Pipe Dreams

Pipe Dreams, a 1976 motion picture stars R&B, soul singer Gladys Knight. Knight plays an Atlanta, Ga transplant who is offered a job on an Alaska pipeline. The movie also stars Barry Hankerson, Knights real life husband at the time as her promiscuous husband in this film, Wayne Tippet, a young Sally Kirkland, and Altovise Davis, wife of the late Sammy Davis Jr.

Pipe Dreams suffers from a script that lacks direction and a director not knowing where to take this film. Pipe Dreams should have just focused on the love/hate relationship between Gladys Knight and Barry Hankerson with added drama by Wayne Tippet who plays the pipeline company magnet Mickey Thompson, who is very controlling and manipulating of a female prostitute who ultimately takes her own life in this film, after hash words from Wayne Tippet.

The acting by Gladys Knight is surprisingly good, that is more than I can say about some of the musicians who have unfortunately caught the acting bug today.

I give this movie ** fair. It you are a Gladys Knight admirer you will like this film. Four years ago I saw this movie on video. I can't say if it is on video today.

The title says it all. Gladys Knight is a mixologist in Valdez, Alaska. Sounds like something Steve Verona dreamed up in the shower and because he's the writer/producer/director there was no one around around to towel him off, so to speak. D plus.

"Pipe Dreams" has pretty much been forgotten today, and seems unlikely to get a DVD release. It's kind of a shame the movie is now in obscurity, because while it's far from perfect, there is some good stuff here. The Alaska setting gives the movie a fresh background and some nice visuals. And the Gladys Knight songs on the soundtrack are a pleasant addition as well. Speaking of Knight, while I didn't think she was a great actress here, she was pretty good for someone who wasn't a professional actress, and on occasion she really acted out the part of a strong independent woman. However, the screenplay is kind of a mess. As others before have said, the story kind of meanders (though it's never boring.) Also, the relationship between the Knight character and her husband makes a few major shifts that seem too sudden and abrupt. This movie is not great, but it has some pleasing elements.

I saw Pipe Dreams when it first came out somewhere in the Hollywood area. Two gals came with me. I really remember little about the movie, since it was so long ago. I think we went to see Gladys Knight. Afterwards, in the lobby, one gal, Susie, said.."That was a boring movie." To which I replied, "Yes, but it took an Academy Award." She looked stunned. The other gal looked at me with dis-belief, along with another couple in the lobby who had overheard. They all turned towards me while Susie asked.."An Academy Award? What for?" And I replied..."Most snow." They looked stunned, and then it sank in. It got a good laugh.

Gladys Knight moves to Alaska, whither husband Barry Hankerson - her real-life husband at the time - has gone to work on a pipeline. She gets a job as a bartender, and. Is a witness and participant in the difficult life the few women in the area suffer. She and Hankerson want to get back together, but he expects to be forgiven for behavior that would be unforgivable in her.

It's Miss Knight's first movie as an actress, and her performance rarely exceeds adequate. She does sing a couple of songs in the soundtrack for her fans, and there seems to be a nice shot of a mountain that is used a few times. It's a decent little movie, but more for people whose love of Miss Knight's abundant talents will justify anything; me, I think she's a greater singer, but that's the limits of my admiration.