The Grasshopper (1969)

Wide-eyed nineteen year old Christine Adams decides on a whim to leave her broken family life in small town British Columbia to move to Los Angeles to be with her boyfriend Eddie Molina, ... See full summary »

Director:

Jerry Paris

Writers:

Mark McShane (novel), Jerry Belson (story),

Stars:

Jacqueline Bisset, Jim Brown, Joseph Cotten

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Christine Adams
Jim Brown	...	Tommy Marcott
Joseph Cotten	...	Richard Morgan
Corbett Monica	...	Danny Raymond
Christopher Stone	...	Jay Rigney
Ramon Bieri	...	Roosevelt Dekker
Ed Flanders	...	Jack Benton
William Callaway	...	Elroy (as Bill Calloway)
Roger Garrett	...	Buck Brown
Therese Baldwin	...	Gigi
William Bassett	...	Aaron (as William H. Bassett)
Kathalynn Turner	...	Ann Marie Dekker
Stefanianna Christopherson	...	Libby
Marc Hannibal	...	Marion Walters
David Ketchum	...	Football Conventioner

Storyline

Wide-eyed nineteen year old Christine Adams decides on a whim to leave her broken family life in small town British Columbia to move to Los Angeles to be with her boyfriend Eddie Molina, who doesn't know she's coming. Christine hopes to start a family with Eddie immediately. But Christine finds that she is restless in her life with Eddie and moves on. From move to move which are always done on a whim, Christine has a similar restless attitude, always dreaming of something better. But she has no real marketable job skills - although she is always thinking about continuing with her schooling in some trade to make a better life for herself - or sense of what working in a traditional type job means. She is able to get by on her looks, which lands her a job as a Las Vegas showgirl. She also goes in and out of relationships - including with Vegas comic Danny Raymond, ex-football player Tommy Marcott who too is trying to find his meaningful niche in life, older businessman Richard Morgan who...

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | british columbia | bank | beating | prostitution | 

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Taglines:

the story of a beautiful girl's lifetime between the ages of 19 and 22

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 1971 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Passions

Company Credits

Production Co:

National General Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally planned as part of a three picture deal between Carol White and National General (the first of which was Daddy's Gone A-Hunting), she was eventually replaced by Jacqueline Bisset.

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Connections

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004)

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Soundtracks

"USED TO BE"
Sung by Vicki Lawrence
Words and Music by Bobby Russell

User Reviews

Glorious results of a misspent youth

"The Grasshopper" is a little-known melodrama in the spirit of "Valley of the Dolls." The similarities between the two films are many. 'Valley' was made in 1968, 'The Grasshooper' in 1970, and both films tell the story of young and vibrant women who find themselves lost in the overwhelming world of show business. However of the two films, this 1970 film starring Jaqueline Bisset is more focused, and more in-depth, as it is telling the tale of one woman, while "Valley of the Dolls," followed at least three different women on their road to oblivion. Christine leaves home at the age of 19 to find excitement, and a better life. She seems to be driven by the terrifying thought that she might end up as an ordinary woman, with a boring life. Chris, wonderfully played by Bisset, wants it all, and she wants it now, before it is too late. She realizes that she has no real talent, and not much to offer besides her beauty, so she plays that card, with expected results. Jumping from man to man, in search of something that even she doesn't quite know what, always believing that she is the smart one, and the one in control. But when she slowly realizes that it is she that is being used, she finds herself a hard and jaded young woman indeed, turning to drugs, and a succession of 'wrong guys'. Because of the films age, and flashy style, "The Grasshopper" holds much camp appeal. But when you bother to look beyond the kitch, you might find a story filled with some pretty important life lessons, for Christine made all the choices that we don't want to make. And most everyone has known a person like this girl, living for the moment, with no thought of next week, until the time comes when it is too late to realize any dreams of success or happiness. This is a glitzy, excessive film, bursting with eye popping late 60's fashion and music. Jaqueline Bisset sports a different hairstyle every 10 minutes, and she is at her most beautiful here. And oddly, this is the film that showcases her acting ability, far more than any of her well known, later films. Featuring a finale that is both outrageous, and surprisingly downbeat at the same time, this one is quite entertaining, and worth a look, if you can track it down.