This episode is a loose adaptation of Steven Vincent Benet's The Devil & Daniel Webster, which has been source material for a number of loose adaptations over the years, usually around this time of year, except that this was first presented a week before Valentine's Day in 1968. Go figure.
In "The Devil & Peter Tork", Peter unwittingly signs away his soul in exchange for a harp. The Devil (Monty Landis) uses the name Mr. Zero as the owner of a consignment shop. If you've read the original source material or seen other adaptations, you probably know how this finishes.
Edit, 4/8/23: Sony has placed a copyright claim, so the video has been removed. In its place is a short excerpt:
Rating: B.
Rating: B.
2 comments:
This has always been a favorite of mine and many Monkees fans. Largely it's due to the guys' comraderie for one another and the final speech from Mike on Peter's behalf.
Peter Tork did admit in a DVD commentary that he really wasn't playing the harp in this episode (the final song he plays on it, incidentally, was "I Wanna Be Free"). Despite that, he made it look convincing.
I think the odd timing for the episode airing was when it was filmed. Micky and Davy were at risk of being drafted towards the end of Season 1 and TPTB had them film as many episodes as they could just in case. Based on the guys' physical appearances at the time of filming, the episodes could have been broadcast during Season 1 but were aired in the early part of Season 2.
The things ya learn.
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