The Love-Ins
Encyclopedia
The Love-Ins is a 1967 exploitation film
about LSD
that was directed by Arthur Dreifuss. The film is loosely based on the 1960s American figure, Timothy Leary
and represents the 1960s San Francisco scene, particularly that of the Haight-Ashbury district. The plot basically centers around a Timothy Leary type figure becoming the head of a cult
-like following of hippies who all enjoy the effects of LSD
. The production seems to be a typical representation of the producer Sam Katzman
's work. The film featured a number of different musical acts popular at the time. The themes dealt with drug use
and martyrdom. The film was generally poorly received with a few exceptions.
youth movement and, specifically, the use of LSD. The hippies of the Haight-Ashbury district (including Larry and Patricia) first see him as a hero and then as something even more. Dr. Barnett even makes an appearance on the Joe Pyne
TV show to voice his support of the hippie community and the use of LSD.
One scheming young man sees the opportunity to build Dr. Barnett as a the head of a cult centered around the use of LSD. He hopes to earn profit from the users, Dr. Barnett's speeches known as "happenings," and their lifestyles. At a massive LSD-fueled dance, Patricia begins to have a bad trip
which leads to an argument between her and Pat, ultimately splitting the couple up.
After Patricia realizes that she's pregnant, Dr. Barnett advises her to have an abortion
, ultimately leading to Patricia attempting suicide. However, Larry saves her and makes the destruction of Dr. Barnett's cult his primary objective. Larry shoots Dr. Barnett from the crowd at one of his massive speeches. As another hippie in attendance calms the audience and Elliot sees his new leader for their cult-like organization, Larry realizes that his assassination of Dr. Barnett simply made him a martyr for the hippie movement.
Actress Susan Oliver, who portrays the main character Patricia Cross, had disillusions about the film due to its serious subject manner and the exploitation style in which it would be produced. She said, "I'd turned it down flat at first, since the script was a trivialization of the whole Timothy Leary, flower-child, hippie scene then going on." However, producers and friends involved in the picture promised her that the topic would be done tastefully. Later, she realized it was just an exploitation and cried at the wrap party.
released the film in 1967. Sam Katzman produced the film. According to Jeff Stafford, Katzman had made a name of making cheap exploitations films in either popular genres or in relation to popular fads of the time.
bands at the time. The garage band The Chocolate Watch Band made an appearance in the film as well as contributing music. The film also featured 60's bands, The UFO's, Donnie Brooks
and the New Age Group. Hollywood music director and composer Fred Karger also contributed original music for the film.
Although not a musical, the film does feature a large musical sequence in which a main character, Patricia Cross, has a bad LSD trip and goes into an Alice in Wonderland themed sequence. Cross imagines that she's Alice and meets men dressed in White Rabbit costumes as well as other representations of characters from Lewis Carroll
's story over the course of a lengthy free-form disco musical sequence.
Other themes include the creation of martyrs, reflected through the final act in which Larry thinks he has destroyed the head of this cult-like following only to find a ready replacement in another hippie from the organization.
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
about LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
that was directed by Arthur Dreifuss. The film is loosely based on the 1960s American figure, Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
and represents the 1960s San Francisco scene, particularly that of the Haight-Ashbury district. The plot basically centers around a Timothy Leary type figure becoming the head of a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
-like following of hippies who all enjoy the effects of LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
. The production seems to be a typical representation of the producer Sam Katzman
Sam Katzman
Sam Katzman was an American film producer and director. Born into a poor Jewish family, Katzman went to work as a stage laborer at the age of 13 in the fledgling East Coast film industry...
's work. The film featured a number of different musical acts popular at the time. The themes dealt with drug use
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
and martyrdom. The film was generally poorly received with a few exceptions.
Plot
Patricia Cross and her boyfriend Larry Osborne, two students in a San Francisco school, become expelled for the publication of an off-campus underground paper. As a result, a philosophy professor, Dr. Jonathon Barnett, resigns his teaching position and decides to become an advocate for the countercultureCounterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
youth movement and, specifically, the use of LSD. The hippies of the Haight-Ashbury district (including Larry and Patricia) first see him as a hero and then as something even more. Dr. Barnett even makes an appearance on the Joe Pyne
Joe Pyne
Joe Pyne was an American radio and television talk show host, who pioneered the confrontational style in which the host advocates a viewpoint and argues with guests and audience members...
TV show to voice his support of the hippie community and the use of LSD.
One scheming young man sees the opportunity to build Dr. Barnett as a the head of a cult centered around the use of LSD. He hopes to earn profit from the users, Dr. Barnett's speeches known as "happenings," and their lifestyles. At a massive LSD-fueled dance, Patricia begins to have a bad trip
Bad trip
Bad trip is a disturbing experience sometimes associated with use of a psychedelic drug such as LSD, Salvinorin A, DXM, mescaline, psilocybin, DMT and sometimes even other drugs including cannabis, alcohol and MDMA....
which leads to an argument between her and Pat, ultimately splitting the couple up.
After Patricia realizes that she's pregnant, Dr. Barnett advises her to have an abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, ultimately leading to Patricia attempting suicide. However, Larry saves her and makes the destruction of Dr. Barnett's cult his primary objective. Larry shoots Dr. Barnett from the crowd at one of his massive speeches. As another hippie in attendance calms the audience and Elliot sees his new leader for their cult-like organization, Larry realizes that his assassination of Dr. Barnett simply made him a martyr for the hippie movement.
Cast
The cast incorporated a number of current musical acts, real-life news figure Joe Pyne, actors, as well as extras who were actually from the Haight-Ashbury district at the time.- Richard ToddRichard ToddRichard Todd OBE was an Irish-born British stage and film actor and soldier.-Early life:Richard Todd was born as Richard Andrew Palethorpe-Todd in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Andrew William Palethorpe Todd, was an Irish physician and an international Irish rugby player who gained three caps for...
as Dr. Jonathan Barnett - James MacArthur as Larry Osborne
- Susan OliverSusan OliverSusan Oliver was an American actress, television director and aviator.-Early life and family:Susan Oliver was born Charlotte Gercke, the daughter of journalist George Gercke and astrology practitioner Ruth Hale Oliver, in New York City in 1932. Her parents divorced when she was still a child...
as Patricia Cross - Mark GoddardMark GoddardMark Goddard is an American film actor who has starred in a number of television programs. He portrayed Major Don West, the space adversary of Dr. Zachary Smith in the cult 1960s CBS series, Lost in Space, and Detective Sgt...
as Elliott - Carol Booth as Harriet Henning
- Marc Cavell as Mario
- Janee Michelle as Lamelle
- Ronnie Eckstine as Bobby
- Michael Evans as Rev. Spencer
- Hortense Petra as Mrs. Sacaccio
- Jimmy Lloyd as Mr. Henning
- Mario Roccuzzo as Hippie on LSD
- Joe Pyne as Himself
- Donnie BrooksDonnie BrooksDonnie Brooks was an American pop music singer. Brooks is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame....
as Specialty Act - The U.F.O.'s as Themselves
- The New Age as Themselves
- Bill Baldwin as Reporter (uncredited)
- Frank Coghlan Jr.Frank Coghlan Jr.Frank Coghlan, Jr. also known as "Junior Coghlan", was an American actor and naval aviator. He appeared in approximately 129 films and television programs between 1920 and 1974...
as Reporter in Park (uncredited) - Richard Hoyt as Reporter (uncredited)
Actress Susan Oliver, who portrays the main character Patricia Cross, had disillusions about the film due to its serious subject manner and the exploitation style in which it would be produced. She said, "I'd turned it down flat at first, since the script was a trivialization of the whole Timothy Leary, flower-child, hippie scene then going on." However, producers and friends involved in the picture promised her that the topic would be done tastefully. Later, she realized it was just an exploitation and cried at the wrap party.
Production
Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
released the film in 1967. Sam Katzman produced the film. According to Jeff Stafford, Katzman had made a name of making cheap exploitations films in either popular genres or in relation to popular fads of the time.
The term "Love-Ins"
"Love-in" is a name given to a gathering in the promotion of love for the enjoyment of participants either personally or in relation to social activism. In the context of the title, it refers to the psychedelic and social activism conducted by Timothy Leary who in the film is represented by the character Dr. Barnett whose philosophy is "Be more. Sense More. Love more."Music
The film featured a number of psychedelic rockPsychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
bands at the time. The garage band The Chocolate Watch Band made an appearance in the film as well as contributing music. The film also featured 60's bands, The UFO's, Donnie Brooks
Donnie Brooks
Donnie Brooks was an American pop music singer. Brooks is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame....
and the New Age Group. Hollywood music director and composer Fred Karger also contributed original music for the film.
Although not a musical, the film does feature a large musical sequence in which a main character, Patricia Cross, has a bad LSD trip and goes into an Alice in Wonderland themed sequence. Cross imagines that she's Alice and meets men dressed in White Rabbit costumes as well as other representations of characters from Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll , was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the...
's story over the course of a lengthy free-form disco musical sequence.
Themes
The film deals with many themes in tune with 60's counterculture. One theme throughout the film deals with the aspect of the Haight-Ashbury district and its druggie counterculture, with Dr. Barnett as the film's representation of Timothy Leary. Like Leary, Barnett endorses an LSD lifestyle. As Barnett says in the film, "LSD opens up new vistas and experiences to those that take it, I believe that every healthy person should try it. This is a way of life: Be More. Sense More. Love More." The film also showed the downfall of certain individuals as the result of such a lifestyle, in particular with the film's treatment of its protagonists Larry and Patricia.Other themes include the creation of martyrs, reflected through the final act in which Larry thinks he has destroyed the head of this cult-like following only to find a ready replacement in another hippie from the organization.