Cisco Pike - La policía y la droga

Interesting little movie set in California in the early seventies. Kris Kristofferson plays Cisco Pike, a musician trying to stop dealing drugs and get back to recording music. Unfortunately corrupt cop Holland (Gene Hackman) has an offer for Cisco. Sell some marijuana for him in two days and he'll look at charges made against Cisco (Holland's busted him twice before). Selling the drugs is harder than it looks as he has some stolen and other buyers are trying to make deals with him. He ends up getting the amount of money he needs but Holland is unstable and starts shooting anything in sight.

It's a movie where almost everyone seems stoned or drugged up, Kristofferson is great as the main character and his songs are good too. Enjoyable performances too from Hackman, Karen Black and Harry Dean Stanton make this a decent watch about the tail end of the sixties drug scene.

This film was barely seen in 1972 starring Kristofferson and Gene Hackman as a scumbag cop. Harry Dean Stanton is marvelous as Kris' friend and Karen Black is always interesting. The cute Joy Bang is even here. This film was so far under the radar, most people forgot it even exists.

A 7 out of 10. Best performance = Harry Dean Stanton. Hackman should have played more characters like this one. This may be Kristofferson's best work (as an actor) along with Blume in Love. Great cinematography and location work. I can't believe this wasn't a hit in 1972. Track this one down and you won't be disappointed.

There was plenty of "junk" in the golden age 70's, but this film should not be included.

One of the lost 70s movies that seldom turns up in books or on 'best' lists, and yet it defines the time (1972) and place (Venice Beach, CA) like no other. Leading the stellar cast is Kris Kristofferson, playing a down-on-his-luck musician - kind of ironically as his soundtrack is every bit as good as his performance. The ever-wonderful Karen Black is his much put-upon girlfriend, though a strong character in her own right. Harry Dean Stanton strums a guitar and shoots up, while Gene Hackman plays a rogue cop, Factory model Viva appears looking somewhat out of place in LA, and the Doug (Sahm) in the Sir Douglas Quintet plays himself, even doing a turn in the studio. Finally, there's the perfectly named Joy Bang, and that's pretty much all you need to know. Sure, there's a story going on about a dope deal that inevitably goes tits up, but we've all seen that before. This is a character driven movie with a vengeance and while it may be the only film of note from writer/director Bill Norton, it's a great one.

Anyone looking for a downbeat, humorous melodrama should track down Kris Kristofferson's acting debut as the title character. Gene Hackman, Harry Dean Stanton and Karen Black compliment him nicely in a dated yet refreshing picture about a has-been musician who's recently quit dealing drugs. Hackman is a psychotic narc who blackmails him into selling stolen marijuana and Black is his put-upon live-in girlfriend that's just about had it with Pike's freewheeling ways. An extremely moody piece, punctuated with quick but successful comedic moments and quietly tense scenes. CISCO PIKE is from that early 70's less-is-more period of filmmaking and makes a great diversion from the feces currently hurled at us from Hollywood. Just goes to show that good movies age well, regardless of the pop culture it contains within.

Cisco Pike was Kris Kristofferson's film debut and it's astonishing to see him looking so young. He also provided the bulk of the songs featured on the soundtrack. He plays Cisco Pike, a recovering drug dealer and semi pro musician who can't quite decide which direction his life is going to take. Crooked cop Gene Hackman approaches Kris with the chance to clear his criminal record by selling Gene's purloined stash of primo dope. The balance of the film follows Kris' efforts to unload the pot in one hurried weekend which finds him frolicking in bed with Warhol star Viva and porn actress Joy Bang, dropping in to the studio with Doug Sahm and the Sir Douglas Quartet, dining on fine food with Antonio 'Huggy Bear' Fargas, and reminiscing about old times with his strung out old music buddy H D (Harry Dean) Stanton. Add Karen Black, Severn Darden and Wavy Gravy himself, Hugh Romney, and you have an amazing time capsule and a tremendously entertaining and well acted picture. This would make a terrific double bill with 1971s Vanishing Point.