End of the Road (1970)

Director:

Aram Avakian

Writers:

John Barth (novel)
Dennis McGuire ...
(more)

Release Date:

10 February 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Are you ready for "End Of The Road"?

Plot:

After a catatonic episode on a railway station platform, Jacob Horner is taken to "The Farm", a bizarre insane asylum run by Doctor D...

Plot Keywords:

Anti Establishment | Mad Doctor | Abortion | Cult Film | Absurd Humor

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Stacy Keach	...	Jacob Horner
Harris Yulin	...	Joe Morgan
Dorothy Tristan	...	Rennie Morgan
James Earl Jones	...	Doctor D
Grayson Hall	...	Peggy Rankin
Ray Brock	...	Sniperman / Mrs. Dockey
John Pleshette	...	Finkle
Gail Gilmore	...	Miss Gibson (as Gail Gibson)
Maeve McGuire	...	Receptionist
Norman Simpson	...	Dr. Schott
Graham Jarvis	...	Dr. Carter
June Hutchinson	...	Miss Banning / Tea Lady
Joel Oppenheimer	...	Chicken Man
James Coco	...	School Man
Oliver Clark	...	Dog Man
Terry Southern	...	Mr. Caruso
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Crab Man / Tutu Man
David Viner	...	Frog Man
Aram Avakian	...	Pig Man / Landlord
Eric Ashelman	...	Blue Baron
Fran Hall	...	Tea Lady
Leslie Taft	...	Garbage Lady
Joan Pape	...	Snake Lady
Ellen Faison	...	Sarah Bernhardt
Jack Wright III	...	J. Christ / Nijinsky
Rick Robbins	...	Bob Zimmerman
Illa Howe	...	Elvira Madigan
Bryan Oakley	...	Morgan Child
Tim Oakley	...	Morgan Child
Joel Wolfe	...	Ticket Seller

Directed by
Aram Avakian

Writing credits
John Barth		(novel "The End of the Road")
Dennis McGuire		&
Terry Southern		&
Aram Avakian

Produced by
Stephen F. Kesten	....	producer
Max L. Raab	....	executive producer
Terry Southern	....	producer

Original Music by
Teo Macero

Cinematography by
Gordon Willis

Film Editing by
Robert Q. Lovett

Production Design by
Jack Wright III

Art Direction by
Robert Hamlin

Set Decoration by
John Mortensen

Makeup Department
John Alese	....	makeup artist
Cal Bryant	....	hair stylist
Dean Newman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Steven P. Skloot	....	unit manager (as Steven Skloot)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward Folger	....	assistant director: mental patients
Alan Hopkins	....	assistant director (as J. Alan Hopkins)

Art Department
Eli Aharoni	....	carpenter
Kenneth Fitzpatrick	....	props

Sound Department
Jean Bagley	....	sound editor
Richard Gramaglia	....	sound
Marc Laub	....	sound editor (as Mark M. Laub)
Dick Vorisek	....	sound (as Richard Vorisek)

Camera and Electrical Department
George Barkatin	....	still photographer
Michael Chapman	....	camera operator
Vincent Delaney	....	gaffer
Richard Falk	....	gaffer
Richard Pipes	....	still photographer
Tibor Sands	....	assistant camera
Howard Sochurek	....	still photographer
Gerald S. Upham	....	still photographer
John Volpe	....	grip
Robert Ward	....	grip
Jack Wright III	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Catherine Gaudio	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Kate Gaudio)

Editorial Department
Barry Malkin	....	associate editor
Walter Rappeport	....	assistant editor

Music Department
George Avakian	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Richard DiBona Jr.	....	production assistant
Lois Kramer Hartwick	....	production secretary (as Lois Kramer)
Nancy Hopton	....	script supervisor (as Nancy Norman)

Production Companies

• Max L. Raab Productions

Distributors

• Allied Artists Pictures
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (Canada)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:X (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating) (2010)

Filming Locations:

Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Max L. Raab Productions

Trivia:

Some of the hospital inmates were played by real patients on leave from the Austen-Riggs Psychiatric Institute.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 7 (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Don't Worry 'Bout Me

An Audacious Period Artifact

THE PLOT: Bizarre adaption of John Barth's already bizarre novel detailing the story of a man (Keach) who goes into a catatonic state at a train station. He is sent to a strange mental hospital run by a weird man named Dr D (Jones). After he is considered to be 'cured' he takes a job as a college Professor and proceeds to have an affair with the wife of one of his colleagues.

THE NEGATIVE: It has been noted that author Barth disliked this film version of his novel and it is easy to see why. It gives only a basic outline of the story while leaving out all of the deeper meanings. It also tried to tie the story to all the chaos and rebellion of the 60's even though the book was written in 1955. The final result is a very confusing and off putting mess with nothing coming together at all. The characters all act very odd and with no understanding of their motivations it becomes impossible for the viewer to relate to them or anything else that goes on. Most viewers, especially those that are not familiar with the John Barth book, will easily become confused and turned off by this film after the first five or ten minutes if not sooner.

THE POSITIVE: The film-making style is refreshingly audacious in a way that is rarely seen anymore. Everything is just thrown out there no matter how outrageous with little or no regard to mainstream acceptance. The kinetic imagery and music has a certain hypnotic effect that keeps you connected to it even if you don't understand what is going on. The film culminates with a very intense, grizzly, and tasteless abortion scene that will not be soon forgotten by anyone who sees it. Jones gives one of the most bizarre and over-the-top performances that you will ever see anywhere. Anyone who is a fan of his or has an interest in acting MUST see him in this film.

THE LOWDOWN: The film is a misfired experiment that manages to be enough of a period artifact to make it an interesting curio. It definitely has the ability to stay with you for awhile after it is over.

THE RATING: 6 out of 10.