Film Independent: Head

Please note: Film Independent at LACMA ticketing is no longer handled by Eventbrite. All ticket purchases/reservations are now routed through the LACMA box office online ticketing system.

In 1968 from Bob Rafelson, the co-creator of the Monkees, came… the end of the Monkees. As the pointedly prefab phenomenon of the American version of the Beatles – a perfect intersection of exploitation, satire, ambition and talent – was winding down, Rafelson and the band decided it was time to finish things with a movie. But rather than a big screen version of the fading TV show, which was expected then and would have been demanded today, Rafelson and his co-screenwriter (a struggling young actor named Jack Nicholson) made the film a Trojan horse that would take the gloss off both the Monkees and studio glamour, another dying convention. A blizzard of ideas included a terrifying boxing match that pitted cutie-boy lead singer Davy Jones against former heavyweight champ Sonny Liston – a clash equivalent to bunny vs. tank – and a turn by Stanley Kubrick stalwart Timothy Carey in which he demolishes himself and the Western. The film was too much for 1968 audiences, who were alienated by its lethal precision and felt they were being made fun of – and they may have been right. Years later, Head finally achieved in its rightful place in film and pop culture history.

1968, 86 minutes, color, digital presentation | Written by Bob Rafelson and Jack Nicholson; directed by Bob Rafelson; with Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz

Ticketing Information

$5 for Film Independent and LACMA Film Club Members. Members of these two groups can purchase tickets starting at 12:00 pm on Thursday, March 15.Limit two tickets per membership. Proof of Member status is required to reserve tickets during advance reservation period.

$7 for LACMA Members, students with valid ID and seniors (65+); $10 for the general public. Members of these four groups can purchase tickets starting at 12:00 pm on Thursday, March 22. Two ticket limit.

PLEASE NOTE: Pre-reserved tickets for this event can be picked up at LACMA’s Ticket Office, located in the Hammer Building, on the day of the event—as early as 11 am. Tickets are for general, unreserved Bing Theater seating. Ticketed guests must be in their Bing Theater seat 15 minutes prior to the advertised start time or seat(s) may be released. Reservations do not guarantee entry, even with a ticket in hand. Entry is first come, first served, so please arrive early. Program and guest participation subject to change or cancellation without prior notice. Tickets are nontransferable and can only be picked up by the individual who purchased or reserved them.