Happy Birthday, Wanda June

Bill Hickey is fabulous as Col. Harper, Rod Stieger chews the scenery as Harold Ryan. This movie is very confusing, I have only met one person who saw it in a theater, ABC used to show it late at night, the last time I saw it they showed the reels out of order, nice guys, no way you could possibly have a clue.

It is the Homecoming of Odesius from the Trojan Wars, Penelope (Susanah York) has two lovers, a doctor and a vacuum cleaner salesman. Ryan and Harper have been lost for seven years, and they return without warning having found diamonds the size of grapefruits.

I have not been able to locate this film other than on 1 inch video tape, I would love to get a good copy of it.

The first time I've watched this remarkable movie, was on commercial TV..I was sincerely amazed with this exquisite blend of irony,madness and desperation that was a trademark of Mr.Vonegut's works.But, there was something really new coming on that flick...the urges of a mankind behind those solid characters, Steiger and Hickey, this last one the bomber that wasted Hiroshima, and his Master, a frontiersman Steiger,both back from a disastrous expedition to Africa, that lasted years...Their families, in the face of those presumed deceased...What about an effervescent and mutating world of the early 70's?They should portrait the Vietnam fighters, being cursed for the flower power generation...Blended with superb interpretations from all the cast, with poisonous 'sensa huma'and political uncorrectioness all over the place.Those were the days, dude. A really must see...

This is one of my favourites, so I admit to being terrible biased about its merit. As a movie it's a bit clunky in places, but the cast is wonderful. For me the best of these is William Hickey. He often has the best lines in the fashion of the fool in Shakepeare. A drunken broken man whose one defining moment (in his friend's eyes anyway) he regrets totally. The movie is worth a look just for him. If you don't understand or enjoy Kurt Vonnegut's cynicism you won't enjoy this film. All of the "living" characters leave something to be desired, and there is little to inspire here. But it is funny in an ironic kind of way, and so indicative of humanity. The deceased characters (who all play shuffleboard in heaven on Jesus' team) are a hoot as well.

I can't believe only one other person has commented on this movie! I guess it must be virtually pulled from circulation. I haven't seen it for years, but i've always remembered it and have been looking for it ever since one chance viewing on late night TV.

I just thought it was brilliant but have subsequently learned that critics thought it was horrible. oh well.

it felt like a drama by a great playwright. primal man vs. refined culture. outdoorsman vs. city folk. men vs. women.

and it's played to the hilt by Steiger and William Hickey. Hickey gives one of those most wonderful, funny, quirky, memorable performances i've ever seen in a film. and Steiger very effectively makes you hate him, playing this full-of-himself a*shole to the hilt -- but who can also appeal to any burgeoning Thoreauvian, or maybe even xtreme sports enthusiast.

there are some very funny scenes involving a violin that obviously symbolizes refined culture. There's almost something of a Simpsons in this -- an adult comedic violent film version of Homer vs. Lisa.

there's gotta be some reason this has been pulled from circulation cuz it's just too good and weird to not make more frequent appearances on the second-string movie channels. if you ever get a chance to see it, i say, email me and lemmi know when it's on! and don't miss it.

William Hickey: Thanks for being here!

Based on Kurt Vonnegut's off-Broadway play, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE,

is essentially about Susannah York's character Penelope Ryan and the

men that dominate her life, including a phenomenal Rod Steiger as ultra-

macho big game hunter Harold. The story also occasionally jumps to

heaven (yes, really), where Wanda June, the victim of a drunk driving

incident, plays shuffleboard for all eternity. This excellent film has

sadly never been available on video or DVD. I've only seen it on a

bootleg DVD made from a TBS broadcast in the late 80's (with some of

the language censored).