL, LOST IN A MASS OF HAIR. MUSIC: KEN THORNE MUSIC FROM LABYRINTH SEQUENCE VOICEOVER What's it all about? CLIP OF VICTOR MATURE HAVING HIS HAIR SEEN TO. HAIRDRESSER SUCKS MONKEES OFF HIS HEAD WITH A VACUUM CLEANER. VOICEOVER Only Victor Mature's hairdresser knows for sure! CLIP OF LADY PLEASURE AND MIKE LADY PLEASURE Are you kidding? CLIP OF 'THE BIG VICTOR' RISING ABOVE THE WESTERN SCENE, LAUGHING. MONKEES RECOIL IN TERROR. 'THE BIG VICTOR' CLAPS HIS HANDS. MUSIC: KEN THORNE SCORE FROM BLACK BOX/COP SEQUENCE CLIP OF DAVY MEETING SONNY LISTON DAVY ...looks like a nice guy and I like his smile. Go on, see if you can hit me - just once. Just once! SONNY TAPS DAVY ON THE CHEEK, CUT TO A FEW SHOTS OF DAVY HAVING THE CRAP KNOCKED OUT OF HIM BY SONNY IN THE BOXING RING. MUSIC: UNIDENTIFIED SCORE CLIP OF ANNETTE FUNICELLO AS 'MINNIE'. MINNIE Don't, Davy. Please no. JUMP CUT TO ANOTHER CLIP OF 'MINNIE' - HAVING A TEAR WIPED FROM HER EYE BY AN UNKNOWN HAND. CUT TO CLIP OF THE MONKEES PLAYING 'CIRCLE SKY' LIVE. MIKE (SINGS) It's a very extraordinary scene for those who don't understand... CUT TO MONTAGE OF THE GROUP GETTING DRESSED CUT WITH SHOTS OF THE AUDIENCE, AS PER THE FILM. MUSIC: 'CIRCLE SKY' GIVES WAY TO REPEATED "WE WANT THE MONKEES!" CHANT. CUT TO DAVY PLAYING VIOLIN ON THE NEW YORK STREET FOR MINNIE ET AL CUT TO THE DUMMY MONKEES BEING TORN TO PIECES FROM THE CLOSE OF CIRCLE SKY. (AUDIO: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' FROM THE PARTY SEQUENCE). QUICK-CUT MUTE CLIPS OF THE FILM, INCLUDING THE MONKEES ESCAPING FROM THE GRIPS; 'THE JUMPER' ON THE ROOF SCREAMING; MONKEES IN THE VACUUM CLEANER TUBE; INDIANS SHOOTING AT THE COVERED WAGON; MIKE HANDING 'THE JUMPER' TO PETER; PETER PLAYING BASS ON STAGE; SHOTS OF MIKE'S PARTY; MIKE HYPNOTISED IN NEGATIVE; MONKEES IN THE VACUUM CLEANER TUBE AGAIN; MIKE HYPNOTISED IN NEGATIVE AGAIN; MORE SHOTS OF MIKE'S PARTY; TWIRLING HAREM DANCERS, MONKEES IN THE VACUUM CLEANER TUBE YET AGAIN, YET MORE SHOTS OF MIKE'S PARTY; CLOSE OF 'DITTY DIEGO' AS THE GIRL SCREAMS. (AUDIO: 'LONG TITLE: DO I HAVE TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN') VOICEOVER Head is the most extraordinary Adventure Western Comedy Love Story Mystery Drama Musical Documentary Satire ever filmed. MORE QUICK-CUT MUTE CLIPS. EACH OF THESE ALSO HAS THE TITLE 'HEAD' SUPERIMPOSED SOMEWHERE ON THE SCREEN IN YELLOWISH ORANGE: SCREEN FEATURING SCREAMING GIRL FROM 'DITTY DIEGO' ZOOMS TOWARDS US; MICKY DANCING AT MIKE'S PARTY WITH CAMERAMAN VISIBLE IN MIRROR BEHIND; MERMAID WITHOUT POLARISED NEGATIVE EFFECT; JOHN BROCKMAN TV AD; DANCER AT MIKE'S PARTY; MIKE SINGING 'CIRCLE SKY'; JUNE FAIRCHILD AT MIKE'S PARTY; MIKE IN NEGATIVE TUMBLING TOWARDS US; CRITIC'S BULL WITH ANIMATED MOUTH; MICKY SUBMERGED WITH POLARISED NEGATIVE EFFECT; JOHN BROCKMAN TV AD - UPSIDE DOWN (AS IS CAPTION). CUT TO MONKEES ROLLING ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING AT MIKE'S PARTY. PACK SHOT CAPTIONS AS PER 'THEATRICAL 1' AND THE 'CAMPAIGN B' TV SPOTS - BUT AS A YELLOW OVERLAY: 'A COLUMBIA PICTURE © 1968 BY RAYBERT PRODUCTIONS. INC.' 'HEAD' 'TECHNICOLOR®' MUSIC FADES, LEAVING THE SOUND OF THE BAND'S LAUGHTER.

It has been suggested that the voice heard on this trail belongs to John Erwin, famed voiceover of many film and TV projects over the years (but probably most famous as the voice of He-Man in the old cartoon series).

The 'If you liked x then you'll love this' method of selling had of course been a mainstay in the movie industry for many years, and the Head theatrical trailer employs it with its tongue planted firmly in its cheek, comparing what is essentially an 'anti-movie' to three well-respected (and of course disparate) film classics:

"Not since 'The Ten Commandments'..." - coming as it does out of the 'Can You Dig It' sequence, this most likely refers to Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956), a film which also features a female Egyptian dance troupe doing their thing.

"If you liked 'Covered Wagon'..." - referring to The Covered Wagon (1923), a classic Western epic from the silent era, generally accepted as the grandfather of the genre.

"Beyond 'From Here To Eternity'..." - as well as allowing for a jokey allusion to From Here to Eternity (1953), there's the implied amusement of the sequence of Micky hitting the water in Long Beach, California, being in some way equal to the iconic image of Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr's passionate sea-drenched kiss on the beach in that film.

The musical score which accompanies the two consecutive clips of Annette Funicello as 'Minnie' isn't the music which plays on the soundtrack during that scene but a piece dubbed over the clip of Gilda during the second channel-hopping sequence. However, the correct music does play on the Portuguese version of the trailer...

The Portuguese trailer - which was evidently prepared for a Brazilian release - has a number of other differences from the English-language version. As well as the alternate Voiceover (which clearly isn't a straight translation) the soundtrack has been assembled slightly differently - with an alternate section of the violin score dubbed onto Davy; the Arabs 'attacking' music instead of the beach buggy/Western tune, the inclusion of the Trooper display cymbal percussion, etc.

Visually, most of the clips featuring the 'Head' title onscreen are presented here captionless (aside from the Brockman clips bunched together in the middle - although, curiously, the little clips of Brockman which appear as part of the end-montage are not only without the yellow 'Head' caption but are also far less degraded in terms of picture quality). The final 'pack shot' captions are also absent.

As you may have guessed the Portuguese title of the film wasn't 'Head', or indeed anything close to it. In Brazil, it was released as Os Monkees Estão Soltos ('The Monkees Are On The Loose').

So now you know.

The Monkees - Head - Hype

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