A Small Circle of Friends

I was in school then. This is the only movie ever made that got it right. 30 feet a part would be kids who were fighting the war and kids who wanted no part of it. Transformations from innocence to dissident happened overnight. Karen Allen is the best actress ever and why the hell isn't she working every day? This came out in 1980 and I thought there would be many more like this but nope---just this one.

It was a sweet time and every time I visit campus today, it's like a graveyard. Dull, calm, sane. I miss the charge that was in the air the 4 years I was in college, it's not there. Neither is the ambient sound track. Now everyone has speakers in their ears, not their dorm windows!

True classic bringing our college life in the 60's to the screen, nostalgic and accurate, and deeply appreciated. I know of no other film which makes it possible for the x-generation to get a glimpse of how we baby boomers emerged.

I usually don't like flash back films but in this one,I'll make an exception. The story of 3 folks who meet in Harvard during the Vietnam war. I thought it covered the turmoil of the time as well as being a buddy flick.Two for the price of one.See it if you went through the times as I did.

Fun, well-done film about college life in the 1960s, a volatile time. The U.S. still had the draft, so that was one concern. Jameson Parker was probably best known for his role on Simon and Simon. (had some wacky adventures in his personal life.... check it out on wikipedia!) Co-stars Brad Davis (played gay roles before it was common to do so. sadly, Davis died quite young in real life.) and Karen Allen (Indiana Jones and Animal House) are students, who all get to be close friends. Also a thirty year old Shelley Long. War protesting, antics, and love affairs along the way. Good, for the most part. sometimes overly-dramatic and preachy, but good stuff. the short, symbolic scenes really catch the various sentiments of the time. the anger over the vietnam war, and the roles played by presidents johnson and nixon. and some very pretty piano music. Directed by Rob Cohen. made an interesting mix of adventure films and television series. Written by Ezra Sacks, who had only written two other things made into film.

This film, and the principal people involved with it, have long held a special place in my life as I was an extra during the riot scene at "Harvard"(nee Bridgewater State College). While I don't have a truly memorable role in the finished film(although many close friends of mine do and were featured on two of the lobby cards from the film), I am part of the cluster of people on the main building's upper balcony(a most unsafe act as that creaky and once condemned balcony held about 15 of us at one point). Shooting went from 6 PM until 6 AM on a very rainy evening. All the rioters, with the exception of the principal actors, were student extras who raided their older sibling's closet to get the historical costumes. Real Boston MDC riot police were used, some of whom had been at the riots in the 60's. First take was particularly chaotic and bloody as students fought with the police who, acting upon instinct, violently did the same. Being part of the student press covering the event(with a story which, based on our notes, was picked up by AP), I got the opportunity to meet and greet the stars shortly before nationwide opening of the film. Filmed opened on a Wednesday and closed the following Tuesday. A great financial disappointment which truly hurt a burgeoning career for Cohen. Other brief notes: there are two familiar Steinman thematics running throughout the film. The first did become TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART while the second became a #1 hit for Air Supply, MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL. The reason that the film ended up at BSC did have to do with Harvard's exam schedule. As it turned out, this was the final scene in the film to be shot, leading studio execs to frantically find a suitable location in order to stay on shooting schedule and budget. Also, the "paddy wagon" seen rocking during the sequence(and featured prominently on one of the lobby cards) was actually rolled over onto it's roof during the first take. The student riding the vehicle is William Hoffman. Truly looking forward to seeing the DVD(first time the film, long out of print on VHS, will be in widescreen) and hearing Cohen's commentary on the while experience.