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.

---

Plot Keywords:

breasts | buttocks | sexual harassment | horseback riding | trick horseback riding | 

---

Taglines:

The "Star Wars" of movie musicals! [Australia Theatrical]

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance | War

---

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

The original Broadway production opened at the Biltmore Theater on April 20, 1968, and ran for 1750 performances before it closed on July 1, 1972. It was nominated for the 1969 Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical.

---

Goofs

When Berger starts his dance on the table at Sheila and Steve's engagement party, Hud is turned towards Sheila's end of the table and smiles at someone, with no cord in his hair. After a cut, he looks toward the near end of the table and his hair is tied back.

---

Quotes

Berger: Bukowski!
Claude Bukowski: Yes, Sergeant!
Berger: Let's move it out!
Claude Bukowski: Yes, Sergeant!
Berger: Double time, soldier.
Claude Bukowski: Yes, Sergeant!
Claude Bukowski: Sir?
Berger: In the car, soldier!
Claude Bukowski: Yes, Sergeant!
Berger: Are you an asshole, soldier?
[...]

---

Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Simpson Safari (2001)

---

Soundtracks

Somebody to Hold
Written by James Rado (as Rado),Gerome Ragni (as Ragni) & Galt MacDermot (as MacDermot)

User Reviews

"You know I'm hung up on you."

Yes, HAIR came out in the late 70's. But please don't call it a "disco-era" musical; there isn't a single thing in it that would suggest any detraction from its 1968 period. Judge it on its own merit; too often, a movie is compared to its stage roots and is inevitably crucified. As it is, the film plays out like one long, fantasy trip (whether that trip is substance-enhanced or not is your call)- starting with the "Aquarius" sequence and continuing on to the marvelous set pieces for "Manchester England," "Ain't Got No," "I Got Life," and best of all, the "Electric Blues"/"Hare Krishna" fantasy which shows lovers John Savage and Beverly D'Angelo literally flying through their own wedding ceremony. (BTW, the woman singing "Aquarius" in the film's opening is not Melba Moore, but Ren Woods- a wonderful singer-actress seen a lot on TV in the 70's, and star of the Los Angeles production of "The Wiz.") The opening Twyla Tharp corps-de-ballet shot right on the Central Park grounds- with Woods' solo in a dizzying 360 camera pan- is an awesome start to a rock-infested musical. Ms. Moore (who performed in the original Broadway HAIR) appears later in the film singing "3-5-0-0" with Ronnie Dyson in the war protest scene shot in Washington, DC. And there are moments- like the "Walking In Space" basic training sequence or the simple close-up on Cheryl Barnes's torch solo "Easy To Be Hard-" which are just plain astonishing.