Hair (1979)

Claude Bukowski leaves the family ranch in Oklahoma for New York where he is rapidly embraced into the hippie group of youngsters led by Berger, yet he's already been drafted. He soon falls in love with Sheila Franklin, a rich girl but still a rebel inside.

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers:

Gerome Ragni (musical book), James Rado (musical book)

Stars:

John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Savage	...	Claude Hooper Bukowski
Treat Williams	...	George Berger
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Sheila Franklin
Annie Golden	...	Jeannie Ryan
Dorsey Wright	...	Lafayette aka Hud
Don Dacus	...	Woof
Cheryl Barnes	...	Hud's Fiancee
Richard Bright	...	Fenton
Nicholas Ray	...	The General
Charlotte Rae	...	Lady in Pink
Miles Chapin	...	Steve Wright
Fern Tailer	...	Sheila's Mother
Charles Denny	...	Sheila's Father
Herman Meckler	...	Sheila's Uncle
Agness Breen	...	Sheila's Aunt

Storyline

This movie, based on the cult Broadway musical of the 60s, tells a story about Claude, a young man from Oklahoma who comes to New York City. There he strikes up a friendship with a group of hippies, led by Berger, and falls in love with Sheila, a girl from a rich family. However, their happiness is short because Claude must go to the Vietnam war.

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Plot Keywords:

title sung by character | hair clippers | explosion | scene during opening credits | n word | 

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Taglines:

Let the sun shine in . . . all over again!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

West Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 May 1979 (France)

Also Known As:

Kosa

Filming Locations:

Barstow, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$15,284,463

Company Credits

Production Co:

CIP Filmproduktion GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the closing number, when Berger sings the third verse, background singers are singing lines from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. "Eyes, Look your Last, Arms take your last embrace" and "The lips, oh you the doors, of breath, sealed with a righteous kiss" are all from Romeo's final monologue. It's followed by "The rest is silence," the last line in Hamlet.

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Goofs

The fold in the money Bukowski holds in court changes orientation, and is folded more neatly between shots.

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Quotes

Steve: We'll have it
[the money]
Steve: for you at four o'clock.
Berger: See, that's just what my other problem is, man.
Steve: What?
Berger: You're full of shit.
[Sheila laughs]

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Connections

Referenced in ALF: The Boy Next Door (1988)

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Soundtracks

Hare Krishna
Music by Galt MacDermot
Lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado
Performed by chorus

User Reviews

A classic musical!

Now more than ever we need Peace & Love in this world!

This film really showcases the wonderful music of the Broadway show, and the fabulous Choreography of the legendary Twila Tharp! I saw it again after many years, and it still holds up well.

Thank you, MGM/UA for putting this on DVD! I love the option of seeing in Widescreen. MGM rocks for doing this on many of their DVD releases.

Ya gotta love Treat Williams as Berger and John Savage as Claude. They couldn't have picked better actors & actresses for this film! Beverly D'Angelo is such a 'hot mama' in this film--I had forgotten just how hot! WOW!

The supporting cast is absolutely great,

with the late great Nell Carter making a singing cameo in a couple of scenes, as well as the kooky Charlotte Ray (Mrs. Garrett on 'Facts Of Life')

The story gets a little weak toward the end, but the anti-war sentiment of the late 60's still holds up, and is relevant today.

It's beautifully filmed (quite a bit on location) and is so colorful and lovely and really brings the spirit of 1968 back on the big screen.

I saw this movie when it was released in 1979 when I was 15, and was moved by it then, and it still moves me now at 40. Some other reviews on here say they think it should have been made sooner--I don't think Hollywood was ready to make such a movie back in the late 60's-early 70's.

The Vietnam War ended in 1975, and the whole thing hit a little too close to home, I think for this story to be filmed before it was (like in 1969, 70, 71)

Bravo to Director Milos Foreman! I love this film!!!!!!!

It's nice to see it again, this time on DVD. It never looked better!