Butterflies Are Free (1972)

Director:

Milton Katselas

Writers:

Leonard Gershe (screenplay)
Leonard Gershe (play)

Release Date:

22 September 1972 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

Take some time to smell the flowers.

Plot:

A blind man moves into his own apartment against the wishes of his overprotective mother, and befriends the freethinking young woman next door.

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Mother | Actress | Commitment | Son

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Goldie Hawn	...	Jill Tanner
Edward Albert	...	Don Baker
Eileen Heckart	...	Mrs. Baker
Paul Michael Glaser	...	Ralph (as Michael Glaser)
Michael Warren	...	Roy Stratton (as Mike Warren)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlene Jones	...	Girl in Mod Shop (uncredited)
Jessica Rains	...	1st Girl (uncredited)
Paul Ryan	...	Man in Mod Shop (uncredited)
Debralee Scott	...	Girl in Opening Credits (uncredited)
Sandra Vacey	...	Girl in Mod Shop (uncredited)

Directed by
Milton Katselas

Writing credits
Leonard Gershe		(screenplay)
Leonard Gershe		(play)

Produced by
M.J. Frankovich	....	producer

Original Music by
Bob Alcivar

Cinematography by
Charles Lang		(director of photography) (as Charles B. Lang)

Film Editing by
David E. Blewitt		(as David Blewitt)

Casting by
Bob Ellsworth

Production Design by
Robert Clatworthy

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Costume Design by
Moss Mabry

Makeup Department
Susan Germaine	....	hairdresser (as Suzy Germain)
Karl Silvera	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mike Frankovich Jr.	....	unit manager
William O'Sullivan	....	executive production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ivan Volkman	....	assistant director
David Hawks	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Ned Kopp	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Clayton Shair	....	property master
George Luxemberg	....	props (uncredited)
Sam Moore	....	leadman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jack Haynes	....	sound re-recordist
Charles T. Knight	....	sound mixer (as Charles Knight)
Arthur Piantadosi	....	sound re-recordist
Richard Tyler	....	sound re-recordist
Phil Mitchell Jr.	....	mic operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt double: Edward Albert (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Elmo Buness	....	dolly operator
John Englert	....	key grip
Gene Glick	....	gaffer
Arnold L. Rich	....	camera operator (as Arnold Rich)
Paul E. Borchardt	....	best boy (uncredited)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Victor King	....	second camera assistant (uncredited)
Dennis O'Sullivan	....	first camera assistant (uncredited)
Larry Stott	....	best boy (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Seth Banks	....	costume supervisor: men
Edna Taylor	....	costume supervisor: women

Editorial Department
Earle Herdan	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Ralph James Hall	....	music editor (as Ralph Hall)
Michael Stone	....	music mixer
Mike Deasy	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Other crew
Harold Krents	....	technical advisor
Maury Nemoy	....	title designer
Charles M. Powell	....	public relations
Jim Powers	....	unit publicist
Rose Steinberg	....	script supervisor
Arthur Whitelaw	....	stage producer: New York
Mary Loos	....	story consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Frankovich Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1987) (Spain) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Butler-Glouner (photo effects)
• Sunset Editorial (sound effects)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG | Canada:PG | Iceland:L | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Frankovich Productions

Trivia:

Eileen Heckart and Paul Michael Glaser reprise the roles they created in the original 1969 Broadway production.

Quotes:

Don Baker:[when Jill says she's moving in with Ralph] Tell me, Jill, with Ralph, is it like the Fourth of July and like Christmas?
Jill:Not exactly. He has a kind of... strength. With him it's more like Labor Day.

Movie Connections:

References The Sound of Music (1965)

Soundtrack:

Butterflies Are Free

Masterpiece Romantic Play

Masterpiece film that has great quality production and acting.The story is a romance/drama that incorporates very real love/life struggles that come with it.Also a very good snapshot of early 1970's free spirit experimentation of 20 somethings without having to exaggerate.Also a good example of Goldie's acting skills.One of the top 20 Romantic Dramas of All Time and one of the 100 Best Movies All Time in my book.Only for romance/drama/play fans and big fans of the lead actors......