The Phynx (1970)

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Have you ever longed for the day when James Brown, Martha Raye, and Col. Harland Sanders would appear in a movie together? Well, that's barely the tip of the improbable casting iceberg in this bizarre cold-war spoof. The leaders of the American intelligence organization the S.S.A. ("Super Secret… More Have you ever longed for the day when James Brown, Martha Raye, and Col. Harland Sanders would appear in a movie together? Well, that's barely the tip of the improbable casting iceberg in this bizarre cold-war spoof. The leaders of the American intelligence organization the S.S.A. ("Super Secret Agency") are becoming increasingly alarmed by the disappearance of a number of B-list celebrities, who are being spirited off to Communist Albania. Eager to bring the fading stars back to the Land of the Free, the S.S.A. come up with a simple plan: They'll find four typical guys in their mid-twenties, have them form a rock group, make them into international stars, and wait until they get invited to play a gig in Albania, which will allow them to find out what's become of Rudy Vallee, Butterfly McQueen, and Huntz Hall, among others. Unemployed philosopher Michael A. Miller, Native-American honor student Ray Chippeway, phys-ed major Dennis Larden, and male model Lonny Stevens are drafted by the S.S.A., and after some intensive training by experts (Trini Lopez shows them a few guitar chords, and Richard Pryor gives them a crash course in soul), they become an overnight sensation as The Phynx (yes, it's pronounced "Finks"). Their album sells 17 million copies on the strength of songs like "What Is Your Sign?," and their groupies have to be cleared away by forklift. But fun and games have to go to the back burner when Albanian ruler Markevitch (George Tobias) and his wife, Ruby (Joan Blondell), invite the Phynx to perform at the behest of their son. Pat O'Brien, Xavier Cugat, Patty Andrews, and Dick Clark are just a few of the other notables who make cameo appearances in The Phynx, which had a very brief theatrical release before being sold to television in the early '70s. Legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller penned the songs performed by The Phynx (and Stoller composed the background score), though for some reason they're not covered nearly as often as "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog," or "Yakkety Yak." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Lee H. Katzin
Genres: Action & Adventure, Musical & Performing Arts, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: May 6, 1970 Wide

Critic Reviews

Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
A bust

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Cast
            
            Michael Miller
            
            Ray Chippeway as The Phynx

            Dennis Larden as The Phynx

            Lonny Stevens as The Phynx

            Lou Antonio as Corrigan

            Mike Kellin as Bogey

            Michael Ansara as Col. Rostinov

            George Tobias as Markevitch

            Joan Blondell as Ruby

            Larry Hankin as Philbaby

            Ted Eccles as Wee Johnny

            Pat McCormick as Father O'Hoolihan

            Joseph Gazal as Yakov

            Bob Williams as Number one

            Barbara Noonan as Bogey's Secretary

            Rich Little as in Box

            Patty Andrews
            
            Rona Barrett as Herself

            Edgar Bergen as Himself

            Dummy: Charlie McCarthy
            
            Busby Berkeley as Himself

            James Brown as Himself

            Dick Clark as Himself

            Xavier Cugat as Himself

            Cass Daley as Herself

            Andy Devine as Himself

            Fritz Feld as Himself

            Leo Gorcey as Himself

            Huntz Hall as Himself

            John Hart as Himself

            George Jessel as Himself

            Patsy Kelly as Herself

            Dorothy Lamour as Herself

            Joe Louis as Himself

            Guy Lombardo as Himself

            Trini Lopez
            
            Marilyn Maxwell as Herself

            Butterfly McQueen as Herself

            Richard Pryor as Himself

            Martha Raye as Foxy

            Harold Sakata as Himself

            Harland Sanders
            
            Jay Silverheels as Himself

            Ed Sullivan as Himself

            Rudy Vallee as Himself

            Johnny Weissmuller as Himself

            Sherry Miles as Copenhagen Belly

            Ann Morell as Italian Belly

            Sally Struthers as World's No. 1 fan

            Ultra Violet as Herself

            Clint Walker as Sgt. Walker

            Sue Bernard as London Belly
See full cast

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