October 25, 2002

• Gas-S-S-S (1970): Cindy Williams, Talia Shire, Ben Vereen, Roger Corman

  
  

  I realize that to most of my readers here, the 1960s is a poorly understood historical era.  Well, kids, there is a cure for that.  No other movie I have ever seen so fully exemplifies the strange socio-cultural phenomena of that era.

  
  

  I remember reading about “Gassss” while I was in prison.  It made quite a splash at the time.  Young people apparently loved it, while their more staid and serious elders deplored the light-hearted and satirical treatment of then-current social issues such as drugs, feminism, sex, golf, football, war, rape, and the like.  The fact that I was locked up when this film was first released might account for the fact that I hadn’t seen it until 32 years later.

  
  

  While Greyfox was viewing this video yesterday, I was in and out of the room doing housework.  When I did settle down, it was with my laptop, writing today’s memoir blog entry.  In short, the film didn’t get my full attention.  That was okay, because our resident film buff rewound and replayed some of the choicer bits for me, and we’re keeping it around a while to view again when I can spare more attention for it.

  
  

  ‘Sixties rock icon Country Joe McDonald, once Janis Joplin’s lover (famous for getting concert audiences to spell out a certain four letter word:  “Gimme an F!”), did the soundrack.  He also did an AM radio voiceover filled with gems of pop cult from the psychedelic era.

  
  

  Although much of the movie’s humor is timeless and accessible to all generations, there are some anachronisms and a few ‘sixties in-jokes that will probably leave 21st century audiences asking, “Huh?”  But for any Baby Boomer seeking a blast from the past, or a student of history wanting to see what the sixties were all about, this movie has a lot to recommend it.

  
  

  For black humor alone, it is entertaining.  One example:  a female protagonist, being carried off by three prospective rapists, struggling in their grasp, kicking and squirming ineffectually, says, “If I had known this was going to happen, I’d have studied karate instead of taking ballet.”  The pack of golf cart riding “Angels” got a few laughs from me, as well.

  
  

  Those familiar with the work of producer-director Roger Corman will not be surprised that the movie has a confused feel and a tacky look to it.  That’s Corman’s style.  The production values are adequate but nothing to shout about.  This movies attraction lies in its value as a document of social history.

  • 12:10 pm
  • 2 Comments