This is just one of many hippie oriented films that came out from the mid-1960's until the early 70's and while it's clearly not one of the better efforts in this genre it's still an interesting attempt made by a director whom I have always found fascinating. Story (!) is about the effects of a deadly gas that is mistakingly let loose and everyone dies who's over the age of 25 and a young man named Coel (Bob Corff) who's being chased by the cops meets Cilla (Elaine Giftos) who's a pretty scientist on the run also.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Together they head out of Texas to New Mexico where they are trying to find a pueblo with the hope of a better life and along on their strange journey they meet a modern day revolutionary named Carlos (Ben Vereen) and his music store owner girlfriend Marissa (Cindy Williams) who's pregnant. They also come across another couple named Hooper (Bud Cort) and Coralee (Talia Shire) and the 6 of them head off together but they have problems when they run into fascist football players who practice tackling girls to rape them and bikers who ride golf carts and try to protect their golf course. Once they get to the pueblo the football players threaten their existence again and it takes an interference from God to set everyone right.
This was to be the last film that Roger Corman made with AIP due to the fact that the studio made some editing choices of their own that infuriated Corman and led him to start his own company. With that, Corman had already been making these hippie flicks like "The Trip" and "Psyche-Out" and he knew there was an audience out there but this was one of the rare films that Corman directed that wasn't successful. This film plays out like it was partially improvised with scenes that are just strung together in a dreamlike fashion as if Fellini had a hand in it. Like all of the other films in this genre the story is supposed to be symbolic with loads of small jokes aimed primarily at the mainstream establishment and society in general. For me, the main reason this is watchable is not only watching young stars before they hit it big but just to watch Elaine Giftos. I have always been a fan of hers and while she never had a big film career she was very popular on television appearing often on "The Partridge Family" and "Love, American Style" and her natural girl next door looks served her well (and me!) as I have always thought of her as beautiful. Films like this have always appealed to me because I feel they capture a time and attitude that has passed from our society although at 80 minutes this film does wear out it's welcome. This isn't the exploitive camp that made films like "Candy" so much fun nor does it possess the relevance of "Easy Rider" but along with the lovely Giftos and other recognizable actors this still has enough going for it to warrant a viewing.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** Together they head out of Texas to New Mexico where they are trying to find a pueblo with the hope of a better life and along on their strange journey they meet a modern day revolutionary named Carlos (Ben Vereen) and his music store owner girlfriend Marissa (Cindy Williams) who's pregnant. They also come across another couple named Hooper (Bud Cort) and Coralee (Talia Shire) and the 6 of them head off together but they have problems when they run into fascist football players who practice tackling girls to rape them and bikers who ride golf carts and try to protect their golf course. Once they get to the pueblo the football players threaten their existence again and it takes an interference from God to set everyone right.
This was to be the last film that Roger Corman made with AIP due to the fact that the studio made some editing choices of their own that infuriated Corman and led him to start his own company. With that, Corman had already been making these hippie flicks like "The Trip" and "Psyche-Out" and he knew there was an audience out there but this was one of the rare films that Corman directed that wasn't successful. This film plays out like it was partially improvised with scenes that are just strung together in a dreamlike fashion as if Fellini had a hand in it. Like all of the other films in this genre the story is supposed to be symbolic with loads of small jokes aimed primarily at the mainstream establishment and society in general. For me, the main reason this is watchable is not only watching young stars before they hit it big but just to watch Elaine Giftos. I have always been a fan of hers and while she never had a big film career she was very popular on television appearing often on "The Partridge Family" and "Love, American Style" and her natural girl next door looks served her well (and me!) as I have always thought of her as beautiful. Films like this have always appealed to me because I feel they capture a time and attitude that has passed from our society although at 80 minutes this film does wear out it's welcome. This isn't the exploitive camp that made films like "Candy" so much fun nor does it possess the relevance of "Easy Rider" but along with the lovely Giftos and other recognizable actors this still has enough going for it to warrant a viewing.