Cisco Pike was Kris Kristofferson's film debut and it's astonishing to see him looking so young. He also provided the bulk of the songs featured on the soundtrack. He plays Cisco Pike, a recovering drug dealer and semi pro musician who can't quite decide which direction his life is going to take. Crooked cop Gene Hackman approaches Kris with the chance to clear his criminal record by selling Gene's purloined stash of primo dope. The balance of the film follows Kris' efforts to unload the pot in one hurried weekend which finds him frolicking in bed with Warhol star Viva and porn actress Joy Bang, dropping in to the studio with Doug Sahm and the Sir Douglas Quartet, dining on fine food with Antonio 'Huggy Bear' Fargas, and reminiscing about old times with his strung out old music buddy H D (Harry Dean) Stanton. Add Karen Black, Severn Darden and Wavy Gravy himself, Hugh Romney, and you have an amazing time capsule and a tremendously entertaining and well acted picture. This would make a terrific double bill with 1971s Vanishing Point.
28 Reviews
Early 70's standout drug-selling flick!
shepardjessica16 July 2004
This film was barely seen in 1972 starring Kristofferson and Gene Hackman as a scumbag cop. Harry Dean Stanton is marvelous as Kris' friend and Karen Black is always interesting. The cute Joy Bang is even here. This film was so far under the radar, most people forgot it even exists.
A 7 out of 10. Best performance = Harry Dean Stanton. Hackman should have played more characters like this one. This may be Kristofferson's best work (as an actor) along with Blume in Love. Great cinematography and location work. I can't believe this wasn't a hit in 1972. Track this one down and you won't be disappointed.
There was plenty of "junk" in the golden age 70's, but this film should not be included.
A 7 out of 10. Best performance = Harry Dean Stanton. Hackman should have played more characters like this one. This may be Kristofferson's best work (as an actor) along with Blume in Love. Great cinematography and location work. I can't believe this wasn't a hit in 1972. Track this one down and you won't be disappointed.
There was plenty of "junk" in the golden age 70's, but this film should not be included.
Kristofferson's star is born...
JasparLamarCrabb12 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
A really good movie with an unlikely cast and virtually no plot. Kris Kristofferson is a singer whose career has seen better days, blackmailed into selling drugs by crooked cop Gene Hackman. The movie is episodic, but those episodes are terrific, particularly when Kristofferson and former band-mate Harry Dean Stanton hook up with a couple of party girls (one of which is played by Warhol superstar Viva, sporting a pretty unattractive perm). Hackman really only appears briefly and the film is carried by Kristofferson (and he's great). In addition to Stanton and Viva, the supporting cast includes Antonio Fargas, Allan Arbus and Karen Black, who gives what has to rank as her least affected performance. As Kristofferson's live-in girlfriend, she's almost a revelation.
The film is NOT in league with FIVE EASY PIECES, but it's a very well made study of an outsider who really doesn't want to be an insider! Directed by the always unusual Bill L. Norton.
The film is NOT in league with FIVE EASY PIECES, but it's a very well made study of an outsider who really doesn't want to be an insider! Directed by the always unusual Bill L. Norton.
A lost early 70's gem
nightpike115 January 2004
This hard to find film has always been a favorite presenting the changing L.A. music/hippie scene of the early 70's. Kristofferson, in his starring film debut, is marvelous as the down-on-his-luck troubadour of the title. At times he appears genuinely and functionally smashed, but it fits the character to a tee. It's also interesting to watch him composing his often sad, literate tunes, as one realizes this was probably how he wrote many of his greatest songs ("Help Me Make It Through the Night", "For the Good Times", "Me and Bobby McGee", "Sunday Morning Coming Down"): in lonely desperation. None of them are here, but he does do "Loving Her Was Easier" and "Pilgrim Chapter 33". The latter autobiographical song is perfectly fitting for the character of Cisco Pike. Kristofferson is so charismatic and his screen presence is such that we root for him in typical early 70's anti-hero fashion even though he is essentially a drunken pothead who cheats on his girlfriend (the always welcome Karen Black) and is racing to unload $10,000 worth of marijuana in a single weekend. But you'll seldom find a more real and lived-in performance than this debut. Sam Peckinpah saw this and cast him as the doomed Billy the Kid in his next film.
Kristofferson's desperation is fueled by crooked cop Gene Hackman (in fine if eccentric form) who himself is desperate for the money. So the thrust of the film is Kristofferson racing around L.A., weaving on the freeways in his beat-up station wagon full of pot, and encountering Roscoe Lee Browne, Wavy Gravy, Antonio Fargas, Severn Darden, Howard Hesseman, Doug Sahm, and a menage a trois with Viva and Joy Bang. It's a time capsule to be sure. In the final reel Harry Dean Stanton shows up memorably as an old buddy who's even more wasted and down-on-his-luck. The underrated B.L. Norton is behind the camera, and the film is highly recommended. This begs for a DVD release with extras. A Krisofferson commentary would be particularly insightful.
Kristofferson's desperation is fueled by crooked cop Gene Hackman (in fine if eccentric form) who himself is desperate for the money. So the thrust of the film is Kristofferson racing around L.A., weaving on the freeways in his beat-up station wagon full of pot, and encountering Roscoe Lee Browne, Wavy Gravy, Antonio Fargas, Severn Darden, Howard Hesseman, Doug Sahm, and a menage a trois with Viva and Joy Bang. It's a time capsule to be sure. In the final reel Harry Dean Stanton shows up memorably as an old buddy who's even more wasted and down-on-his-luck. The underrated B.L. Norton is behind the camera, and the film is highly recommended. This begs for a DVD release with extras. A Krisofferson commentary would be particularly insightful.
Vivid character study with fine debut performance by Kristofferson
moonspinner5525 October 2017
Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson is well-cast in his first film as Cisco Pike, a musician with some success a few years behind him, now just another struggling performer in Southern California. Busted twice for dealing, he's gone straight, hoping to get back into the music business which has quietly passed him by. The narcotics officer who nailed Cisco comes to him with a proposition: having just lucked into 100 kilos of weed, he wants Cisco to sell it all off in two-and-half days, give the cop 10 G's and keep the rest of the profits for himself. Writer-director B.L. Norton (whose script was reworked by an uncredited Robert Towne) creates a deceptively lackadaisical atmosphere, yet the paranoia and desperation is palpable. The vivid cinematography is by Vilis Lapenieks; performances by Kristofferson (who also contributes four songs to the soundtrack), Gene Hackman, Karen Black, Antonio Fargas, Roscoe Lee Browne and Harry Dean Stanton are each in their own remarkable. There are some problems with the film, mostly narrative: an unexplained sequence midway has Hackman's narc apparently following Cisco as he deals to his clients, leading to a violent argument that sort of dead-ends; also, Cisco is given several chances to explain his actions at crucial points in the story, but each time he frustratingly clams up (this is a problem that runs throughout the movie). Otherwise, a perceptive, quirky effort with funny asides and lovely throwaway moments. **1/2 from ****
I recall loving this film when I saw it upon release in 1972
christopher-underwood14 July 2017
I recall loving this film when I saw it upon release in 1972. It seemed to capture something of the moment that so few films did and I fell in love with the songs of Kris Kristofferson. Recently picking up an Italian poster for the film encouraged me to revisit it. Actually, hard to find but I found I had a DVD. The film is fine, Kristofferson is great as is Karen Black, for most of her performance. Indeed, she is great at first but seems to fade a little in the final scenes. Viva is okay but perhaps a little old in the role, seeing her now alongside the kitten like Joy Bang. There are not a lot of songs here and the central story regarding the drug dealing sets ones eyes rolling at the thought but the dialogue, the cinematography and colourful and evocative creation of the freewheeling lifestyles remains attractive and compelling. One slight item of curiosity is that IMDb suggests there is talk of a threesome but no nudity, whereas quite clearly we see Kristofferson with Viva and Bang in a brief topless frolic. It is blink and you miss it stuff, so whether it was intended to be cut out, I don't know and can't remember whether or not it was in in the cinema release!
Jeez, you kids sure need a history lesson
vancelongwell5 April 2010
I've never seen so many reviews miss the mark so entirely. It's important to understand that this is mainstream money behind a bleeding- edge art-flick of it's day. Kristoferson was reviled by the mainstream. Truly loathed. It's one of the reasons his star never quite took-off. Seriously, having one of his albums back in those days would have had your folks shipping you off to boarding school.
Many are characterizing this as "down-beat", "low-key", one person even said, "humerous melodrama". Wrong. The aloof demeanor of Kristoferson's character is just how Kristoferson was. That lumbering meter was omnipresent in films of the day. He wasn't intoxicated, or leastwise effected by it, that was just what passed for kool in those days kids. Those guys grew up on Gary Cooper and the strong-silent type was the guy every kid emulated. This was disingenuous coming from a long-haired California kid. Part of the reason he was so hated.
The copyright date in the film says 1971. Hackman's character was driving a car depicted as a police cruiser and it was a '70 model. Also, Kristoferson's character rents a car at one point, and it's a '71. So I'm guessing this film is early '72 at the latest and not '79 like the info says.
Anyway. This is an incredibly enjoyable watch. 'Play Misty for me', Clint Eastwood's directorial debut is a better look at the early 70s. That came out in '70 as a matter of fact. To me LA was just a set along with the period in Cisco Pike. Again I think there are way better cultural history tours of the time. This was fantastically directed, and if often poorly lit, was cinematographically quite professional looking. The script is tight with great dialog that dates well but it moves a little fast. They needed about 10 more scenes in the film to flesh it out a little. Probably budget issues.
Many are characterizing this as "down-beat", "low-key", one person even said, "humerous melodrama". Wrong. The aloof demeanor of Kristoferson's character is just how Kristoferson was. That lumbering meter was omnipresent in films of the day. He wasn't intoxicated, or leastwise effected by it, that was just what passed for kool in those days kids. Those guys grew up on Gary Cooper and the strong-silent type was the guy every kid emulated. This was disingenuous coming from a long-haired California kid. Part of the reason he was so hated.
The copyright date in the film says 1971. Hackman's character was driving a car depicted as a police cruiser and it was a '70 model. Also, Kristoferson's character rents a car at one point, and it's a '71. So I'm guessing this film is early '72 at the latest and not '79 like the info says.
Anyway. This is an incredibly enjoyable watch. 'Play Misty for me', Clint Eastwood's directorial debut is a better look at the early 70s. That came out in '70 as a matter of fact. To me LA was just a set along with the period in Cisco Pike. Again I think there are way better cultural history tours of the time. This was fantastically directed, and if often poorly lit, was cinematographically quite professional looking. The script is tight with great dialog that dates well but it moves a little fast. They needed about 10 more scenes in the film to flesh it out a little. Probably budget issues.
Earnest but middling period piece
NORDIC-212 June 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Bill L. Norton also wrote the screenplay (with some uncredited script doctoring by Robert Towne) for his directorial debut, 'Cisco Pike', the story of a washed-up rock musician and convicted pot dealer who, after a stint in prison, is trying to break back into the music business and avoid another spell behind bars. Originally slated for the lead role, Cisco Pike, was John Cassavetes stalwart Seymour Cassel ('Shadows'; 'Faces') but Cassel dropped out before principle photography started to star in 'Minnie & Moscowitz' (1971). His last minute replacement was country-folk singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson in his first starring role in the movies (he had a bit part in Dennis Hopper's The Last Movie). Kristofferson also wrote and sang the music for the film. Starring opposite Kristofferson is Gene Hackman—fresh from his Oscar-winning turn as "Popeye Doyle" in William Friedkin's 'The French Connection' (1971). Here Hackman plays a cop of an entirely different stripe: crooked, desperate police sergeant Leo Holland, who blackmails Pike into selling 100 kilos of pot over a weekend in order to raise a quick $10,000. The other three notables are: Karen Black as Sue, Pike's stereotypical sexy-but-dumb-and-dependent hippie-chick girlfriend; Harry Dean Stanton as Jesse Dupre, Pike's heroin-addicted friend and former band member (who eventually suffers a fatal overdose); and Andy Warhol "superstar" Viva (real name: Janet Hoffman) providing some quirky color as Merna, a slow-talking denizen of the counterculture. Norton's storyline concerning a man struggling to break free of his past—a tried and true film noir staple—is grafted onto a somber meditation on the transmogrification of Sixties idealism into Seventies cynicism and despair. Shot on location in the Los Angeles area by veteran TV cinematographer Vilis Lapenieks (production design by Norton's wife, Rosanna White), 'Cisco Pike' is decidedly gritty-looking and downbeat, also surprisingly sympathetic toward Hackman's corrupt cop, who is facing dismissal from the force for medical reasons just shy of the twenty year's service he needs to qualify for a pension. In the end, 'Cisco Pike' posits the grim notion that, when all is said and done, "the System" crushes both its opponents and its adherents with equal indifference. Despite fine performances by Kristofferson and Hackman, 'Cisco Pike' did poor box office, so poor that Bill L. Norton decided to stick with television work thereafter. DVD (2006).
The merchants of Venice
Bribaba16 August 2012
One of the lost 70s movies that seldom turns up in books or on 'best' lists, and yet it defines the time (1972) and place (Venice Beach, CA) like no other. Leading the stellar cast is Kris Kristofferson, playing a down-on-his-luck musician - kind of ironically as his soundtrack is every bit as good as his performance. The ever-wonderful Karen Black is his much put-upon girlfriend, though a strong character in her own right. Harry Dean Stanton strums a guitar and shoots up, while Gene Hackman plays a rogue cop, Factory model Viva appears looking somewhat out of place in LA, and the Doug (Sahm) in the Sir Douglas Quintet plays himself, even doing a turn in the studio. Finally, there's the perfectly named Joy Bang, and that's pretty much all you need to know. Sure, there's a story going on about a dope deal that inevitably goes tits up, but we've all seen that before. This is a character driven movie with a vengeance and while it may be the only film of note from writer/director Bill Norton, it's a great one.
Blown Away
neil-douglas201030 January 2023
Interesting little movie set in California in the early seventies. Kris Kristofferson plays Cisco Pike, a musician trying to stop dealing drugs and get back to recording music. Unfortunately corrupt cop Holland (Gene Hackman) has an offer for Cisco. Sell some marijuana for him in two days and he'll look at charges made against Cisco (Holland's busted him twice before). Selling the drugs is harder than it looks as he has some stolen and other buyers are trying to make deals with him. He ends up getting the amount of money he needs but Holland is unstable and starts shooting anything in sight.
It's a movie where almost everyone seems stoned or drugged up, Kristofferson is great as the main character and his songs are good too. Enjoyable performances too from Hackman, Karen Black and Harry Dean Stanton make this a decent watch about the tail end of the sixties drug scene.
It's a movie where almost everyone seems stoned or drugged up, Kristofferson is great as the main character and his songs are good too. Enjoyable performances too from Hackman, Karen Black and Harry Dean Stanton make this a decent watch about the tail end of the sixties drug scene.
One long drug deal ....
merklekranz7 March 2015
Tedious in it's lack of motion, "Ciscoi Pike" is well acted, but doesn't really have a storyline. It just sort of meanders about with Kristofferson trying to sell $10,000 worth of drugs while under the thumb of the rarely seen Hackman. Harry Dean Stanton finally makes a welcome appearance in the final third of the film, but to little effect. Today there would be almost no audience for this severely outdated piece of nostalgia. Hackman is barely in the film, yet receives top billing. Karen Black and H.D. Stanton simply are along for the ride as Kristofferson makes his rounds dealing. Very forgettable and not recommended as entertainment. - MERK
An overlooked classic
CountZaroff11 March 2004
Somebody please bring this out on DVD, because I'm desperate to own a copy so I can watch it whenever I feel like it. It's rarely seen and it's a fantastic piece of 1970's cinema.
Strong, realistic, natural performances from Kris and Harry Dean, stacks of great cameos including the might Antonio Fargas. Fantastically evocative and one of the few occasions when Kristofferson's great presence and offscreen persona have been used to good effect in front of the camera.
If you love 1970's American films (and if you have any feeling for movies at all, you have to love this period), then this is up there with the best.
If you have a chance to see it, take it.
Strong, realistic, natural performances from Kris and Harry Dean, stacks of great cameos including the might Antonio Fargas. Fantastically evocative and one of the few occasions when Kristofferson's great presence and offscreen persona have been used to good effect in front of the camera.
If you love 1970's American films (and if you have any feeling for movies at all, you have to love this period), then this is up there with the best.
If you have a chance to see it, take it.
Hit the Road, Kris
richardchatten31 January 2023
An early lead for Gene Hackman (who has just turned 93) building upon his recent success as Popeye Doyle in 'The French Connection' although here played more as a road movie than as a thriller and this time the cop he plays is corrupt.
A young and beardless Kris Kristofferson gets an 'introducing' credit as a drug dealer (they could be portrayed as heroes in those days). Karen Black has an even more faraway look in her eyes than usual in big-hair and ankle-length cheesecloth dresses as the hippie chick to end all hippie chicks.
It's all a bit of a shambles and I could have done without all that harmonica music on the soundtrack. But Harry Dean Stanton's good.
A young and beardless Kris Kristofferson gets an 'introducing' credit as a drug dealer (they could be portrayed as heroes in those days). Karen Black has an even more faraway look in her eyes than usual in big-hair and ankle-length cheesecloth dresses as the hippie chick to end all hippie chicks.
It's all a bit of a shambles and I could have done without all that harmonica music on the soundtrack. But Harry Dean Stanton's good.
Oddly meandering
Leofwine_draca16 February 2023
I've seen this film raved about but it didn't really do it for me. It has a certain ambience about it, that's for sure, and the setting of a sun-drenched liberal America in 1970 is a good one. But the story is only fitfully engaging and there's a whole lot of running time that feels either padded or repetitive with characters yakking away and not really doing much. Kristofferson, oddly beardless, fails to impress much in his first leading role and Hackman's villain fails to make an impact. Karen Black has nothing more than a token love interest role and it's left to minor players like Harry Dean Stanton to impress. The only parts I really liked were when they played the same Sonny Terry music as in Herzog's STROSZEK.
Kristofferson's debut is excellent.
blackxmas16 June 2001
Anyone looking for a downbeat, humorous melodrama should track down Kris Kristofferson's acting debut as the title character. Gene Hackman, Harry Dean Stanton and Karen Black compliment him nicely in a dated yet refreshing picture about a has-been musician who's recently quit dealing drugs. Hackman is a psychotic narc who blackmails him into selling stolen marijuana and Black is his put-upon live-in girlfriend that's just about had it with Pike's freewheeling ways. An extremely moody piece, punctuated with quick but successful comedic moments and quietly tense scenes. CISCO PIKE is from that early 70's less-is-more period of filmmaking and makes a great diversion from the feces currently hurled at us from Hollywood. Just goes to show that good movies age well, regardless of the pop culture it contains within.
decent early 70s presentation
pjlb200819 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Gene Hackman, Kris Kristofferson, Karen Black (and Harry Dean Stanton), all in the same movie. It leads you to expect an excellent movie. The imagery in the movie takes one back to a simpler time in the past. While the movie is decent, it ultimately fails to entertain. The problem is the plot. Bad cop Hackman forces Kristofferson to sell a massive amount of marijuana in less than three days. The movie focuses on that process. Kristofferson has to contact dozens of people to try to pull off the feat. Transaction after transaction is recounted like they are occurring in comedy/drama. The tone of the process is way too lighthearted. The drug transactions are often done recklessly and in broad daylight. The real problems with the plot of the movie is Hackman's motivation. What does he really want? Why does he seemingly interfere in some of the transactions. What happens to Hackman's character at the end of the movie makes no sense. The end of the movie is abrupt and unsatisfying, like the screenwriter was told he or she had 15 minutes to finish the work.
A look on early seventies at Los Angeles scenario!!
elo-equipamentos1 May 2024
Cisco Pike is an old portrait of a Los Angeles at early seventies when was ongoing a new wave of independent pictures, Kris Kristoferson plays a failed promising country singer, by this had troubles with justice expecting continues be free living quietly with a new free mind woman Karen Black, everything goes into upside down when appears a crook officer Gene Hackman pushing him to sell in just weekend a high amount of marijuana deflected of local Bureau of narcotics.
In a dead-end Cisco Pike entering in a non-stopping journey to sell all those grass packets aiming for got 10.000 dollars for the scoundrel Cop in return to get a help to get your freedom against his past as drug dealer, apart the contrived premise, the picture unfolds easily on the Los Angeles underground, many twists come along, Harry Dean Stanton stolen the show just appearing in the middle, fine offering.
Thanks for reading
Resume:
First watch: 2024 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5.
In a dead-end Cisco Pike entering in a non-stopping journey to sell all those grass packets aiming for got 10.000 dollars for the scoundrel Cop in return to get a help to get your freedom against his past as drug dealer, apart the contrived premise, the picture unfolds easily on the Los Angeles underground, many twists come along, Harry Dean Stanton stolen the show just appearing in the middle, fine offering.
Thanks for reading
Resume:
First watch: 2024 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.5.
If you can get past
bumpgirl567 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The hokey 70s plot, clothes, scenery, and foils, the acting just about saves this thing. Worth the watch if only to see a very young Kris Kristofferson and a very young Gene Hackman (with hair!) - just act the heck out of it. We're supposed to believe that Cisco wants to go 'straight' but you can tell by every yearning look on his face that he does NOT. That's some fabulous acting. Gene Hackman is his patented self; cool collected, funny - that has worked for 50 years and it started here. A keeper, albeit for sentimental viewing of two great stars in their youth. jh
Death in Venice
manuel-pestalozzi23 November 2007
Warning: Spoilers
No, the script is not based on the novel of German writer Thomas Mann, and the movie has nothing to do with Venice, Italy. It is more like a prequel of The Big Lebowsky, although the main character is, as in Mann's story, a musician at the end of his tether. And the derelict, dying" beach-side community where he has put up his tents actually is Venice: Venice, California. Some of the main characters actually do end their lives in Venice.
Cisco Pike is a kind of a dark comedy. Only his coolness can save the main character, the viewers see him driving off into the desert as the end credits start rolling. The movie takes a critical but also sympathetic look at the hippie and drug culture in California in the early 1970s, where everything seems to fall apart: buildings, law and order, relationships. It might be a movie one appreciates most for the atmosphere and the depiction of a certain era.
Some of the acting performances are outstanding. Gene Hackman is excellent as slightly disturbed cop, Karen Black plays more or less the same character as in Five Easy Pieces (including some pleasant singing), Antonio Farga's presence is as always refreshing. Harry Dean Stanton should have been nominated as Best Supporting Actor for his role of the main character's drug addicted friend. Talking about child support he tells that his kids will have his insurance money as he sustained brain damage in a car accident. Whiplash wouldn't do, he explains, nowadays it has to be brain damage. I always get lucky that way." For me that is the best line of Cisco Pike.
Cisco Pike is a kind of a dark comedy. Only his coolness can save the main character, the viewers see him driving off into the desert as the end credits start rolling. The movie takes a critical but also sympathetic look at the hippie and drug culture in California in the early 1970s, where everything seems to fall apart: buildings, law and order, relationships. It might be a movie one appreciates most for the atmosphere and the depiction of a certain era.
Some of the acting performances are outstanding. Gene Hackman is excellent as slightly disturbed cop, Karen Black plays more or less the same character as in Five Easy Pieces (including some pleasant singing), Antonio Farga's presence is as always refreshing. Harry Dean Stanton should have been nominated as Best Supporting Actor for his role of the main character's drug addicted friend. Talking about child support he tells that his kids will have his insurance money as he sustained brain damage in a car accident. Whiplash wouldn't do, he explains, nowadays it has to be brain damage. I always get lucky that way." For me that is the best line of Cisco Pike.
Kristofferson's star has burst...have I fallen asleep yet
Rudolph_Valentino8 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
A boring leading man, a better supporting cast. I found myself enjoying the supporting characters far more than the lead character. Lacking any significant vocal inflection, Kristofferson may have just as well mumbled all his lines. During the entire film I couldn't help but be astonished how characterless Kristofferson was, he was like a man-child still carrying babyfat; I now understand why he chose to grow a beard, heck, he didn't even have any chest hair. Between the constant sweeping back of his hair, and his awkward posturing and walk, this is a man uncomfortable in his own skin. Unlike Gene Hackman who seems to have been born with character, Kristofferson is nearly expressionless and other than his eye color, lacks any interesting facial features. His just isn't a face that's able to convey anything beyond his now cliché wry smile.
As for the premise of the movie, it's quite ridiculous. Unless I missed it from zoning out, it's never clearly explained why his must sell the product within the timeframe...was it going to turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight?! I suppose it's because the cop would be fired in a couple of days, so he wouldn't be able to drop the criminal charges against the dealer anymore; but surely the cop knew for quite a while that his health issue would result in his discharge. It's also unrealistic for the cop to explain his retirement problem to a drug dealer to what...absolve his guilt, gain empathy, lay the blame elsewhere...a cop isn't going to explain his actions to a criminal. Then there's the ending where a corrupt, streetwise cop of 19 years of service panicked over what he thought was a frame-up...sure. Then to first shoot at an approaching ambulance (because SWAT obviously hides in them) rather than the guy beside you whom you think framed you, so now you have to chase him down the beach. This is just a lame movie that exploits counterculture for what is essentially a failed attempt at an action drama.
As for the premise of the movie, it's quite ridiculous. Unless I missed it from zoning out, it's never clearly explained why his must sell the product within the timeframe...was it going to turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight?! I suppose it's because the cop would be fired in a couple of days, so he wouldn't be able to drop the criminal charges against the dealer anymore; but surely the cop knew for quite a while that his health issue would result in his discharge. It's also unrealistic for the cop to explain his retirement problem to a drug dealer to what...absolve his guilt, gain empathy, lay the blame elsewhere...a cop isn't going to explain his actions to a criminal. Then there's the ending where a corrupt, streetwise cop of 19 years of service panicked over what he thought was a frame-up...sure. Then to first shoot at an approaching ambulance (because SWAT obviously hides in them) rather than the guy beside you whom you think framed you, so now you have to chase him down the beach. This is just a lame movie that exploits counterculture for what is essentially a failed attempt at an action drama.
One of the best
corneliusjcx16 May 2006
I'd never heard of Kris Kristofferson until I saw this movie in a double feature. I'd gone to see the other feature, which I now forget. This was so good, I got bored with the other feature. I immediately bought Kristofferson's early albums and went back to see this a second time. I haven't seen it since but I can remember dialog and scenes, including one which evidently includes a Jack Elliot character. It's a good, basic thriller plot raised well above the average by the acting, the directing, the script and the ambiance. I, too, would love to own it on DVD and shelve it up there with the ten or twenty movies I'm always happy to watch again. Kristofferson was never better. A forgotten 70s classic, far and away better than many of the better known movies of the period.
Cisco Pike
henry8-328 January 2023
Kris Kristofferson plays a musician and ex drug dealer who is blackmailed by corrupt cop Gene Hackman into selling marijuana he's seized and giving Hackman the proceeds by the end of the weekend. Kristofferson meets up with old and new contacts and starts selling, much to the frustration of girlfriend Karen Black.
This is a well enough acted and believable tale that comes across as a road movie where Kristofferson just keeps meeting different 'interesting' characters to sell to. Kristofferson is fine in the lead, Hackman, just off 'The French Connection' is still rather in Popeye Doyle mode, Karen Black is solid and Harry Dean Stanton provides a few necessary laughs along the way. There was a plethora of drug related films in the late sixties and early seventies like this and pretty good though they often were, often gaining cult status, they are of a time. Nice soundtrack from Kristofferson etc if you like that sort of thing.
This is a well enough acted and believable tale that comes across as a road movie where Kristofferson just keeps meeting different 'interesting' characters to sell to. Kristofferson is fine in the lead, Hackman, just off 'The French Connection' is still rather in Popeye Doyle mode, Karen Black is solid and Harry Dean Stanton provides a few necessary laughs along the way. There was a plethora of drug related films in the late sixties and early seventies like this and pretty good though they often were, often gaining cult status, they are of a time. Nice soundtrack from Kristofferson etc if you like that sort of thing.
Great first effort for Kris Kristofferson
Schlockmeister15 June 2001
Warning: Spoilers
What a great movie this is. It's low key through-out, but a terrific look back at the very early 70s in the California music business. Many 70s icons are here, you even see a lava lamp on a guy's desk!
In how many movies do you see Kris do the following... almost get busted by the cops for selling 10 kilos of primo killer weed to Woodstock icon Wavy Gravy, drag a drugged-up Harry Dean Stanton around who has been up for days and is impotent, receive oral favors from underground film star Viva, get naked with a 1960s porn star with the hysterical name of Joy Bang, eat a diner meal with a pimped-up Antonio Vargas and share a topless nude scene with Karen Black? It's all here, man! Add in Gene Hackman lurking around as a crooked narc and 100 keys of weed to sell in a weekend for no less than $10,000 and you have the making for an off-beat classic that hardly anyone knows about.
It has the low-budget look of a movie like "Billy Jack" and, at the very beginning, during the opening credits, will remind you of a TV movie. But this was no TV movie! As much drugs as a Cheech & Chong movie and a decent soundtrack if you like early Kristofferson. As a sidenote, in a flashback we see Kris and Harry Dean Stanton onstage at a concert that MUST have been filmed live and spliced into this movie. It ties in the claim that they both used to play together.
I am trying to think of what might make a good double-feature with this. Perhaps "Billy Jack", the first one. Just to get a bigger picture of early 70s small budget "indy" type movies. They both have a sort of outlaw storyline anyway.
If you can find it, get it. If it comes on TV, tape it. You won't regret it.
In how many movies do you see Kris do the following... almost get busted by the cops for selling 10 kilos of primo killer weed to Woodstock icon Wavy Gravy, drag a drugged-up Harry Dean Stanton around who has been up for days and is impotent, receive oral favors from underground film star Viva, get naked with a 1960s porn star with the hysterical name of Joy Bang, eat a diner meal with a pimped-up Antonio Vargas and share a topless nude scene with Karen Black? It's all here, man! Add in Gene Hackman lurking around as a crooked narc and 100 keys of weed to sell in a weekend for no less than $10,000 and you have the making for an off-beat classic that hardly anyone knows about.
It has the low-budget look of a movie like "Billy Jack" and, at the very beginning, during the opening credits, will remind you of a TV movie. But this was no TV movie! As much drugs as a Cheech & Chong movie and a decent soundtrack if you like early Kristofferson. As a sidenote, in a flashback we see Kris and Harry Dean Stanton onstage at a concert that MUST have been filmed live and spliced into this movie. It ties in the claim that they both used to play together.
I am trying to think of what might make a good double-feature with this. Perhaps "Billy Jack", the first one. Just to get a bigger picture of early 70s small budget "indy" type movies. They both have a sort of outlaw storyline anyway.
If you can find it, get it. If it comes on TV, tape it. You won't regret it.
Kris Kristofferson in his best role to date
mim-82 February 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This film is a must-see for a 70's crime picture fans, it's a low-key, interesting story of a musician turned drug dealer and the cop who does the same only for different reasons, that add up to the same result. The movie would be a whole lot different if it hadn't starred Kris Kristofferson or Gene Hackman for that matter. They glue the story together, and the supporting cast add fine touches to the plot.
I think that this is the best role Kristofferson played in his entire career, even better than the way he acted in Scorsese's "Alice doesn't live here anymore", and the rest of his acting career consisted of appearing in half to full bad movies. The song played in this film, called "Pilgrim, Chapter 33" is referred to by Cybyl Shepherd in the "Taxi Driver", in context of explaining De Niro's character Travis Bickle ("partly true, partly fiction, a walking contradiction") I love this film, and I definitely recommend it to everybody who has the taste for 70's genre cinema.
I think that this is the best role Kristofferson played in his entire career, even better than the way he acted in Scorsese's "Alice doesn't live here anymore", and the rest of his acting career consisted of appearing in half to full bad movies. The song played in this film, called "Pilgrim, Chapter 33" is referred to by Cybyl Shepherd in the "Taxi Driver", in context of explaining De Niro's character Travis Bickle ("partly true, partly fiction, a walking contradiction") I love this film, and I definitely recommend it to everybody who has the taste for 70's genre cinema.
One of the most underrated movies ever made
sprockets23 August 2000
This is a wonderful movie about a unique time and place in the life of America, done with wonderful, almost creepy authenticity. It is smoggy LA with a beautiful score. Kris Kristofferson and Gene Hackman are just plain terrific, and so are Viva and Harry Dean Stanton. (And it's got a great cast of Hollywood character actors.) Along with The Player and Boogie Nights, it is one of the best movies ever made about L.A. Along with Nashville and This Is Spinal Tap, it's one of the best movies ever made about the American music scene. If you can find it, see it!
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