Up in the Cellar

this movie contains some scenes that are significant to residents of Las Cruces, NM, where it was filmed. The opening scene shows the first phase of the downtown remodeling of the late 60's a former county commissioner has a small speaking part. The explosion of the radio tower was part of the move of a local station, KOBE, from one part of town to it's current location. Cutaways during the showing of the "porno film" have locals who were lured to the filming being told they would see the 'Sound of Music' not realizing there reactions would be cutaways in the porno angle of the film. The New Mexico State University band was put in the film in the basketball arena which was a year old at the time. The film is a typical 60's farce and probably not as interesting to those who aren't from here

College student Colin Slade (Wes Stern) is unjustly thrown out of a college by a computer error. Self-righteous principal Maurice Cambers (Larry Hagman) won't lift a finger to help him--because he installed the computers so they HAVE to be right! To get revenge Colin joins a revolutionary group and seduces Cambers wife (Joan Collins), daughter (Nira Barab) and black mistress (Judy Pace)! And Cambers is running for political office.

At first I hated this. The plot and jokes were VERY 60s (and not very funny now) and there were dreadful late 60s fashions, hairstyles and dialogue. And Stern is a lousy actor...and unattractive to boot. But slowly I began to like it and by the last half I was enjoying myself a lot! The movie was made to cash in through the enormous success of 1968s "Three in the Attic". I haven't seen that film--I'd love to but it's impossible to find--so I can't say how much of a copy this is. But this turns into a very sharp satire on politics, universities, self-righteousness and censorship. Some of it is still (sadly) relevant today. And it has an ending where EVERYBODY ends up happy! As I said Stern was lousy and Barab was even worse. But Hagman is a howl (and is really enjoying himself); David Arkin is great in a small role as Hugo Crane (his description of the revolutionary group is a definite highlight); Pace is wonderful in her role and Joan Collins successfully fakes an American accent and has a hysterical speech in front of an audience at the end.

So--it took a while for me to warm up to it but I ended up being very entertained. I give it a 7.

1960's period piece. Strictly a snapshot of late 60's culture, made in the haphazard style that was briefly popular in the late 60's-early 70's. Of course it is irreverent- but I really don't see any relevance. It is yet another 1960's attempt to present mere irreverence as something relevant, but it wasn't relevant then, and isn't now.

However, when I saw this film in a theater in 1970 I laughed out loud, as did most of the audience. Laughed despite viewing the worst film actor I have ever seen (Wes Stern) and nothing from actress Nira Barab. The plus factor is Larry Hagman, who is energetic, extremely charismatic and funny. Joan Collins is good here too.

I would like to watch this movie again if they could edit out Wes Stern, but unfortunately he is in too many of the scenes.

As far as 1970-era culture, this movie won't make us nostalgic for those days but can only serve as a time capsule.

This movie is one of my faves, it captures the essence of the late 60's/early 70's perfectly. It's a lighthearted look at the whole student activism era, and the generation gap, us-against-them attitudes of young people at that time.

I'm sorry but I would have to disagree with Richard about the New Mexico shooting location - I think the movie wouldn't be the same without those desolate, wide-open, huge blue sky and mountains backdrops and stark university buildings. It makes the movie for me and if I ever came to America NMSU and Las Cruces would definitely be on my list of places to visit. I think it symbolises the hopelessness of one student against the president of a university with the blind faith of a whole state behind him.

Joan Collins, Larry Hagman, Judy Pace and Nira Barab are lots of fun but it was pretty obvious that the character of Colin Slade was one of the first big roles for Wes Stern.

If you're thinking of buying Angus Hall's novel "The Late Boy Wonder" because the movie is based on it then you might want to think again. After searching for the book for years I found it on the Barnes and Noble site and bought it. I wish I hadn't because first of all it is so different to the movie and secondly it has an ending which is nothing like the spirit of the movie at all.

This film essentially begins with a young college student by the name of "Colin Slade" (Wes Stern) being told that his scholarship in has been cancelled by the school's new computer. Being quite dismayed by this, Colin immediately goes to see the university president "Maurice Camber" (Larry Hagman) who shows complete indifference to his problem. Needless to say, this depresses Colin to such an extent that--in adherence to the advice of a local college activist group--he decides to commit suicide in a public forum in order to ruin any chance Mr. Camber might have towards winning a coveted political election. However, when that doesn't work, he then decides to seduce Mr. Camber's daughter "Tracy Camber" (Caitlin Adams), his wife "Pat Camber" (Joan Collins) and his mistress "Harlene" (Judy Pace) and then publicize it to further embarrass him even more. What he doesn't count on is just how resilient Mr. Camber actually turns out to be. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was an okay comedy which depended heavily upon the political unrest that was felt and seen during this particular time in American history. To that effect, those viewers who may not have lived during this time may not get some of the satirical humor involved here. Not that it really matters as the humor isn't nearly as sharp as it could have been anyway. Be that as it may, while this clearly wasn't a great comedy by any means, I suppose it had its moments, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.