Taking Off (1971)

While searching for their runaway teenage daughter, the parents rediscover life's joys as they get acquainted with a self-help group for parents of vanished children.

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers:

Milos Forman, John Guare

Stars:

Lynn Carlin, Buck Henry, Georgia Engel

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

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Self (as The Ike and Tina Turner Revue)
Tina Turner	...	Self (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

Storyline

Unable to deal with her parents, Jeannie Tyne runs away from home. Larry and Lyne Tyne search for her, and in the process meet other people whose children ran away. With their children gone, the parents are now free to rediscover/enjoy life.

---

Plot Keywords:

pot smoking | missing daughter | marijuana | 1970s | hippie | 

---

Taglines:

Selected as an American Entry to the Cannes Film Festival

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the success of Easy Rider (1969), Universal Studios hit upon the idea to let young filmmakers make "semi-independent" films for low budgets in hopes of generating similar profits. The idea was to make five movies for low budgets ($1 million or less), not interfere in the filmmaking process, and give the directors final cut. The other movies were: The Hired Hand (1971), The Last Movie (1971), Silent Running (1972), Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970), Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) and Minnie and Moskowitz (1971).

---

Quotes

Schiavelli: So you take it and you pass it to the person sitting next to you until the joint gets passed around and it's very, very small. That is called a *roach*; and I will collect those.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Burglar (1987)

---

Soundtracks

And Even the Horses Had Wings
Composed by Kathy Bates (as Bobo Bates)
Performed by Kathy Bates (uncredited)

User Reviews

Wonderful movie!

I loved this movie when I saw it when it came out. It isn't available on VHS or DVD but I'm fortunate in that I taped it from TV and have it on a Beta tape. I'm lucky I have a Beta player that still works! Buck Henry and Lynn Carlin are wonderful as the parents of a runaway girl. Their efforts to locate her lead to many funny episodes, not the least of which being the fantastic auditions by amateur (aside from Carly Simon) singers. Bobo Bates (yes, Kathy Bates of future fame in "Misery," etc.) sings a touching song called "Even The Horses Had Wings." There is another song which is called "Ode To A Screw" which uses the F-word extensively and is sung by a naked girl whose hair covers her vital parts. There is one hysterical scene where the parents of many runaways, after a meeting, partake in the smoking of pot to see how their children are affected by it. Carlin and Henry eventually bring another couple home with them and play strip poker. When Carlin has to remove her bra, the other husband directs a quip to Henry, "My compliments to the chef!" I have used this line so many times! Allen Garfield, as Norman, has a small but very funny role in the movie. Norman (short and fat) and his friend Schuyler (tall and lanky) meet up with Carlin at the bar in the hotel where she is staying with Henry. After she leaves the bar, Norman follows her to her room, knocks and goes in. The room is dark and Norman says, "It's me, Schuyler," because he has no confidence in himself and thinks he has a better chance of scoring if he says he is Schuyler. Unfortunately for Norman, Henry is there in the bed in the room. Milos Forman has done an incredible job in this innovative movie and it is a shame that it has not been released on DVD.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

S.P.F.C.

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Crown-Hausman, Forman Production, Renn Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1