Getting Straight (1970)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Richard Rush

Writers:

Robert Kaufman (writer)
Ken Kolb (novel)

Release Date:

13 May 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

America's children lay it on the line.

Plot:

Harry Bailey has returned from Vietnam and returns to college to earn his masters degree so he can teach English...

Plot Keywords:

Student | College | Veteran | Revolution | Anti War

Cast

Elliott Gould	...	Harry Bailey
Candice Bergen	...	Jan
Robert F. Lyons	...	Nick
Jeff Corey	...	Dr. Edward Willhunt
Max Julien	...	Ellis
Cecil Kellaway	...	Dr. Kasper
Jon Lormer	...	Vandenburg
Leonard Stone	...	Lysander
William Bramley	...	Wade Linden
Jeannie Berlin	...	Judy Kramer
John Rubinstein	...	Herbert
Richard Anders	...	Dr. Greengrass
Brenda Sykes	...	Luan
Jenny Sullivan	...	Sheila
Gregory Sierra	...	Garcia

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Eugene, Oregon, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Lane Community College in Eugene served as the location for the film. The new campus was in the final stages of construction at the time of production. This allowed the film crew to easily simulate the occupation of offices and buildings by protesters without interfering with actual campus life. Some pyrotechnic effects were used, including one that used black powder and petroleum that blackened an exterior wall and startled the cast and crew. A technician apologized for overdoing the effect (an understatement). Many local people were involved, including a few hand-picked for stunt work.

Quotes:

Dr. Greengrass: [at a masters degree "firing squad"] So, it is undeniable, isn't it? You can't deny it. F. Scott Fitzgerald was a homosexual and it appears in his writing. Doesn't it? Doesn't it?
Harry Bailey: [he realizes he is defeated and suddenly lashes out with an outburst of yelling] It's gonna... it's gonna... IT'S GONNA BE A SURPRISE TO SHEILA GRAHAM!
Dr. Greengrass: [suddenly becoming afraid] W-w-what?
Harry Bailey: I SAID IT'S GONNA BE A SURPRISE TO ZELDA!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Sinister Saga of Making 'The Stunt Man' (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

Ain't No Way

Early Rush, Curly Gould and Pretty Bergen!

This so-called exploitive campus revolt film from 1970 actually has some wonderful things going on in it. (I can't believe I still have the soundtrack and recently got the video). Elliott Gould was at the peak of whatever powers he had as leading man, without Donald Sutherland to play off (M.A.S.H.) or Dyan Cannon(B&C&T&A - supporting role), and he's perfect as Harry (who I think is in every scene). Candice Bergen was never more beautiful (still learning to act after five years in film - and right before Carnal Knowledge), and throw in Jeannie Berlin, Harrison Ford (not boring for a change), and a host of other young up-and-comers at the time, along with Jeff Corey (James Dean's acting teacher, who played elder Hickock in In Cold Blood, and Wild Bill Hickock in Little Big Man) as Gould's semi-mentor, with campus revolt in a frenetic, casual (until later) sort of way.

I know a lot of people worship The Stunt Man directed by the same man, Richard Rush ten years later ( and that film is better than this; but not that great), but he did have his own style (I'm not sure what happened to his sensibilities or career). Throw in Robert F. Lyons as Gould's buddy (does anybody remember that guy?) and there's real possibilities, not politically, but in those areas of film that carry over into thought and heart and hope. This is not even close to being a definitive campus revolt flick from that time, but it has aspects (every other scene almost) that have stature ABOUT real topics with semi-interesting characters along the way, without taking SIDES about Viet Nam or rebellion. If you come across it, you'll find some other actresses and actors that were well on their way (if yo're interested in that) and the ending is strange, but somehow appropriate in an uplifting and yet depressing way. It's worth anyone's time who is, at all, interested in that time period (concerning youth vs. establishment). To make a long story short, it's not some dopey, campus comedy with nudity and platitudes and wise-cracks (except for a few scenes concerning Gould's car and landlady).

It's nothing important to convey the ideals, emotions, and contemporary feel of that era, but it hits some spaces and is also funny in a human way that is appropriately not cynical (even for then).