There are movies – and then there are movie experiences.
And then there is THE APPLE (1980).
Berated, dismissed and thrown to the wolves at the time of its’ original release, Menahem Golan‘s futuristic-now-retro musical is certainly something that has a unique air about it and even its’ lead actress Catherine Mary Stewart has grown to appreciate the impact the film has had in recent decades where it has found a new group of fans and afficionadoes who watch it at places like the Lincoln Centre in New York.
Watch my interview with Catherine Mary Stewart here:
Set in 1994, THE APPLE sees aspiring talents Bibi (Stewart) and Alphie (George Gilmour) arriving in the big city to pursue their dreams. Taking their place on a talent show (which looks like AMERICAN IDOL in the context of today’s reality TV zeitgeist) and become a sensation. However, the powers-that-be like Bibi who falls for the ploy, whilst Alphie is not quite sure…..
Seeing this for the first time at a recent London screening, the audience were certainly in the mood for an experience which has rivalled Tommy Wiseau‘s THE ROOM in tone (with or without spoons). Interestingly, the songs in the film are actually not that bad (the legend goes that at the premiere in New York, the complimentary discs handed out were thrown by frisbees at the screen!!!)
Time has actually been kinder to the film, like a lot of Golan’s Cannon output (the likes of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 and LIFEFORCE have both become cult classics amongst fans, even if RUNAWAY TRAIN (1985) is the best film the indie studio ever made). So, ignore the beraters and cynics and enjoy it on the simplest level.