I’ve seen The Monkees‘ ‘HEAD’ film too many times to count now but watching the DVD recently I saw some things I’d never seen before. As a bonus on the DVD there are 7 trailers and TV spots from around the world and the most intriguing is called ‘NY Action’. This looks like a collection of randomly selected clips assembled during filming before a final cut was made and, as the rapid fire scenes flashed past, I started to notice a couple of bits that I didn’t recognise from the film. On closer examination I picked out these snapshots from scenes that were left on the cutting room floor.

Opening credit:
This was certainly never meant to feature in the film, the clapperboard right before the opening scene with the general at the ticker tape. Also note that the film was called ‘Changes’ before ‘Head’

Ticker tape (alternate angle):
A lower down image of the ‘president’ as he makes his speech, notice in the second shot you can see the Monkees running up behind.

Band walk past Zappa with cow:
Not sure where this set of clips comes from but they seem to all be linked. It could have been inserted just after Davy karate chops the bald guard during the fight scene near the end, it would have come just before they walk through the wall onto the cowboy set I think.

Buggy chase alternate views:
The scene of the sheriff up on the gallows is shown from far back on the set, the worker on the plank is seen from a couple of different angles and there’s more footage of the buggy in the desert.

The whole band at the Coke machine:
Davy hits the coke machine and then drinks from a bottle, also an aerial shot of the whole band at the machine. This could have been from the end when they’re all in the desert running away from the tank.

Davy as an Arab:

From the belly dancing sequence. Also note that right at the beginning of this scene in the film; as one of the dancers swishes past Micky, part of her costume hits him right in the mouth and you can see him holding it and trying not to laugh.

Desert rider (alternate angle)
High up shot for the scene where the desert rider gallops up to Micky

Mike’s eyes close up:
I’m guessing these could have been from the scene where everything slows down and solarizes but are from before the effect was added. There’s also a shot of him ‘floating’ down the corridor and opening the red door Peter previously went through, pre-solarization.

Boxing match alternate angles / Sonny Liston:
The whole sequence of Micky getting into the ring and beating everyone up is seen from through the ropes instead of from above. Also as the police pile in to subdue him we see Peter get into the ring from below plus a close up of Sonny and a sequence of him skipping in the deserted boxing ring !?

Canteen fight:
Peter gets a pie in the face is seen from a different angle.

Micky scream:
There are a few frames where Micky seems to be yelling at the camera, I can’t figure out the background to place it though, it might be in the factory.

Monkees in the black box:
A few of scenes involve the band being shut inside a black room/box, once when they become dandruff, once when they get lifted away by a helicopter and once when Peter gives his long monologue. Here they’re all sitting around in different positions as though bored or waiting for something. This could have been inserted into the helicopter segment but it would have slowed down the action quite a bit.
Note that in the channel switching scene near the end of the film Micky is seen talking to someone off camera as if in an argument, those shots look like they come from the same scene.

Peter In the mirror:
This could come from the part known as ‘the cop’s dream’ or the kissing scene near the start of the film.

Black Rabi close up:
Looks like an outtake from the preacher scene just before the band go into the canteen.

Big Vic close ups:
First off Victor Mature reaches down to grab the buggy, in the film he just tries to stamp on it. Secondly there’s a clip of him sitting in the black room and then he gets up and walks off camera, laughing as he goes. This is the same scene as the one where the girl hoovers the ‘dandruff’ from his head.

This has been a ‘too much time on my hands’ post and was written back in 2005 would you believe? Go here for my rescore of the film, online for a limited time.