Synanon

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.

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."

One of the first movies to show drug addicts & their attempts to 'get clean'. Main character 'Joaney' played by the great STELLA STEVENS is an addict that is trying to straighten out her life and get custody of her son. She is attending counseling sessions at the famed SYNANON HOUSE in sunny California. Lots of good acting support from off-key sources like EARTHA KITT. Overall, film is average.

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.

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.