Onya was a good boy this year, so Santa brought him a Blu-Ray of Richard C. Sarafian's masterpiece of 1970s existential cinema.
The Blu-Ray has both the US and UK edits. The longer UK version includes a sequence in which the protagonist, played by Barry Newman, picks up a hitchhiker played by Charlotte Rampling. This results in a longer run time.
Ms. Birri and I watched both versions about a week apart. We did not pick up on any other differences between the two versions. Does anyone know if this is the only change in editing?
And are there any fans of this film?
On a sad note, watching this film made me miss the Aurora Modeling Motoring set I got for Christmas when I was 5 or 6. You can't hang onto everything, I guess.
I used to enjoy it when I discovered it on VHS back in the 80’s. It's a hippie road movie influenced by Easy Rider, a chase movie with a Vietnam vet and former cop turns renegade and a radio disc jockey that punctuates the film. It's a product of its time … there were many road movies back then.
Duel … Two-Lane Blacktop … The Getaway … Sugarland Express … Dirty Mary Crazy Larry … Electric Glide in Blue … Convoy … The Road Warrior …
Oh, I think it was pretty unique for its time. When it was released just the title suggested mystery. Looks like a small film on a shoestring budget. I watched it twice when it was on TCM and that’s a lot for me. Barry Newman was an interesting choice for a hero character. I wanted to buy the Blu-ray for the second movie but now that I know it is just his interaction with Rampling I think I will skip it.
Barry Newman would later end up with a role in The Limey. Newman was another of those actors with serious '60s and early '70s "cred" who appear in that film.
Wow, the desert sure was crowded with edgy rebels on the run and beautiful, feminine women with long hair parted down the middle.
Now THAT'S a blast from the past! Wow. Personally, I like this movie, but at the same time, it sums up everything that was exciting AND boring about the Flower People. Maaaaybe leaning a bit more on the boring side!
Based solely on "snatches" of scenes from the trailers, both "Point" films (Vanishing and Zabriskie) look like ideal late, late Saturday-night viewing watched back to back; capped off with something different but also from 1971, like Billy Jack or Zachariah to complete this take on The 1971 Experience.
Barry Newman would later end up with a role in The Limey. Newman was another of those actors with serious '60s and early '70s "cred" who appear in that film.
Wow, the desert sure was crowded with edgy rebels on the run and beautiful, feminine women with long hair parted down the middle.
Is that the American version of MAD MAX? I gotta see this.
Barry Newman would later end up with a role in The Limey. Newman was another of those actors with serious '60s and early '70s "cred" who appear in that film.
Wow, the desert sure was crowded with edgy rebels on the run and beautiful, feminine women with long hair parted down the middle.
Is that the American version of MAD MAX? I gotta see this.
No, it's more Rebel without a Cause meets Lawrence of Arabia.
Wow! These films and other “Social Commentary” - types such as Billy Jack were so topical and pointed – if you were in your teens when they were made (as was I). Now, they’re somewhat embarrassingly naïve and trite, in many ways. But they spoke to a generation back then. Typical of the genre was the antihero, peacenik type whom attained peace by use of violence.
Wow! These films and other “Social Commentary” - types such as Billy Jack were so topical and pointed – if you were in your teens when they were made (as was I). Now, they’re somewhat embarrassingly naïve and trite, in many ways. But they spoke to a generation back then. Typical of the genre was the antihero, peacenik type whom attained peace by use of violence.
Tom Laughlin did another film later in the '70s* in which he was a cowboy Samurai type. This must have been around 1976-77 which seems like ages after the 1960s or even the early '70s. The decade definitely changed by 1975-76.
Wow! These films and other “Social Commentary” - types such as Billy Jack were so topical and pointed – if you were in your teens when they were made (as was I). Now, they’re somewhat embarrassingly naïve and trite, in many ways. But they spoke to a generation back then. Typical of the genre was the antihero, peacenik type whom attained peace by use of violence.
Yeah these have not aged well at all. Late last year I watched Vanishing Point for the first time in 20-30 years.
I should reiterate that something being "dated" is by no means a bad thing. Part of what I enjoy about pop culture is its reflection of a time and place. This is probably why I love "End of the West" Westerns, "Man Out of Time" stories, and "cultural snapshot" films, which is why I'll have to see Vanishing and Zabriskie Points posthaste.
The appeal of blasting around the desert southwest of America in the early 70's (in the cooler months) with a great muscle car and being in the prime of your life (age wise) is an undeniable draw to most American men. That's the appeal to me anyway.
I myself would do it without the drug use however.
After seeing The Born Losers, I had a huge crush on Tom Laughlin. My brother bought the Lp from that movie. And then along came the Billy Jack movies which were pretty awful.
I should reiterate that something being "dated" is by no means a bad thing. Part of what I enjoy about pop culture is its reflection of a time and place. This is probably why I love "End of the West" Westerns, "Man Out of Time" stories, and "cultural snapshot" films, which is why I'll have to see Vanishing and Zabriskie Points posthaste.
To this, I would add that certain things can simultaneously be timeless and of their time. "Vanishing Point" feels very contemporary in many ways, while certainly reflecting the style and ethos of the era.
