424 - "Manos" The Hands of Fate Air Date January 30, 1993 MST3K Director Joel Hodgson Running Time 92 min Turkey Day(s) November 24,

November 23,

November 24, 2016 1993 , 10pm 1995 , 1130am MST Hour February 10, 1994

February 11, 1994 AKA The Lodge of Sins, "Mangos, cans of fruit", "Fingers of Fate" (workprint title) Movie Director Harold P. Warren Year 1966 Cast Tom Neyman

John Reynolds

Diane Mahree

Harold P. Warren

Bernie Rosenblum Short Hired! Pt. 2 Year 1940 Preceded by 423 - Bride of the Monster Followed by 501 - Warrior of the Lost World

“ You know... there are certain flaws in this film. ” — Servo





“ Every frame of this movie looks like someone's last known photograph. ” — Joel





The Short

Hired! Part 2 (1940)

Synopsis

Continuing from the first part, managing salesman is inspired by his handkerchief-wearing father on how to motivate and instruct his young, inexperienced car salesman on how to close sales.

The Movie

Synopsis

A family becomes lost while driving and finds themselves at a mysterious secluded lodge. There, they encounter an evil cult leader and his minions.

The Episode

Host Segments

Prologue: Joel has installed a chip in the Bots that makes everything he does seem brilliant, but it quickly gets on his nerves.

Segment One (Invention Exchange): The Bots are disgruntled over the chip. In Deep 13, the Mads invent the Chocolate Bunny Guillotine (which Frank despises), while on the SOL Joel introduces the Cartuner to combine two boring comic strips into one funny strip, Like Family Circus and The Far Side.

Segment Two: Joel and the Bots recreate the opening driving scene from the movie when they are pulled over by Redneck Officer Gypsy, but Cambot's failure to stop the blue screen footage pushes them over the edge. Frank apologizes for the movie.

Segment Three: Joel and the Bots discuss exaggerated features that make for a horrifying monster, but can’t agree if Torgo counts as one. They propose scarier looking monsters based on exaggerated or missing body parts.

Segment Four: Joel dresses as the Master and Crow is his hellbeast, but Tom isn’t impressed; he thinks Joel looks like Maude and his face is "too friendly". Dr. F apologizes for the movie.

Segment Five: The Bots reenact the wives' wrestling game from the movie to cheer Joel up (though he is not quite pleased over this). In Deep 13, Forrester complains about their pizza being late; Frank admits that he wanted Togo's Pizza, but they were busy, thus having him order from Torgo's Pizza two hours ago. Torgo finally shows up, but accidentally leaves their pop in the car. Frank disturbingly notes the pizza is still pretty warm, resulting in both him and Forrester spitting it out in disgust. A dismayed Torgo remarks, "They always do that..."

Stinger: Girl in car saying "Why don’t you guys leave us alone?"

MST3K cast

Regular cast

Guest cast

Trivia

The silhouettes of Joel, Tom, and Crow obscured the few shots where MST3K viewers might have been able to see Torgo’s goat feet.

Ranked 1st in the Top 100 Episodes as chosen by backers of the Bring Back MST3K Kickstarter.

Unusual credits : Torgo's theme music plays instead of "Mighty Science Theater."

: Torgo's theme music plays instead of "Mighty Science Theater." This episode aired third during Turkey Day '93 , second during MST3K Anthology, and the sixth & last during Turkey Day '16 .

, second during Turkey Day '16 This is usually referred to by the cast and writing staff as officially the worst movie they ever riffed. Monster A-Go Go is cited as a close second due to its total lack of coherent narrative, but Manos is considered more loathsome in terms of subject matter.

Callbacks

Goofs

Servo uses the phrase "this is a bug hunt!" during his imitation of Hudson panicking in the film Aliens. In fact, the phrase "bug hunt" comes in an earlier scene when Hudson is talking with Apone on the Sulaco. The implication is that "bug hunt" refers to a difficult mission (akin to "a needle in a haystack") but not necessarily a dangerous one.

Obscure References

"Hired 2: Electric Boogaloo."

The 1984 film Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo was a quickly-made follow-up to the original Breakin', which had been released earlier in 1984. As pointed out on the IMDb, "The phrase 'Electric Boogaloo' has passed into common usage as the sub-title for any facetious sequel." The 1996 official MST3K convention was called "ConventioCon ExpoFest-A-Rama 2: Electric Boogaloo".

"Jam Handy to the rescue!"

"Jim Dandy to the rescue..." is a lyric from the song "Jim Dandy," first performed by R&B singer LaVerne Baker on her 1957 self-titled album. The song was a hit again in 1973 with the rock band Black Oak Arkansas.

"I may be wonderful, but I think you're wrong."

Quote from the Marx Brothers' 1930 comedy Animal Crackers, spoken by Groucho Marx as Captain Spaulding to Chico Marx as Ravelli. It's a twist on the title of the song "I May Be Wrong (but I Think You're Wonderful)" which had become popular in 1929.

"Give 'em hell, Harry!"

Rally cry of supporters of Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States during the 1948 Presidential campaign.

"Take his prospects for example." "Please!"

Comedian Henny Youngman was known for his one-liners. One of his most popular gags was the classic, "Take my wife. Please!"

"I wonder." "I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder!"

Singer Del Shannon's 1961 debut single, "Runaway," features this combination of lines.

"Meanwhile, Eliot Ness and his Untouchables head for a speak-easy in Berwyn!"

This shot, with a group of men in period clothing in the old-fashioned car, resembles a typical shot from The Untouchables television series (1959-63). The show was loosely based on the adventures of real-life federal agent Eliot Ness (played by Robert Stack) and his men, dubbed the Untouchables, as they fight crime (especially the mob) in 1930s Chicago. The line delivered by Tom is typical of the program's narration, supplied by Walter Winchell.

"Meeting with Floyd the Barber." "Ooo, the car is so wonderful... ooo..."

The customer here does resemble Floyd Lawson (played by Howard McNear), the town barber on The Andy Griffith Show (1960-8). Floyd was an enthusiastic fellow (with a speaking voice that Crow mimics well), often punctuating sentiments with "Oooo...".

"Are you now or have you ever been a Ford owner?"

In the United States during the height of the 1950s "Red Scare", the House Un-American Activities Committee attempted to root out Communists believed to have infiltrated the government and the entertainment industry. Witnesses called during the HUAC's investigations were commonly asked "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist party?"

"Adlai Stevenson buys a car."

Adlai Stevenson (1900-65) was an political leader. Stevenson ran for President twice, but was defeated both times by Dwight Eisenhower (despite being well-liked, especially by the more liberal/progressive members of the Democratic party).

"Inka dinka doo!"

With his big nose, the character here resembles comedian Jimmy Durante (nicknamed the Schnoz). The song "Inka Dinka Doo" became one of Durante's signature songs after he performed it in the 1934 film Palooka.

"Like father, like son. Think about it, won't you?"

From an anti-smoking public service announcement of the 1960s. The ad showed sons imitating their fathers (playing sports, etc.), and ended with the sons smoking, just like their dads.

"Poodle bites, poodle chews."

Spoken by Tom Servo as the family sits at the vista point at the beginning of the movie. This is a line from the song "Dirty Love " by Frank Zappa.

"Cousin Itt!"

Cousin Itt is a recurring guest character from the various incarnations of The Addams Family. Itt was a giant walking mound of hair, with no visible face. He also had an incomprehensible high squeaky voice, and sometimes wore a hat.

"Let's sing something from Pearl Jam!"

Formed in 1990 (built on the remains of a few other bands), Pearl Jam became one of the leading bands of the grunge movement. Their debut album was titled Ten (1991) and featured their first big hit, "Jeremy." Other albums include Vs. (1993), Yield (1998) and Binaural (2000).

"Row, row, row your boat. Sing, dammit, sing!"

Late in the classic Clint Eastwood cop film Dirty Harry (1971), psycho-killer Scorpio (played by Andrew Robinson) kidnaps a busload of children, holding them at gunpoint. At one point, he demands that the children keep singing songs like "Old MacDonald" and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," shrieking out "Sing, dammit, sing!"

"Pigs, lies and videotape."

The 1989 film Sex, Lies, and Videotape starred Andie MacDowell and Peter Gallagher as a married couple, Laura San Giacoma as the woman Gallagher has an affair with and James Spader as a man who likes to videotape people and complicates all of their lives. The reference here is due to the fact that the pigs in the field come across as someone's very poorly-filmed home movies (as does the rest of the film).

"Let's just pretend we're watching Trip to Bountiful."

The Trip to Bountiful told the story of Carrie Watts, a woman in her twilight years, who wants to escape the clutches of her controlling off-spring and make one more visit to Bountiful, Texas, the town she grew up in. It was first made as a 1953 TV movie (with Lillian Gish in the lead role), and again as a 1985 theatrical film starring Geraldine Page.

"...they picked up Shirley Bassey hitch-hiking."

Welsh singing artist Shirley Bassey (1937- ) has had many hits on the United Kingdom charts over the years, but it best known to North American audiences for her performances of three James Bond film theme songs: Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Moonraker (1979). She was well-known for her ability to belt out a tune.

"It's like having Joe Cocker as your bellhop."

John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE (May 20, 1944 – December 22, 2014) was an English musician who became popular in the 1960s. In addition to being known for his gritty voice, he was also known for his spasmodic body movements when performing.

"It's Robin Stone, the Love Machine."

John Phillip Law (star of Space Mutiny and Diabolik) starred in a mostly-forgotten 1971 film called The Love Machine, based on the Jacqueline Susann novel of the same name. Law played Robin Stone ("the Love Machine"), an ambitious TV newscaster who has an affair with the wife (Dyan Cannon) of a network executive (Robert Ryan) to get a promotion. The reference here is most likely to its theme song "The Love Machine" sung by Dionne Warwick.

"Go, Speed Racer!"

The line "Go, Speed Racer!" is sung in the theme song of the animated series Speed Racer.

"Yes, it's Hawaiian Tropic, for that savage buzz."

Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion (which comes in bottles that look like the one the girl drinks out of here) has been around since 1969. Some of its ads referred to the "savage tan" you can get using it.

"Yuk, it sounds like Jerry Reed."

Jerry Reed (1937-2008; born Jerry Reed Hubbard) was a popular country/western musician, known for his skilled guitar playing and folksy lyrics & voice. His hits include "When You're Hot, You're Hot" (1971), "Lord, Mr. Ford" (1973) and "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)" (1982). He was a frequent performer on television (mostly variety shows), and appeared in several films, including the Smokey and the Bandit series (1977, 1980, 1983) and The Waterboy (1998).

"Tastes like cherry Robitussin!"

Robitussin is a cough syrup made by Wyeth Consumer Heathcare. It comes in many varieties and flavours, including cherry.

"Maybe it's Brigadoon."

In the musical Brigadoon, the titular Scottish village appears for one day every hundred years.

"Can we drop off Tim Weisberg now?"

Flautist Tim Weisberg (1943- ) recorded a couple of albums with Dan Fogelberg, as well as a few albums of his own, including Naked Eyes (1996) and Undercover (1997).

"It's Dr. Giggles!"

Dr. Giggles was a 1992 horror movie starring Larry Drake (of TV's L.A. Law).

"Joel, this is gonna turn into a snuff film!"

A snuff film is a movie that shows someone being raped and/or murdered in real life. This is a riff on the graininess and extremely low-budget film quality of Manos, as well as the pervading sense of dread that the film provokes.

[The song Joel sings under his breath as Mike walks into the motel hell]

The song comes from an old cereal commercial for Kellogg's Graham Crackos. It is also heard in War of the Colossal Beast.

"Oh look honey! Torgo has a little altar to Ba'al."

Ba'al is an ancient name (meaning "lord") often used to refer to certain pagan deities; in particular the Philistine God that might have led to the name Beelzebub.

"Someone left a cake out in the rain!"

A line from the song "MacArthur Park" by Jimmy Webb.

"Ooh, I hope she doesn't make like Jenny Fields!"

Jenny Fields is the mother of T.S. Garp, from the novel The World According To Garp. Fields, a nurse, purposely impregnates herself by taking advantage of the state of perpetual arousal of a brain-damaged bomber ball-turret gunner who is under her care.

"This movie has kind of a Ken Russell feel to it..."

Director Ken Russell's films were often accused of having a sexually obsessive nature to them: not really pornographic, but the character behaviors would be driven by sexual impulse, with other traits in the background.

"Ah, I used to go out with all these women and now they're all here... Kodachrome."

This line refers to the lyrics in Paul Simon's 1973 hit song "Kodachrome." In one part of the song, Simon imagines what would happen if he took all the girls he knew when he was single and brought them all together for one night.

"They're rolfing him to death!"

Rolfing is a type of deep tissue massage promoted as "alternative medicine". It is intense, even painful.

"The new pope has not been chosen"

Black smoke from the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican is the signal that the conclave of cardinals has not selected a new pope.

"But first - funnyman Morty Gunty!"

Morty Gunty was a Brooklyn-born comedian active mostly in the 1960s.

"It's like they're walking into a John Waters film."

John Waters is a filmmaker who first made a name for himself with intentionally offensive movies such as Pink Flamingos.

"Come to me, for I am the magnet and you are steel!"

"I ain't gonna play Sun City!"

Joel is quoting the song "Sun City" by Artists United Against Apartheid.

"This is a bug hunt! Game over, man, game over!"

This is a reference to Private Hudson's hysterical breakdown in Aliens.

"I have my answer, I'm walking on air"

A quote from Michael Caine in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters.

"Turn it off! Turn it off!"

Another use of the line from the 1979 George C. Scott film Hardcore. Scott painfully screams it when he is shown a film of his then-presumed kidnapped daughter is starring in a pornographic movie. The MST crew used this line in several episodes.

"If you'd like to contact Harold P. Warren, look in the Yellow Pages for the Fertilizer Corporation of Texas."

A reference made by Servo to Hal Warren's day job as a fertilizer salesman.

"And now, the Manos Women's Guild will reenact the Battle of Pearl Harbor."

A reference to a Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch entitled "The Batley Townswomens' Guild Presents the Battle of Pearl Harbor" in which a group of middle-aged housewives reenact the Battle of Pearl Harbor (by tussling and hitting each other with handbags in a muddy field).

"Tonight on Night Gallery..."

While looking at the painting of The Master, Crow makes a reference to Rod Serling's 1970s anthology TV series Night Gallery, in which strange and disturbing paintings were used as a framing device for a series of short stories, usually in the horror genre.

"The nearest phone is at the crossroads." [Servo sings a tune]

Servo is imitating the song "Crossroads" by Robert Johnson, later covered by Eric Clapton.

"I'm just as God made me, ma'am.'"

Paraphrasing a line from This Is Spinal Tap, spoken by a hotel clerk who Spinal Tap's manager Ian Faith has just referred to as a "twisted old fruit."

Memorable Quotes

[Joel's Invention Exchange is a machine that merges comic strips.] Joel, Servo, Crow: Ziggy had Garfield neutered?! Now that's funny!

Hired! Part 2 (short)

[The short begins] Crow: Previously on "Hired!"

[Mr. Warren talking to his dad about his salesman problems.] Mr. Warren: I remember one of the first things Harry drilled into me... Crow: ...Was Harry! Joel: Ooohhhh....

[Warren has a sales meeting with all his employees.] Joel [as Warren]: We're gonna have leadership the way my old man told me! You, put a handkerchief on your head! You, swat at imaginary elves! You, rock on the porch all night! Mr. Warren: Sales are the most important thing in this business. Servo [as Warren]: Seeing as how we're salesmen, and all. Mr. Warren: We're gonna work closer together than we have in the past in order to get more sales. Joel [as Warren]: But first — martinis! Mr. Warren: Well that's all for this meeting, but I want to talk to each and every one of you before you go out this morning! Jimmy, I want to talk with you first. Crow [as Warren]: 'Cause you've got the most problems.

[Warren and Jimmy are having a meeting to discuss sales techniques.] Mr. Warren: I'll go along with you this morning, Jimmy, on these first two calls. Jimmy: Gee, that'll be swell, Mr. Warren. I'll sure appreciate your help. I always learn something, too, when we go out together. Crow [as Jimmy]: Yeah, maybe I can kiss your butt on the way out, huh? How about that?

[While on a test drive, the film cuts suddenly to show the salesman and customer have switched places.] Joel: Zintar gets the most sales because he's a shapeshifter!

[Another clean-cut salesman in a three-piece suit talks to Mr. Warren.] Joel [as Senator McCarthy ]: Are you now, or have you ever been, a Ford owner?

[Mr. Warren talking to his potential car buyers.] Mr. Warren: We want you to be a regular customer too Mr. Milton. In fact we hope you'll buy your next ten cars from us. Joel: TEN CARS!?!

[Mr. Warren addresses the audience on successful salesmanship.] Mr. Warren: First hire good men! Joel: Make sure they're "clean!" Mr. Warren: And see that they're well trained on their product; and on competitive products. Second... Crow: Check their teeth! Mr. Warren: Be sure they have all the equipment and selling helps they need, and know how to use them! Servo: Fifth... oh... right! Third! Mr. Warren: Third: Help them plan their work to make the most effective use of their time! And fourth... Joel: Live at home till you're FORTY! Mr. Warren: Stay in close touch with every man! Know what each one is doing. Work with them! Crow: Name NAMES!!

[The car salesman short ends with Mr. Warren concluding his point on salesmanship.] Crow: Good night! Stay pink, soft and oily! ['The End' appears and both Servo and Joel "sing" to the tune of the music.] Servo: We're hiiirrrreeeeeddd! Joel: HIRED!!

Manos: The Hands of Fate (movie)

Servo: So we've gotta be, what, half an hour into this movie by now, right? Joel: No, actually, it's more like a minute. Servo: [stunned] ...No.

[A jazz singer is heard over the opening credits.] Servo: I guess they picked up Shirley Bassey hitchhiking.

Michael: Where did this place come from? It wasn't here a few minutes ago. Crow: Maybe it's Brigadoon.

Joel: You know, every frame of this movie looks like someone's last known photograph.

[Torgo, whose thighs and knees appear to be hugely swollen, shambles unevenly to fetch luggage.] Joel: Ah… that's not how you wear your Depends, Torgo. Crow: Been hitting the Thighmaster, Torgo? . . . Servo: Like having Joe Cocker as your bellhop.

[Michael goes outside to find the source of the howls.] Joel [as Michael]: Hey, look — I know you're an evil hellbeast, but could you hold it down?! It's after nine, and we got kids!

[The Master has just awoken his wives, now chattering in a circle as he looks on, annoyed.] Crow [as The Master]: What was I thinking? Joel [as Announcer]: Women who lunch. Servo [as Announcer]: And the Manos who love them — next Donahue. . . . Joel: You know, this scene is strong enough for a Manos, but made for a Womanos. Servo: ...and now, back to We Married Manos!

[The wives, clad in white, diaphanous robes, are fighting each other.] Crow: Well, the talks broke down at this point. Servo: Looks like the Russian Parliament. Joel [as Announcer]: Next on ESPN, full contact nightgown wrestling! Crow: Designing Women, the lost episodes. Servo [as Prof. Canning]: And now, the Manos Women's Guild will reenact the Battle of Pearl Harbor. Joel: You know, this was the alternate ending to Beaches. Crow: I see London, I see France, I see everybody's underpants! . . . Servo: You know, this isn't Lysistrata. I like it, but it isn't Lysistrata! . . . Joel:You know after this they're gonna laugh and cry and pierce each others ears. . . . Crow: It's the Wilson Phillips breakup. . . . [during a scene in which the Master's wives are catfighting] Servo: I'm guessing this is the whole reason this movie was made.

The Master: Silence! Joel: Is golden! The Master: Silence! Joel: Is golden!

[The Master stands in Torgo's room as Torgo awakens from sleep and slowly gets up from the bed, which results in about a minute-long period of silence and nothing happening.] Joel: [snapping] DO SOMETHING!!! God!

Servo: Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight, at the Copacabana, Jules Bedel proudly presents: Pat Benatar and Tricia Nixon!

[As black smoke rises from a pyre, the Master beckons Torgo to rise from the floor.] Servo: [singing to "Smoke on the Water"] Smoke on the weirdo… Crow [as Bela Lugosi]: Come here. Joel: The new Pope has not been chosen.

[During a driving scene] Joel: Meanwhile, in Toledo... Servo: No, wait. Did this movie just lap itself? . . . Crow: This must be a weekly series.

[As the end credits roll...] Crow: Crew? They had a crew!? I do not believe they had a crew! Joel: Okay, everybody pick out someone you wanna punch. Servo: Where to start?

Servo: If you'd like to contact Harold P. Warren, look in the Yellow Pages for the Fertilizer Corporation of Texas.

[The film's penultimate card reads "The End?"] Crow: The end? Yes. I mean, no. I wanna change my answer! Joel: No. Always wonder. [Servo waits impatiently for the card to change.] Servo: COME ON! [The last card fades in, thanking the city of El Paso.] Servo: Thank you, El Paso! Good night! We're out of here! Joel: We're going to take a break, we've been Manos: The Hands Of Fate. [They leave the theater.]

[The Mads have just had a pizza delivered by Torgo.] Frank: Say, it's been two hours, but this pizza is still warm! [Dr. Forrester and Frank suddenly look at each other in horror, and vomit.] Torgo: They always do that!

Video Releases

Commercially released on VHS by Rhino Entertainment in Feburary 1998, it was later released as part of a three-pack along with Gunslinger and Poopie! in March 1999.

and in March 1999. Commercially released on DVD by Rhino in November 2001, the DVD includes the entire contents of the Poopie! video as an extra.

video as an extra. The Manos DVD was re-released unchanged as part of MST3K: The Essentials , a double-disc set which features this episode and newly released Santa Claus Conquers the Martians . As a limited time special offer, if ordered off a specially created Rhino website, a bonus disc of Shorts Vol 3 was also included with the set.

, a double-disc set which features this episode and newly released . As a limited time special offer, if ordered off a specially created Rhino website, a bonus disc of was also included with the set. Shout! Factory re-issued Manos as a 2-disc "Special Edition" on September 13, 2011. Disc 1 features the episode, The Mystery Science Theater Hour wraps, and a featurette, Group Therapy, in which Joel, Trace, Frank, and Mary Jo discuss the episode. Disc 2 features the original, unriffed movie; the documentary Hotel Torgo; the Ballyhoo Motion Pictures featurette Jam Handy to the Rescue, where Joel discusses the shorts used on MST3K; and Hired!: Parts 1 and 2, presented back-to-back for the first time.

Frank, Trace, Joel, and Mary discuss the making of "Manos" The Hands of Fate Title card for Jam Handy to the Rescue Joel interviewed for Jam Handy to the Rescue!

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