Best Friends

"Best Friends" is a real obscurity. It doesn't seem to be listed in any movie reference books. Also, it was never released on VHS, and it was only quietly given a release on DVD (in box sets containing other Crown-International movies) a few years ago. If you know what Crown-International typically released, you will see that their pickup of this movie was a very atypical choice. Although there is some nudity and sex, the movie never feels like exploitation - the events of the movie unfold in a very serious dramatic fashion. I can only wonder what drive-in audiences thought of it. As for what I thought, it is kind of slow-moving, but at the same time I found it strangely compelling; I was really interested in seeing how things would turn out for the four central characters. This movie is definitely not for everyone, but if you like dramatic and unconventional films from the 1970s (and like movies about road trips), you might find enough interest here.

I can only imagine what the drive-in crowd thought of Best Friends on its original release: it's a downbeat drama that is a far cry from Crown International's usual breezy/cheezy output.

Richard Hatch and Doug Chapin play long-time pals and ex-army buddies Jesse and Pat, who, together with their partners Kathy (Susanne Benton) and Jo Ella (Ann Noland) embark on a cross-country road-trip in a rented Winnebago. Once the trip is over, Jesse intends to marry his girlfriend and get a job, but Pat has different ideas: he wants to continue his care-free friendship with his old buddy and proceeds to try and ruin Jesse's relationship with Kathy. Naturally, things spiral out of control for the foursome, with an unexpectedly tragic ending.

Competently directed, with reasonable performances from its leads, Best Friends isn't a bad movie, but hardly makes for fun viewing. Avid Crown International fans might struggle with the film's rather depressing nature, but will at least appreciate Jo Ella's topless dance at a strip bar and Kathy's shower scene.

BEST FRIENDS is a boring, laid back road movie courtesy of Crown International Pictures. The cheapness of the production is apparent in the seeming lack of a script and the random aimlessness of the direction. It's almost like RACE WITH THE DEVIL as two couples go on a journey of self-discovery across America, but without any actual story.

This is a good film to watch if you want to know what Richard Hatch was up to before he starred in BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. Sadly, the slow pace and the resolute lack of action and incident makes it feel very dull from the start. I suppose you could argue that the film has a naturalistic feel to it and some realism, but what's the point when nothing happens?

Being a 1970s movie, there's plenty of nudity here, included in random moments like the lengthy strip show in the bar. The actresses are naturalistic and 'real', a far cry from the modern plastic surgery-enhanced women you tend to see in American B-movies. Only in the second half does an oddly nihilistic plot line rear its head, but by that time I didn't care anyway.

This buddy movie/road trip flick is one of a type of movie that I automatically have a soft spot for and always cut serious slack to. It's one of those early 70's oddities that has a bit of a mild counter-culture feel and has an overall vibe that I am a bit of a sucker for. It's about two male friends, both not long out of the army after serving in Vietnam. They now find themselves moving in different directions in life. One wants to settle down, while the other still wishes to remain a free spirit, not only that but he is jealous and unhappy to be losing his friend to a domestic life with his fiancé and so tries ever increasingly dangerous ways to break up their relationship. Events play out on a road trip where these young men travel in a camper-van with their girlfriends in the American south west.

Released by Crown International Pictures who were known for releasing low budget B-movies, this film is decidedly different from most of the films in their catalogue. For one thing, it isn't really a genre flick and instead is a psychological drama about friendship, relationships and growing up. It's only in its final act that it enters territory more closely associated with a traditional genre picture. In all honesty it is quite a strange movie and its very unpredictability makes it oddly compelling. It's also very nicely photographed too with some beautiful shots that capture the vast desert landscape. I also have a strange weakness for 70's films that have folk pop soundtracks and this one sure has its fair share of that too, with an assortment of laid-back soft rock complimenting events. In terms of a story-line, it's not particularly strong, with its strengths lying more as a character driven piece as opposed to a bit of narrative film-making. Sequences come and go in a fairly casual manner, I quite like this and, in any case, some scenes are somewhat distinctive, such as an oddball sequence that plays out in a Native American strip bar of all places.

This is one of those flicks that is either going to connect with the viewer or it isn't. However, if you appreciate a certain kind of oddball, low-key 70's American movie then I reckon this could be up your alley.

I usually like films that focus on a few characters rather then many or even a lot. And "Best Friends" focuses exclusively on 4 characters.

Jessie (Richard Hatch) and Pat (Doug Chapin) have been friends since perhaps childhood. And they've done everything together. In the beginning we get a montage of pictures showing they've been through everything to the prom to the war. And this is how the movie gets it's edge. Jessie came home from Vietnam before Pat did, and it's pretty obvious the war has affected Pat, not Jessie. But, anyways, Jessie and his girlfriend Kathy (Susanne Benton) decide to drive to California to meet Pat when he gets off the airplane. See the thing is they want to take a cross country trip/vacation, and along comes Pat's estranged girlfriend Jo Ella (Ann Noland).

The movie starts off perfectly normal, when everyone see's each other again, it seems like this is going to be a fun road movie. But, soon tension starts to amount. Kathy is clingy to Jessie, and Pat is jealous. Plus, Kathy and Jessie has a much better, loving relationship, then Pat and Jo Ella. Pat is stilted and wants to enjoy life, Jo Ella wants to settle down and be married.

Things get even more heated when Jo Ella makes a fool out of herself by taking her top off at an Indian bar and a fight emerges with the group. Pat wants to protect Jessie (who was hit) but Kathy won't let him. It seems like Pat is becoming more and more obsessed with getting Kathy completely out of the picture and having Jessie to himself.

Then, the film takes a hard left turn. Pat sits Jo Ella down and tells her he has no intention on marrying her. Her life is immediately shattered. He then lies to her and tells her Jessie has been interested in her all this time and she should try to sleep with him. And then another turn comes when Pat sees Kathy alone and tells her Jessie would be a horrible husband and would probably cheat on her.

Jessie and Jo Ella sleep together, Pat tries to rape Kathy, and Jessie beats the holy hell out of Pat. This sets up the last half of the picture where Pat and Jessie try to regain their friendship, through what else, trying to find younger girls to have sex with.

In an ultimate turn of events in the movie (which I won't reveal for you loyal readers out there who will go see this), each one of the four's life are effected by the horrible tragedy that occurs at the end. It's a moment full of empathy, regret, and sadness. Pat ends the picture by saying "We've been together for so long.....we can have it all....." "Best Friends" was mismarketed as a grindhouse/drive-in film in 1974, so the company that released it decided to release it in theaters in early 1975, and I'm sure if it had the proper advertisement and some Academy members actually took the time to see it, it would have got some kind of Academy recognition.

The part of "Best Friends" that keeps coming up is, Ann Noland. She easily gives one of my favorite performances of all time as Jo Ella.

Ann Noland's Jo Ella is multi-layered. She is seemingly happy and carefree, yet she worries about her future nearly every day. She stays "Best Friends" most interesting character. The scene right before her and Jessie have sex where she throws leaves on him and seems playful, then starts crying and says "We're not getting married..." She is heartbreaking! For it's mellow and tense atmosphere, hippie soundtrack, and surprisingly great acting, including Ann Noland's shattering Jo Ella, makes "Best Friends" one of my favorite movies!