Chappaqua (1966)

Semi-autobiographical story of Conrad Rooks, who travels to France to undergo a drug-withdrawal cure. Flashbacks to the beginings of psychedelia in San Fran.

Director:

Conrad Rooks

Writer:

Conrad Rooks

Stars:

Jean-Louis Barrault, Conrad Rooks, William S. Burroughs

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Louis Barrault	...	Dr. Benoit
Conrad Rooks	...	Russel Harwick
William S. Burroughs	...	Opium Jones
Allen Ginsberg	...	Messiah
Ravi Shankar	...	Sun God
Paula Pritchett	...	Water Woman
Ornette Coleman	...	Peyote Eater
Swami Satchidananda	...	The Guru
Moondog	...	The Prophet
Jill Lator	...	Sacrificed One
John Esam	...	The Connection
Ed Sanders	...	The Fugs
Rita Renoir
Penny Brown
Jacques Seiler

Storyline

Semi-autobiographical story of Conrad Rooks, who travels to France to undergo a drug-withdrawal cure. Flashbacks to the beginings of psychedelia in San Fran.

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Plot Keywords:

flashback | france | manhattan new york city | times square manhattan new york city | new york city | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Winkler Film

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 1967 (Sweden)

Filming Locations:

France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Minotaur

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The famous jazz musician, Ornette Coleman, was commissioned to write the music for this film but his material was rejected by the director and released seperately on Columbia Records with the title "Chappaqua".

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Connections

References Ein Mann geht durch die Wand (1959)

User Reviews

What was I thinking?

It's been happening a lot to me lately. I go back into the pop culture icons of my youth and see how they have held up over the decades (yes, I am that old). My overwhelming reaction seems to be, "What was I thinking? I once liked this stuff?" It happened with Cream (and Clapton's childish guitar solos), Butterfield, the Mothers of Invention and etc.

So I just checked out "Chappaqua," a film that had a huge reputation in my hippie circles. This was innovative? This was the film equivalent to tripping? And the shallow glimpses of the Fugs, Ginsburg, Ravi Shankar, etc? Man, what was I thinking? This would have been a very good student film project circa 1963, but not in 1966 (when so much had already been done) and not by a 30-something self-declared artiste.

Compare this to the competent job he did on "Siddhartha" and you will be amazed how much Mr. Rooks grew up in just six years. 4/10