Un dulce paseo

Hollywood starlet, beaten down by the high price of glamor and success, is ready to leave her career for a mercurial surfer, who is under the thumb of a controlling tennis bum. Cheesy Twentieth Century-Fox answer to the youth movement in cinema of 1968, complete with swastika-wearing bikers and also a funny buddy (Bob Denver) straight out of the "Beach Party" movies from the earlier part of the decade. Jacqueline Bisset is obviously a beautiful women, but not so much here; the combination of gummy color cinematography and an unattractive part conspire to make the up-and-coming star look haughty and silly. Tanned, muscular Tony Franciosa gives the stilted proceedings a little kick, but Franciosa had already outgrown parts like this smug tennis hustler (it's the type of dumb role which would help kill off interest in him as an actor in the next few years). Although the picture is swill, there is some fascination (for buffs, at least) in seeing a major studio frantically trying to be 'with it'...keeping up with the kids, as it were. ** from ****

"The Sweet Ride" is a product of the permissiveness that had seeped into films in the late 1960s. Since 1934, Hollywood had adopted the rigid new Production Code...and all sorts of content in films was being banned outright. Overt sexuality was a definite no-no during this period. But with the mid-late 1960s, the Code began to vanish...and studios routinedly ignored its rigid constraints. So, in "The Sweet Ride" there is lots of nudity and cursing...though the nudity was rather restrained and the women often turned away from the camera so you didn't see that much. But it was clear the men and women in this film were having a randy good time...a definite taboo in the Production Code era movies! Unfortunately, while this movie is more permissive, this doesn't translate to it being a particularly good or enjoyable film.

The story is mostly set in a beachfront house where three ne'er do wells live and spend their time doing anything but work. Mostly, they drink and chase women. The leader of these guys, Collie (Anthony Franciosa), is a 40 year-old who is the least mature of them. Choo-Choo (Bob Denver) is a piano player who seems to spend much of his time avoiding work and fighting. And, Denny (Michael Sarrazin), is a surfer...and not even a professional one. How they can afford this house is a mystery and they all seem like 12 year-olds in men's bodies.

Their lives are disrupted when a topless woman, Vickie (Jacqueline Bisset), struggles to find her way to shore in the most modest way possible. It seems her bikini top was pulled off in the surf. Denny saves her from this predicament and soon the pair begin dating. However, Vickie is a real screwball...a woman whose life is made up of lies. The story begins with Vickie being discovered in the road...beaten badly and left for dead. The story also seems to imply she was molested...though they never say it in so many words.

While I did like how the film ended for Denny, I really tired of the characters. After all, they all seemed pretty pathetic and difficult to like. Additionally, many will dislike the vagueness of the ending...as apart for Denny, the rest seem to be stuck in their awful lives. Overall, a mildly interesting film but nothing more.

A heartfelt drama about all the different troubles one is faced with in life, the film is done in a superbly realistic manner. The characters are well developed and the relationships between them are well defined, but it is perhaps the acting of the characters that is the best part of the film, especially from Michael Sarazzin. However, the storyline itself is not all so great, as it is too familiar and too ponderous. The film also feels rather musty and B-grade, like a standard midday movie on television. But for the characters and the acting, the film is worth the watch. Great characters and acting… just not such a great plot.

The characters/actors really bring this together. Terrific chemistry all the way. The director was clearly not afraid to hang back and let the actors perform. And Tony Franciosa is great as usual. The film really captures the California beach bum/beatnik lifestyle. Highly recommended.

A word of reassurance to anyone who's just read Mr. Stockett's plot summary: The character played by Jacqueline Bisset is NOT murdered, although she comes close enough. Actually, she's raped by a cycle gang leader, beaten by a Hollywood producer, then dumped in the street to be run over (a near miss results); the rest of the film unfolds mostly in flashback. This story of assorted aimless young folk who hang out at a tennis bum's beach pad could have been a real pain to sit through, but thanks to a good cast and understanding direction it holds the interest all the way, and accurately captures a certain American lifestyle. (Most critics hated this film, which is always an encouraging sign.) The talented cast makes the characters real and interesting; you really like most of these people, and their interplay is always interesting. And that terrific title song (performed by the late Dusty Springfield) should have been a big hit!