After a relative dies in Missouri, disenchanted California college semantics professor Adam Gaines travels East to attend the funeral, finds a summer job there, falls in love, and sees his l... Read allAfter a relative dies in Missouri, disenchanted California college semantics professor Adam Gaines travels East to attend the funeral, finds a summer job there, falls in love, and sees his life changing before his eyes.After a relative dies in Missouri, disenchanted California college semantics professor Adam Gaines travels East to attend the funeral, finds a summer job there, falls in love, and sees his life changing before his eyes.
Joella Deffenbaugh
- Marylist
- (as Jo Ella Deffenbaugh)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
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Featured reviews
Pretty good coming of age film
Michael Douglas plays a young semantics professor who has several close lady friends. I believe the film takes place in California. It has a definite hippie-era vibe. The soundtrack is kind of country-sounding, and it makes you wish they'd spent a little cash on getting some popular rock musicians to do the score. No real original music to keep the film "fresh-feeling". I've seen a dozen better films from this era about similar subject matter. Nicholson was in about five or so of them. Douglas always has a p***ed off look on his face in this movie. But I still enjoy almost every MD film I watch. He's just not Jack Nicholson. Then again, who is? Except Mr.Ray-Bans himself.
The hollow shell of American Life
Call it sentiments of generation X before generation X. This movie was fantastic. It asks the sincere question: do you see yourself as successful, or do others see it in you? And what would happen if you and society found your success in different places? The last scene captures the outcome visually with great symbolism.
Not just a low-rent Graduate clone
A minor cult classic for fans of 70s films. Joe Don Baker is outstanding. I highly recommend it, if you see it in the late-night TV listing.
This movie was filmed in my hometown of Excelsior Springs, Missouri.
That would be the only reason why I would watch it again. I was 3 years old when it was made, but I remember my parents talking about how exciting it was to have Michael Douglas staying in our little 'ol town and how everyone in town were extras in the movie. I've seen it as an adult and the only thing I enjoyed about it was looking for familiar faces and familiar places in my hometown. I would imagine anyone not from my hometown wouldn't enjoy this movie as much as I did.
It is kind of an interesting movie to watch, early in the career of Michael Douglas. I believe this movie was made before he did Streets of San Francisco which by the way I absolutely loved!
It is kind of an interesting movie to watch, early in the career of Michael Douglas. I believe this movie was made before he did Streets of San Francisco which by the way I absolutely loved!
Great Chance to See Michael Douglas in a Early Role
Idealistic college professor decides to find himself by spending a summer in the midwest as a laborer. He meets and falls in love with a beautiful young lady who, to his regret, cannot share his same vision. Biggest differance here is that the other laborers aren't potrayed as ignorant, suspicious, bigots. Instead we see them as friendly, helpful, and interesting people. Does degenerate into the perverbial bar fight, but mostly this is a subdued, almost loving look at Americas' heartland. Great chance to see Michael Douglas in a very early dramatic role. (He did this even before STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO). Lee Purcell is also quite good becoming easily identifiable of most young ladies of that era (and even today). She willingly takes on the more 'liberated' values of the younger generation when it is conveniant and fun, but is unable (and unwilling) to break from the mores of the enviroment from which she was raised. Has a good final shot.
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to an interview with Lee Purcell, she was chosen for the main role (to be teamed with Michael Douglas) from among dozens of young girls by Steve McQueen, whose company Solar Productions produced this movie. It is also the only Solar production in which McQueen does not appear.
- ConnectionsReferenced in The Bob Newhart Show: Carol at 6:01 (1976)
- How long is Adam at Six A.M.?Powered by Alexa
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