Drive, He Said (1971)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Jack Nicholson

Writers:

Jeremy Larner (novel)
Jeremy Larner (writer) ...

Release Date:

30 June 1971 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

Don't Lie, Don't Cheat, And Don't Be Afraid!

Plot:

Hector is a star basketball player for the College basketball team he plays for, the Leopards. His girlfriend...

Plot Keywords:

Basketball | College | Athletic Coach | Political Activist | Insanity

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

William Tepper	...	Hector
Karen Black	...	Olive
Michael Margotta	...	Gabriel
Bruce Dern	...	Coach Bullion
Robert Towne	...	Richard
Henry Jaglom	...	Conrad
Michael Warren	...	Easly (as Mike Warren)
June Fairchild	...	Sylvie
Don Hanmer	...	Director of Athletics
Lynette Bernay	...	Dance instructor (as Lynn Bernay)
Joseph Walsh	...	Announcer #1 (as Joey Walsh)
Harry Gittes	...	Announcer #2
Charles Robinson	...	Jollop
Bill Sweek	...	Finnegan
David Ogden Stiers	...	Pro owner (as David Stiers)

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Eugene, Oregon, USA

Company:

BBS Productions

Trivia:

This film was Jack Nicholson's directorial debut. It is one of two post-"Easy Rider" Nicholson films that has yet to be released on video of any kind (the other being A Safe Place (1971)).

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Boom mics are visible in two scenes. First, when William Tepper / "Mike" is walking with a friend on a sidewalk and descends some stairs on a hillside. Second, when Tepper is in Karen Black / Olive's home, the low ceiling in the living room forces the boom mic into view.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Becker: Drive, They Said (#1.20)" (1999)

Fair

Drive, He Said (1971)

** (out of 4)

Jack Nicholson's directorial debut is a confussing mess but here goes. The film deals with a troubled basketball star (William Tepper) who's caught in an affair with a teacher's wife (Karen Black). The only person trying to make him go straight is his coach (Bruce Dern) but outsiders keep stepping in the way. The film was also co-written by Nicholson and most of the blame can start right here. The film is all over the place and it seems there are enough story lines for at least five other movies. There's also a subplot with a friend who's trying to dodge the draft, which goes no where and leads to some pretty over the top, wannabe serious moments. The one thing going for the film are some pretty good performances, although it appears Dern is trying to give a Nicholson impersonation. Nicholson's direction hits a few good notes but in the end this seems like something that would have only been shown on TV. Needless to say it's never gotten an official release on home video.