The movie 'The Apple' is a disco/rock opera that explores themes of corruption in the music industry, the struggle between good and evil, and an allegory of the Adam and Eve story. It portrays the devil as a music mogul who manipulates artists and society, while a group of hippies resist his influence.
June thought the movie took place in outer space because of the futuristic and surreal visuals in the opening scenes, which included metallic costumes, strange sets, and a production number that felt otherworldly.
The BIM marks are symbols of conformity and control in the movie. They represent the influence of BIM Industries, a music conglomerate led by the devil-like figure Mr. Boogaloo, who uses the marks to manipulate and dominate society.
The movie 'The Apple' loosely parallels the biblical story of Adam and Eve, with Mr. Boogaloo representing the devil, who tempts the protagonists with fame and success (symbolized by the apple). However, the movie lacks a clear moral or warning, making the allegory muddled.
The original concept for 'The Apple' was a three-act Hebrew stage musical about God and the devil. However, it was deemed too elaborate and costly for the stage, leading to its adaptation into an English-language screenplay, which was later heavily rewritten for the film.
When 'The Apple' premiered at Cannes, the audience booed and began leaving halfway through the film. The negative reception was so severe that director Menachem Golan reportedly considered jumping out of his hotel window, but was stopped by his business partner.
Mr. Boogaloo is the antagonist of the movie, representing the devil. He is the head of BIM Industries, a music conglomerate that manipulates artists and society through fame, control, and conformity. He tempts the protagonists with success, leading them down a corrupt path.
The opening scene of 'The Apple' was cut due to disastrous production issues. It involved animals, puppets, and a complex set, but a tiger got loose, elephants got stuck, and actors in costumes passed out from heat. The scene was deemed unworkable and removed from the final cut.
The mandated BIM hour is a dystopian concept in the movie where everyone in society is forced to stop what they're doing and exercise for an hour. It symbolizes the extreme control and conformity imposed by BIM Industries, even at the cost of public safety and well-being.
The movie 'The Apple' ends with Mr. Tops (representing God) arriving in a golden Cadillac to save the protagonists and a small group of hippies from the corrupted world. They abandon Earth, leaving it to the devil, while the rest of society remains under BIM's control.
LIVE from Largo in Los Angeles, Andy Richter of Conan joins Paul, June, and Jason to discuss the 1980 disco/rock opera The Apple. They’ll cover June believing the movie took place in space, Paul not realizing the movie’s connection to Adam and Eve, and the BIM mandated hour exercise. Plus, we get into accents as the audience comes prepared with BIM marks during Audience Q&A! (Originally Released 02/05/2016)
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