Anyone remember Bloodstone's 'Train Ride to Hollywood' movie? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Steve M. · 04-24-2024, 09:55 AM

In 1975, the Kansas City R&B group Bloodstone, which had had a Top Ten hit with their song "Natural High," made a musical movie, Train Ride to Hollywood, that was both an attempt to send a love letter to Old Hollywood and make a '70s-soul equivalent to the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night.

The movie was about one of the guys in Bloodstone having a dream that he and his bandmates are on a train bound for LA, and their traveling companions are Hollywood stars and characters from the 1930s and 1940s - and a sheik with seven wives. Distribution problems meant that the movie got limited - almost token - theatrical release, but HBO aired ir repeatedly in the spring of 1977. That's where I saw it.

The movie had some stupid scenes, silly dialogue, and a logically flawed narrative that even the fact that it was supposed to be a dream didn't excuse, but it still had its entertaining moments - it should have been a much better movie. But the music is excellent.

Steve M. · 04-24-2024, 10:03 AM

Train Ride To Hollywood had a supporting cast of actors playing Old Hollywood movie stars, but they didn't so much portray them as they did impressions of them. Guy Marks - a forerunner of Rich Little and a regular on Dean Martin's variety show - played Humphrey Bogart, a popular routine of his from the '60s.

The best thing about this movie, apart from Bloodstone and their music, was B-movie queen Roberta Collins as Jean Harlow, a highlight reel of which is posted here. Her Harlow was so perfect that it should have gotten her on the A list.

I have a companion thread for this movie in the Chit Chat - Music board, and there's more about the movie on Wikipedia.

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=464506

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_Ride_to_Hollywood

04-24-2024, 09:55 AM	#1
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,307	Anyone remember Bloodstone's 'Train Ride to Hollywood' movie? In 1975, the Kansas City R&B group Bloodstone, which had had a Top Ten hit with their song "Natural High," made a musical movie, Train Ride to Hollywood, that was both an attempt to send a love letter to Old Hollywood and make a '70s-soul equivalent to the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night. The movie was about one of the guys in Bloodstone having a dream that he and his bandmates are on a train bound for LA, and their traveling companions are Hollywood stars and characters from the 1930s and 1940s - and a sheik with seven wives. Distribution problems meant that the movie got limited - almost token - theatrical release, but HBO aired ir repeatedly in the spring of 1977. That's where I saw it. The movie had some stupid scenes, silly dialogue, and a logically flawed narrative that even the fact that it was supposed to be a dream didn't excuse, but it still had its entertaining moments - it should have been a much better movie. But the music is excellent. Attached Images
	__________________ I don't really get out a lot. When I do go out, I couldn't be happier. I love being in a nice milieu. I'm as happy as a clam. Just as long as I'm not in some club playing hip-hop. You hear that sort of thing in a lot of places. That's not my milieu. Rock and roll is good-time music. I love rock. So did my parents.

04-24-2024, 10:03 AM	#2
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,307	Train Ride To Hollywood had a supporting cast of actors playing Old Hollywood movie stars, but they didn't so much portray them as they did impressions of them. Guy Marks - a forerunner of Rich Little and a regular on Dean Martin's variety show - played Humphrey Bogart, a popular routine of his from the '60s. The best thing about this movie, apart from Bloodstone and their music, was B-movie queen Roberta Collins as Jean Harlow, a highlight reel of which is posted here. Her Harlow was so perfect that it should have gotten her on the A list. I have a companion thread for this movie in the Chit Chat - Music board, and there's more about the movie on Wikipedia. https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=464506 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_Ride_to_Hollywood