Taking Off (1971)

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (writer)
Milos Forman (writer)

Release Date:

17 May 1971 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Plot:

Unable to deal with her parents, Jeannie Tyne runs away from home. Larry and Lyne Tyne search for her...

Plot Keywords:

Missing Child | Hypnosis | Female Nudity | Singing | Strip Poker

Awards:

Nominated for 6 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Lynn Carlin	...	Lynn Tyne
Buck Henry	...	Larry Tyne
Georgia Engel	...	Margot
Tony Harvey	...	Tony
Audra Lindley	...	Ann Lockston
Paul Benedict	...	Ben Lockston
Vincent Schiavelli	...	Schiavelli
David Gittler	...	Jamie
Ike Turner	...	Himself (as The Ike and Tina Turner Revue)
Tina Turner	...	Herself (as The Ike and Tina Turner Revue)
Linnea Heacock	...	Jeannie Tyne
Rae Allen	...	Mrs. Divito
Frank Berle	...	Committee Man
Philip Bruns	...	Policeman (as Phillip Bruns)
Gail Busman	...	Nancy Lockston

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Georgia Engel's debut.

Soundtrack:

Long Term Physical Effects

Absolutely Delightful!

This is one of the most curiously delightful films I have ever seen. From the first few minutes until it's very end, 'Taking Off' offers an uniquely gentle vision of the confused 70s generation, it's hopes and wishes, and their problematic relationships with their respective, old-fashioned, hypocritical parents. Larry and Lynn Tyne are the heads of a typical american family, with their respective neurosis and worries targeted to their daughter Jeannie, lovely Linnea Hancock, and her taking drugs and the company that surrounds her. As she 'takes off' from home, their parents begin to seek for her, and as the seek continues, their degree of closeness is increased, while them both become absolutely degenerate and carefree - as they judge the new generation to be.

Forman presents a simple story that smoothly develops itself into a thoughtful character study about the gap of generations, presented in a fashion never seen before, and most enjoyable, scoring once again by bringing his innovative directing style from Europe to America for the first time, and with a modest budget and unknown stars, with the honorable exception of Buck Henry, Ike and Tina Turner and a very, very young Carly Simon( Singing A Remarkable Ballad, That Goes Like This - Long Term Physical Effects Are Not Yet Known... So, I'll Just Take Another Drag, And Just Get Stoned!(...) Short Term Physical Effects Are So Groovey!)

You may glimpse a young Jessica Harper during my favorite sequence, the audition one. The characters you'll find during this are simply... unforgettable. :)

So, just enjoy this underrated gem, 'with a smile on your face and a heart to embrace', a faithful portrait of youth, hypocrisy, and seemingly contained parents.