Getting Straight (1970)

A Vietnam vet and former social radical is conflicted by his desire to become a teacher and his sympathy with anti-establishment student protests.

Director:

Richard Rush

Writers:

Robert Kaufman, Ken Kolb (novel)

Stars:

Elliott Gould, Candice Bergen, Robert F. Lyons

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elliott Gould	...	Harry Bailey
Candice Bergen	...	Jan
Robert F. Lyons	...	Nick
Jeff Corey	...	Dr. Edward Willhunt
Max Julien	...	Ellis
Cecil Kellaway	...	Dr. Kasper
Jon Lormer	...	Vandenburg
Leonard Stone	...	Lysander
William Bramley	...	Wade Linden
Jeannie Berlin	...	Judy Kramer
John Rubinstein	...	Herbert
Richard Anders	...	Dr. Greengrass
Brenda Sykes	...	Luan
Jenny Sullivan	...	Sheila
Gregory Sierra	...	Garcia

Storyline

Harry Bailey has returned from Vietnam and returns to college to earn his masters degree so he can teach English. He is considered a hero among the radical student body, but still sees the absurdity on both sides of the fence. He contends with the reactionary administration and the impetuous, often futile objectives of the restless students. He acts as a mediator between the two feuding bodies. On top of everything else, his girlfriend Jan wants to marry him and live a life in the suburbs. He is cornered and finally lets loose at his own masters degree dissertation meeting, just as the latest protest heats up.

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Plot Keywords:

student | radical | vietnam vet | college | teacher | 

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Taglines:

America's children lay it on the line.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 May 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Camino recto

Filming Locations:

Eugene, Oregon, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, The Organization

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cecil Kellaway's last movie.

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Quotes

Jake: He was busting my chops about how my paintings were subversive. C'mon! My wife's ass is a subversive painting?

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Crazy Credits

A film by the organization

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Video Violence 2 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Shades of Gray"
Written by C. Weil

User Reviews

ONE MANS QUEST TO BE APATHETIC..........

While it would be easy for many to catagorize "Getting Straight" as a period film,it nonetheless is a timeless homage to those poor souls who are casual victims of circumstance.

From the beginning of the movie we see as protagonist Harry Bailey is set upon by all of his much younger and very politically naive fellow college students who think that if only Harry would join up with them,then their causes of the moment would be complete.It doesn't dawn upon these people that Harry is much older,with a completely different set of priorities than he had before going off to fight in the Vietnam war.

At this time in Harrys life,he wants to finish his masters degree in order to be given a teaching credential.Once he gets this,he can go about the business of molding future system challengers and left-wing banner carriers.

The only thing that stands in his way is his own naivite and egalitarian mind-set that he has reserved for all but himself.

"Getting Straight" shows us all the inevitable complications of fence-sitting and ignoring our potential in life.