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Catherine Mary Stewart, George Gilmour, Joss Ackland, Vladek Sheybal, Grace Kennedy ... see more see more... , Alan Love , Ray Shell , Derek Deadman , Miriam Margolyes , Leslie Meadows , George S. Clinton , Coby Recht , Iris Recht , Michael Logan

Unleashed just as the disco phenomenon had peaked and was slipping out of public favor, this one-of-a-kind pop musical is set in 1994, when a Mephistophelean entrepreneur named Mr. Boogalow (Vladek Sh... read more read more...eybal) controls the international recording industry through the Worldvision Song Contest. Boogalow's wildly theatrical protégés, a decedent dance-pop group called Bim, seem a sure bet to walk off with the grand prize and worldwide fame, but at the last minute Alphie (George Gilmour) and Bibi (Catherine Mary Stewart), a folk duo from Canada, nearly steal their thunder with their song "Love, the Universal Melody." While Boogalow rigs a victory for Bim, he sees moneymaking potential in Alphie and Bibi and offers to sign them to a contract. Alphie, suspicious of Boogalow, declines, but Bibi leaps at the chance, and is soon remodeled into a stylish pop star while heart-broken Alphie throws in his lot with a gang of hippies living in the park. Bibi comes to regard fame and wealth as hollow and empty, but discovers walking away from Boogalow is easier said than done. Featuring an inarguably remarkable finale, The Apple was shot primarily in Germany, despite being set in the United States; while George Clinton is credited with writing lyrics for several of the original tunes, be advised it's not the same George Clinton who led Parliament and Funkadelic in the 1970s and '80s. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

56% liked it

1,071 ratings

Critics

17% liked it

6 critics

PG, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Menahem Golan

Release Date: November 21, 1980

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DVD Release Date: August 24, 2004

Stats: 188 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (188)


  • March 29, 2011
    Do you love Bad Musicals? Disco Music? Canadian Pop Sensations? The futuristic world of 1994? The you my friend need to see The Apple.
  • January 8, 2011
    A great weird little musical, it's actually quite 70s feeling although it's from '80. It's very stylish, the story is good, and the music is great. I really liked this movie, and I highly recommend it.
  • October 13, 2010
    An innocent pair of Canadian folk singers fall under the influence of a Mephistophelean pop music promoter in this futuristic (set in 1994) musical fantasy. An obvious attempt to replicate the campy underground success of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW; despite one of the most ja... read morew-dropping endings in history, it's not half as bad as it's reputation suggests. The musical numbers are catchy, the easy to follow plot lifted from old MGM backstage muscials and dystopian lietrature, and the crazy psychedelic costumes and sets mean there's always something to look at.
  • February 21, 2007
    Worth it for the costumes alone, the film would be more of a cult classic if the music was better. Has one heck of a "what the heck?!" ending.
  • June 23, 2008
    A Golan/Globus Musical? WTF!!! I heard Menaham Golan had Chuck Norris kill the musical director in 1986. It does have the russian from Red Dawn as the devil and a shirtless Joss Ackland as a hippie God, even diplomatic immunity couldn't save him from this disaster.
  • July 4, 2010
    This film sets the story of Adam, Eve, and the apple in the 70s with two musicians who are tempted to become stars. I really enjoyed this crazy movie, it's from 1980, but it's still very 70s. It's as if the 70s lasted till 1994, and then the music industry took over the world. ... read more It also gave me a 1984 (George Orwell) vibe. I loved the ending, it was so cool. If you like weird musicals, you should really check out this little film.
  • January 1, 2010
    an absolutely bizarre creation, great fun to impose on unsuspecting friends! cult enthusiasts will love it.
  • September 7, 2008
    Wow! There is nothing on Earth like this insane sci-fi musical. It's terrible, but a joy to watch.
  • June 17, 2008
    Even though this is such an awful movie, I suggest drinking or watching with friends. So hilarious. Has to be the worst musical ever made.
  • January 22, 2008
    Pretty much the weirdest, gayest thing ever. Every movie should have a scraggly hippy mountian man with a huge knife.

Critic Reviews


Dennis Schwartz
June 26, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A rotten disco-musical from the 1980s that somehow has a minor cult following. Full Review

Michael Dequina
September 11, 2005
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

If you believe in God, be prepared to question His existence, for no compassionate deity would ever allow such a monstrosity to be made (would He?). Full Review

Eric Henderson
August 24, 2004
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine

Noxious. Full Review

Ken Hanke
November 5, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

It may, in fact, be the ultimate cinematic two-headed cow -- except unlike a two-headed cow, The Apple truly is the strangest sight your eyes have ever beheld. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 24, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Christopher Null
May 21, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

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