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IMDbPro

The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart

  • 1970
  • R
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
205
YOUR RATING
Don Johnson in The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart (1970)
Drama

Based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Robert T. Westbrook, the movie is about 23 year old Columbia University dropout (Stanley Sweetheart) who seeks his identity during the sexual revolu... Read allBased on a semi-autobiographical novel by Robert T. Westbrook, the movie is about 23 year old Columbia University dropout (Stanley Sweetheart) who seeks his identity during the sexual revolution.Based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Robert T. Westbrook, the movie is about 23 year old Columbia University dropout (Stanley Sweetheart) who seeks his identity during the sexual revolution.

  • Director
    • Leonard J. Horn
  • Writer
    • Robert T. Westbrook
  • Stars
    • Linda Gillen
    • Michael Greer
    • Dianne Hull
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    205
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Leonard J. Horn
    • Writer
      • Robert T. Westbrook
    • Stars
      • Linda Gillen
      • Michael Greer
      • Dianne Hull
    • 12User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos36

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    Top cast14

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    Linda Gillen
    Linda Gillen
    • Barbara…
    Michael Greer
    Michael Greer
    • Danny
    Dianne Hull
    Dianne Hull
    • Cathy
    Holly Near
    • Fran
    Victoria Racimo
    Victoria Racimo
    • Andrea
    Brandon Maggart
    Brandon Maggart
    • Man in Cafe
    Don Johnson
    Don Johnson
    • Stanley Sweetheart
    Candy Darling
    Candy Darling
    • Extra
    Alpha Blair
    • Edenbar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Karen Lynn Gorney
    Karen Lynn Gorney
    • Alicia
    • (uncredited)
    Barbara Maggio
    • Alison
    • (uncredited)
    Parker McCormick
    • Danny's Mother
    • (uncredited)
    Geri Miller
    • Extra
    • (uncredited)
    Stanley Wagner
    • John - Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Leonard J. Horn
    • Writer
      • Robert T. Westbrook
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    6.3205
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    Featured reviews

    7ftiller2

    A drug and sex-crazed trip down hippie-lane...

    Freak-out anything-goes flick from 1970, does a great job of capturing east-coast hippie scene. Some of the scenes from this movie must have been very shocking to the few who saw it upon its initial release, as it pulls no punches in its depiction of nudity and sex and sex and nudity. More or less, this movie seems to have been made to reflect the emerging sexual openness and promiscuity of the time. Not much of a story line, but entertaining to watch, i would recommend it for those looking for a fix of late '60's/early '70's underground culture. A definite drug movie. Do not watch while operating heavy machinery...
    BlackJack_B

    A surprise.

    A lot of big name actors have started their careers in some risque material (Sylvester Stallone, Ellen Burnstyn, Shannon Elizabeth), but I was surprised to see Don Johnson's name. I thought The Harrad Experiment (1973) was the furthest he got, but this one is more adult than that one. Don is Stanley Sweethart, a Columbia student, and the movie is about his lovelife in the "Free Love era" of the 60's. When not making love to the various women he charms or two-times, he makes a career of filming Russ Meyeresque epics. The acting is a hell of a lot better than an Andy Warhol production; Don still had that distinctive voice coming out of his mouth even then, but there are some pointless scenes. Yes, there's a lot of skin, Don included, but at the time, he didn't know he'd make it big. A curiosity piece, probably impossible to rent on video, but it should be shown on Canadian T.V. on occasion.
    10jlabine

    Extremely rare and often peculiar sleeper.

    The extremely rare and often peculiar film "The Magic Garden Of Stanley Sweetheart" succeeds greatly as a cult film. It has all the ingredients for the perfect midnight movie. Based on the semi-autobiographical 60's drug n' love counterculture book by Robert T. Westbrook, it remains quite faithful to story and context. The story concerns a boy Stanley (a very young Don Johnson in his debut acting role) in his early 20's who goes to college in New York to become a film maker. He spends his time usually lost in daydreams and masturbation until he begins a relationship with classmate Cathy (well acted by Dianne Hull) who brings slight contentment and romance to his insecure life. Though through the relationship, Stanley soon finds boredom and begins an affair with her plump roommate and best friend Fran (Holly Near) while still carrying on with Cathy. The scene where he's trying to film Fran for one of his independent short films (apropriately titled "Masturbation") is at times funny, awkward, and clumsily executed. Stanley also occasionally meets up with friends Danny (well acted by Michael Greer who interestingly replaced Joe Dallesandro in the role, after Joe was fired from the set on one day of shooting!), Barbara (Linda Gillen) and Andrea (exotic Victoria Racimo) who he'll sometimes get high with. One night while Stanley and Cathy are sleeping, the uninvited three friends stop by to get Stanley and Cathy loaded. During the stoned experience you find Danny picking up on Cathy and Stanley becoming increasingly jealous. Soon however, Cathy will leave Stanley to pursue her new crush, while Stanley is left all alone to his daydreams. The "Magic Garden" refers to the place in his mind that he somehow finds solace and peace through his imagination and daydreams. The book will make this point clearer, than in the movie. At this point Stanley will fall into a hallucinagenic menage a trois with the two girlfriends Barbara and Andrea, only changing the direction of the film from light comedic romance to drug addict casualty. But these scenes are fantastic. Where else (but in the 60's) can you find such images as group sex, body painting, drugs galore, and psychedelic light shows all wrapped up with the most sugary bubblegum pop song in the world? (the song in question being "The Gingerbread Man"!) These scenes for counter culture freaks are absolutely priceless! What's really interesting is how downbeat the endings of movies were in the late 60's or early 70's. Why must every film from that era always be a casualty tale or sort? Also, another interesting aspect of the film is the hints of homosexuality in the script. Danny's leering at Don Johnson's bare chest suggests something that is never fully developed until the surprise ending which in itself has also got homosexual undertones (the sparing of the rabbits life signifying sensitivity, and the barrel of the gun signifying the phallus???). It's fitting that an actor like Joe Dallesandro (from Andy Warhol Factory and Paul Morrissey film fame) would have played the role of Danny. Because at times the film resembles some of Paul Morrissey's films in the depiction of New Yorker drop outs. Don Johnson at the time was a popular actor amongst gays, due to the exposure he received from the play "Fortune In Men's Eyes" a gay prison story directed by Sal Mineo. And one time TV show director Leonard Horn does every shot in an exploitative manner. You'll see numerous shots of Don bare chested, bare butt, or just plain nude. Also the obligatory gay pick up scene (ie: "Midnight Cowboy") in a cafe (which seems slightly out of place), where actor Brandon Maggart tries to pay Stanley for sexual services. All these scenes make for an awkwardness that the film either suffers or benefits from. (depending on your tastes?) I found myself slightly unsure of the director's intention with some of the material, which satisfied the thinking side of me, to make me want to see the film again. Was this a coming of age, sexual awareness film? A romantic comedy or drama? A drug counter culture film? I found it to be all these things. The film is by no means perfect (the acting is slightly shoddy at times), but I do think it's a tad underrated. I kept seeing these really horrible reviews of the film, but it wasn't too bad at all. It's always entertaining and interesting, and never dull. It's got a great soundtrack, (especially "Magic Mountain" by Eric Burdon and War) the clothes look great, and some of the filming is quite imaginable. It's a story that probably a lot of younger guys could and would relate to. Check out the scene when Stanley's short film called "Headless" is played for Cathy, it's a pretty funny and far out. Watch it late at night, if you can find it. It's definitely got cult movie appeal. I quite dug it myself!!!
    9bechamel

    A little gem.

    At university I was part-time apsirant film-maker, part-time aspirant womaniser, and full-time aimless waster. Unsurprisingly this film struck a huge chord with me, when I stumbled across it during those bewildering days!

    A great little film, lots of fun, just don't expect any niceties like, erm, a recognisable plot or a meaningful ending. The film-within-a-film - Stanley's outrageously bad student short "Headless" - is a real hoot and worth the price on its own!

    Oh and if you like this, check out student rebellion in "The Strawberry Statement" and more of the young Don Johnson in "A boy and his dog", both recommended.
    8JubBely

    A pop-bubble gum of a movie

    This is an interesting movie with an early Don Johnson, pre-dating A Boy And His Dog by a couple of years. He is a drop-out schoolkid/junky who lives on his own, but is mad about a girl at his college. He chases her/gets her/goes mad on drugs and then drops out. A great fun movie. Stanley Sweetheart is an excellent character with lots of quotable lines for you and your friends. He makes his own (hilarious) movies. Most recommended when bored late at night

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After the title credits, the movie opens with Stanley (Don Johnson) watching the construction of the World Trade Center twin towers at a very early stage.
    • Goofs
      The shadow of one of the crewmembers is visible as Stanley walks through the psychedelic corridors of Danny's underworld to arrive at the place where the song "Water" is played.
    • Quotes

      Stanley Sweetheart: Cathy, this is Danny, Shane and Andrea.

      Cathy: Hi.

      Danny: No, but we're working on it.

    • Crazy credits
      The title credit is followed directly by the music credits without even a passing mention to the actors. Only the crew members are credited in the opening credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in Michel Legrand: Let the Music Play (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Nobody Knows
      Music by Michel Legrand

      Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

      Performed by Richie Havens

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    FAQ14

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 5, 1971 (Uruguay)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Stanley Sweetheart
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Martin Poll Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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