The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart

I saw this movie in 1970 in Philadelphia when it was first released as the second part of a double feature, following Fellini Satyricon. The comment I made when I left the theater (I had graduated from high school only a few days earlier) was, "They co-opted the revolution." If that sentence makes sense to you then you'll understand my reaction. If it doesn't, I can't explain.

Peace! David

This could be the definitive film of Andy Warhol's New York sub-culture...and a rare one to find at that! It captures the decadence, the confusion, the drugs, the music and the 'boredom' of this underground world, and it all revolves around the character of Stanley Sweetheart. Don Johnson, in his first film role, plays this character brilliantly, capturing all of this insatiable desire for sensation in this beautifully androgynous performance. There also seems to be an underlying text of hidden homosexual desires, which Stanley continually suppresses, although he seems drawn to Danny character. It's a fascinating work of decadence and decay, and you can just feel Andy Warhol overlooking the whole world of Stanley's decline.

Freak-out anything-goes flick from 1970, does a great job of capturing east-coast hippie scene. Some of the scenes from this movie must have been very shocking to the few who saw it upon its initial release, as it pulls no punches in its depiction of nudity and sex and sex and nudity. More or less, this movie seems to have been made to reflect the emerging sexual openness and promiscuity of the time. Not much of a story line, but entertaining to watch, i would recommend it for those looking for a fix of late '60's/early '70's underground culture. A definite drug movie. Do not watch while operating heavy machinery...

This movie is undeservedly obscure and it's title alone should warrant a re-discovery.It's undeniably dated and the directing is self-consciously arty at times but it is a fascinating reflection of a certain time and place (univesity life in the late 1960's). This is a youth movie that offers more insight into a cultural movement (or lack thereof) than any of the generic Freddie Prince Jr., type crap that Hollywood is cranking out at a weekly rate these days. All the performers in this film are great, though Don Johnson's the only one I've heard of. This is the kind of counterculture film that fits in perfectly with the likes of Hi Mom!, Greetings, Getting Straight, The Strawberry Statement, R.P.M., End of the Road, Rabbit Run and Joanna: the kind of films that, while not always great, at least documented their times in an interesting and unique way.

At university I was part-time apsirant film-maker, part-time aspirant womaniser, and full-time aimless waster. Unsurprisingly this film struck a huge chord with me, when I stumbled across it during those bewildering days!

A great little film, lots of fun, just don't expect any niceties like, erm, a recognisable plot or a meaningful ending. The film-within-a-film - Stanley's outrageously bad student short "Headless" - is a real hoot and worth the price on its own!

Oh and if you like this, check out student rebellion in "The Strawberry Statement" and more of the young Don Johnson in "A boy and his dog", both recommended.