I just watched this on TVO, having lucked upon it while grazing stations. I am amazed I'd never even heard of this film before. From the first second I was engaged. It is, I think, the single best portrait of the social climate of the early 1970s that I have ever seen. Easy Rider is the only other film that I know of that perfectly captures the feeling of that time period, though I find Easy Rider to be indulgent, where this film is modest and understated. All the performances are wonderful. The girl who played the daughter, Linnea Heacock, is utterly captivating, as is David Gittler, as the rock star, Jamie. (I can find no record of other performances by either actor.) There's a hilarious scene with a young Vincent Schiavelli, where he explains to a bunch of older parents how to smoke pot. The direction is smart though not intrusive, which is very rare. Watch for Carly Simon and Cathy Bates in tiny roles. This film is a real delight. I only wish it were on DVD.
Review of Taking Off
