Die Gierigen

Synanon was formed because there was pretty much nowhere an addict could find help back in the fifties. Even Alcoholics Anonymous wouldn't accept them. Heroin addicts were regarded as hopeless cases. In fact, the founder of Synanon came to believe addicts had to remain in a confined supportive community for the rest of their lives in order to avoid relapse. The movie is a remarkably realistic portrayal of what rehab was like for drug addicts back in the day. Countless Therapeutic Communities were patterned after Synanon. Residents who broke the rules underwent a variety of punishments: anything from wearing humiliating signs around their necks to digging "graves" 6 feet deep, 8 feet long and 4 feet wide every morning for a week. Until it was outlawed, sleep deprivation was a common punishment. A resident might be made to stay awake for 72 hours straight. This movie is a fascinating glimpse into the early days rehabilitation.

regarding Manson era, S. California and the drug issue.

Suffice to say, this film is an interesting squib on the socio-political era of the late 1960's. While it offers no answers it gives the audience a glimpse into the times.

Look for Jay Sebring (1969 victim of the Manson/Tex Watson murders), as well as Stella Stevens as a junkie in rehabilitation, she looks quite well put together. The actor portraying Zanke Albo, who is involved with Stevens is quite good as a heroin addict.

Eartha Kitt looks lovely, is convincing as a drug addict at the end of the line, living at "Synanon", in Santa Monica California headquarters.

The true story of Synanon itself has a very interesting back-story, apparently the founder Dieterich (well portrayed by an aging Edmond O'Brien) at one point had raised millions. Initially if one researches, the group had helped addicts, but later became a cult without good purpose.

This film is often shown on satellite via Universal or MGM and I rate it a 9 because it is very interesting to those of us interested in 1960's American culture.

Also, I will not call it "counter" culture because research into the political era shows how very divided this country was, and indeed, still is. Similar issues and divisiveness exist, even to this day.

VERY interesting 9/10.

"Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life." Chuck Dederich, a newborn alcoholic, gathered like-minded drunks and hookers and created his own AA named The Tender Loving Care Club. The crew played the "Game" in which anyone was allowed to say anything, true or not, to someone to cause an effect. A.k.a. Attack therapy. They survived by begging stale food from catering trucks, hookers doing tricks and donations. When Chuck turned to the junkies for a more lucrative operation began his career as a savior. Politicians, actors and sociologists wanted to play the Game too. For fun. And then came Columbia Pictures... This is not a good rehab movie. Not accurate or serious. It is pure speculation. At a time when many therapy tricksters emerged as commercial psycho projects. L. Ron Hubbard was one.

A trifle perhaps, but "Tonight's the Night" by Neal Hefti is a great tune.

Studies of drug use and addiction in these United States show there wasn't really what could be called a "societal problem" until after passage of the Harrison Act of 1913, the law outlawing so many drugs.

Marijuana was outlawed about 25 years later, and all the drug prohibition has faithfully followed the pattern set by alcohol prohibition in the 1920s: crime and misery and violence and bloodshed.

And huge profits for the people willing to break the laws against selling and distributing those products.

Opponents of prohibition believe, with much research and evidence backing their position, that the laws cause more problems than do the drugs.

There is really not much support for the drugs themselves, although there is growing support for the freedom to choose, and even the most ardent opponent of prohibition recognizes that at least some people suffer badly from drug use and especially from drug addiction.

Synanon was founded by a former substance abuser to help addicts kick their habits. This movie is about him and that effort.

It could have been a cheapie exploitation movie, and the original advertising plan did seem to appeal to the sensational. But it had, instead, an intelligent and apparently honest script and some of Hollywood's most talented actors.

I started watching a TCM presentation with trepidation, prepared to switch channels, but found myself fascinated.

Especially by the actors.

Chuck Connors is one of my favorites and I sat in awe of his very low-key performance. Yes, he stayed busy, even having two TV series, but I don't think he got the respect he should have.

Edmond O'Brien is one of the greatest, an actor capable of probably any type of characterization.

Richard Conte is another of my favorites, and again his low-key performance fit his role just perfectly.

Many others also deserve praise, but I've gone on too long. Let me just say I highly recommend "Synanon."

Given the subject matter, you can imagine what a depressing downer this film is. It was pretty racy for its time but the problem never goes away. I would have liked to have seen more of Eartha Kitt. A good dramatic role for Stella Stevens.