Synanon

There are now a lot of halfway houses in every large metropolitan center and alcoholics had them before, note I'll Cry Tomorrow. But Synanon based in San Diego was founded by Chuck Dederich a recovering alcoholic played here by Edmond O'Brien and is for folks looking to kick all kinds of addictions.

Which back then heroin was the drug of choice and still is for many. With an eclectic cast the story primarily focuses on three house residents, Stella Stevens who abandoned family and baby for junk, Alex Cord who is essentially a punk who won't take any responsibilities for anything and Chuck Connors who is a parolee and a junkie who just takes it one day at a time.

Connors and Cord have history from the joint and Cord is trying to push a confrontation with Connors. As the rules of Synanon include no fighting Connors is using a lot of willpower to prevent that. And they both have the hots for Stevens.

Cord really takes the acting honors from this film. He's such a loathsome little punk. And Stevens who normally did light material shows some real acting chops here.

Synanon is dated, but still has a powerful message.

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.

Dramatization of real-life Synanon House, a Santa Monica-based rehabilitation center for hardcore drug addicts (many of them recent parolees). Heroin-user Alex Cord butts heads with former prison adversary Chuck Conners, while Stella Stevens sorts out relations with her ex-husband and struggles to stay off the streets. A bit glamorous in its depiction of life in the gutter, perhaps due to the kicky fashions and the ocean-front locale, though director Richard Quine is quick to underline the narrative with bitterness and regret. Not as moving as it should have been, but still quite potent. Harry Stradling Jr.'s black-and-white cinematography is excellent, as is Neal Hefti's jazzy score. **1/2 from ****

A study of drug addicts in an real life treatment center.

This is a good film with an interesting cast. Third billed Alex Cord is actually the main character, the weirdly named Zankie Albo, a slick braggart with an addiction to heroin. Stella Stevens (one of her best performances) is Joaney, a divorcee with a young son who resorted to prostitution to pay for her habit. She gets involved with the charming but dangerous Albo. Top billed Chuck Connors (fresh from The Rifleman) is Ben the ex con who kicked his "H" addiction but has to contend with trouble maker Albo, who was his cell mate in prison and has a beef against him. Oscar winner Edmond O'Brien is Chuck the head of Synanon, he uses tough talk and punishments like having heads shaved and wearing humiliating signs for breaking the rules. Other "dope fiends" are played by Richard Conte, Eartha Kitt and Bernie Hamiliton.

Anyone who is interested in 1960s black and white films about lurid subjects or is a fan of any member of the cast should seek this one out.

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.