1969 (1988)

Two friends living in a small town during the 1960s, run away to enjoy their freedom during the Vietnam War, thus disappointing the father of one of them. When they return to town, they realize the importance of family unity.

Director:

Ernest Thompson

Writer:

Ernest Thompson

Stars:

Robert Downey Jr., Kiefer Sutherland, Bruce Dern

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Ralph Carr
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Scott
Bruce Dern	...	Cliff
Mariette Hartley	...	Jessie
Winona Ryder	...	Beth
Joanna Cassidy	...	Ev
Christopher Wynne	...	Alden
Keller Kuhn	...	Marsha
Steve Foster	...	Marshall
Mert Hatfield	...	Coach Heart
Welton Tootle	...	Junior Roberts
Don Devendorf	...	Reverend Hardy
Robert Louis Stevenson	...	Dean Bonner (as Dr. Robert Louis Stevenson)
Jason Summers	...	Protestor
Scott N. Stevens	...	Hitchhiker

Storyline

Two friends, Ralph and Scott live in a small minded town at the onset of wide public dissatisfaction with the Vietnam war. While Scott's brother enlists, he and Ralph are outspoken in their opposition to the war. Scott's attitude alienates him from his father and he and Ralph leave town to enjoy their 'freedom'. Various events lead them back to town where they learn of the death of the brother. This event proves to be the catalyst needed to bridge the gap between father and son and enlightens them both to the true cost of war.

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Plot Keywords:

vietnam | death | vietnam war | unfaithfulness | prejudice | 

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Taglines:

The year the country split apart and a generation came together.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Generation von 1969

Filming Locations:

Hardeeville, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$5,979,011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Atlantic Entertainment Group,Atlantic Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Keifer Sutherland stars in 2 movies, this, and Flashback (1990), whose plot and soundtrack is '60s hippie centric. Both movies have a song by the 60s hippie group Canned Heat.

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Goofs

When we are first shown their town, there is a yellow 1977 Mercury Marquis parked on the left side of the street facing the camera.

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Quotes

Scott: I've already decided if nothing happens by the time I am 20, I'm gonna cut it off.
Ralph: How ya going to pee there Scott?
Scott: Sittin' down.

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Connections

References True Grit (1969)

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Soundtracks

Wooden Ships
Performed by Crosby Stills & Nash
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
by arrangement with Warner Special Products
Written by Stephen Stills, David Crosby and Paul Kantner
Published by Gold Hill Music Inc and Guerilla Music

User Reviews

Well-meant but lighthearted look back on the 60's

For a directorial debut, "1969" is better than average, but for an overall coming-of-age movie, it misses its mark somewhat. Ernest Thompson tells the story of two college freshmen, Scott and Ralph, who are coming to terms with the grips of the world at present (Vietnam, family, patriotism, drugs) while their smalltown home, and their own parents, remain buried in the ideals of the flag-waving 50's. Scott is naive, idealistic and hopeful; Ralph is cynical, careless and wild. Although opposites, they complement each other. Scott wishes to become another human catalyst to help change a world he sees as having limitless possibilities. Ralph just wants to get high, ignore his studies and stay out of Vietnam. In between them is Beth, Ralph's younger sister whose also coming into age and also in conflict with the world at hand. Both guys have trouble with recognizing Beth as a new woman and not just a kid anymore.

Although the story centers on Ralph and Scott, all three of them are at odds - in different degrees - with their parents. Scott is in most turmoil. His brother has just been shipped off to Vietnam and their father begins projecting hostility towards Scott for objecting the war. Truthfully, Scott's father has deep fear about the fate of his son in Asia, but clumsily hides it under a blanket of patriotism. One misused character was Beth; whose personality was equal parts of her brother and his best friend; she had Ralph's sense of reality and Scott's optimism. I thought she would serve as the bridge between Scott and Ralph but she is used rather as the cause of a rift when Scott and Beth become romantically involved.

I liked this film just for the energetic performances by Robert Downey Jr., Winona Ryder, Bruce Dern, and most of all Kiefer Sutherland as the wide-eyed wishful. The film score is totally corny (especially in the finale), but Thompson puts good 60's tunes to fill in the scenery. The film does have a realistic vision of smalltown life and effectively creates those various hippie hangouts like angry college campuses, head shops, and nude beaches. Its not "The Doors", but it works.