I Need a Ride to California

Filmed in 1968, one of the first films to be filmed with a hand portable camera. Never released because Engel said it needed more work, but it is not known whether any additional work was done until 1972. In that year, more music was recorded by some commissioned artists, and the film was thought to be finally complete at that point. It is unknown why it still was never released. The film was held by Engel's daughter Mary Engel for many years, who gave it to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City in early 2017 for restoration. MoMA unveiled the original 1972 completed film at a private screening on June 21, 2017, then set to work with its restoration which was completed in April 2018. The public world premiere of the restored film took place at MoMA on October 23, 2019. The first home video release was by Kino in the USA on Blu-ray March 9, 2021, and by Carlotta in Europe (France) on DVD and Blu-ray March 10, 2021.

The original 1968 production sheet for the initial cut of the completed film gives the running time as 88 minutes. The film was revised in 1972, including adding more commissioned music, and this print, held by Engel's daughter until she gave it to MoMA in early 2017 runs 83 minutes. MoMA restored the film, completed in April 2018, and it is this version that was shown theatrically premiering in October 2019; it is not known how this restoration differs from the two earlier versions. A separate restored cut running 80 minutes is the version released on USA Blu-ray and European DVD and Blu-ray, in March 2021.