Hair

My first introduction to "Hair" was the classic 1968 Broadway Cast Recording. Much later, I saw the 1979 film version on Showtime and loved it!! Years rolled by, and I saw an excellent stage production at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre (twice) and added "Hair: The London Cast Recording" to my collection. I felt the time was right to view the film version again.With eleven years between the original Broadway production and the film version, time allows for a different perspective. "Hair: The Movie" is not about "what's happening, baby, " as the stage production had been. But, it had to, and does, evoke some of the spirit of the late 1960's era. As director Milos Forman said: "When you are in the middle of a storm like the '60's, you do not have time to think about what is going on. With distance, now I can look at the period and see the contradiction, the humor."Of course, there are differences between the stage and film versions. In the stage musical, the main characters of Claude, Berger, Shelia, etc. are all a merry band of hippies. Claude is conflicted. Will he burn his draft card or fight in Vietnam? In the film, Claude (John Savage) is a hick (from Oklahoma, I gather) who goes to NYC to join the Army and go to Vietnam. He meets Berger (Treat Williams) and his hippie pals in Central Park, who introduce him to the joys of drugs, sex, peace, freedom. happiness, etc. Shelia (Beverly D'Angelo) is now a society debutante who is drawn into the hippie group due to the mutal attraction between her and Claude. Of course, the hippies try to save Claude from going to Vietnam, and the film's "ironic twist ending," although different from the stage version, is every bit as moving and heartbreaking.The film has an especially vibrant energy and the cast, particularly sexy Treat Williams as hippie leader Berger, is extremely charismatic. Most of the celebrated score by Gerome Ragni, James Rado, and Galt MacDermot, is included here; although a few songs are rather clumsily inserted into the film screenplay by Michael Weller. For instance, "Walking In Space," a drug use scene/song in the stage version, underscores an Army training sequence in the film. A few odd changes do not detract from the overall impact of the film, however. The opening number "The Age Of Aquarius," set in Central Park, is thrilling. Treat Williams' party crashing performance of "I Got Life", Cheryl Barnes' emotional showstopper "Easy To Be Hard", and the gender switching treatment of the "Black Boys/White Boys" number are a few other outstanding moments."Hair" belongs on that short list of film adaptations that manage to capture the spirit of the original stage musical and are a completely successful film musical in their own right. ("West Side Story," "The King And I," "The Sound Of Music," "Cabaret," and "Chicago" are the others). I'll never understand why the film version of "Hair" did not achieve the same success as the film version of "Grease," that shumaltzy/sleazy. over-rated tribute to the 1950's. "Hair" certainly has more grit, emotional power, better songs, and a stronger, more important message than "Grease." I don't even own "Grease," but "Hair" deserves to be in the library of everyone who loves the late 1960's and Broadway/film musicals.

Even if you don't usually like musicals, like me, you should still like this one, it is one of my all time favorites. It has some classic songs in it, including "Easy to be Hard", one of the very few that we are forced to listen to at work that I actually like, here are the lyrics to it:"How can people be so heartlessHow can people be so cruelEasy to be hard, easy to be coldHow can people have no feelingsHow can they ignore their friendsEasy to be proud, easy to say no{Refrain}Especially people who care about strangersWho care about evil and social injusticeDo you only care about bleeding crowdHow about a needing friend, I need a friendHow can people be so heartlessYou know I'm hung up on youEasy to be proud, easy to say no{Refrain}How can people be so heartlessHow can people be so cruelEasy to be proud, easy to say noEasy to be cold, easy to say noCome, on, easy to give in, easy to say noEasy to be cold, easy to say noMuch too easy to say noLyrics by James RadoIt has a young Treat Williams and John Savage, the latter playing a country boy who goes to the big city before he is supposed to go in the military. He meets a bunch of cool hippies led by Treat's character. There are some other classic songs in it like "Aquarius" and "Good Morning Starshine". Glad to see it on DVD. A bit of trivia via IMBD, it was the highest grossing film in Hungary in 1980. You can watch the trailer there, too, at IMBD. This is a very entertaining film, check it out.

This has been my favorite movie since I was 10 years old! My parents saw HAIR on broadway in 1968- while mom was rather pregnant with me…maybe that had an influence ☺️. I’ve seen the film more than 30 times I’m certain. It was finally time to own a copy. The Olive Signature is the only version where they have extras, interviews and commentaries- so I definitely recommend this version!!!! Still touching and deeply relevant.

Having seen a stage version only once recently of HAIR I think the stage play translates very nicely in the film version. Not being intimately familar with the production and origins of the stage play my only take on it is what is presented in the context of viewing the film and seeing the stage version. The presentation is very evenhanded because Claude Hooper played by John Savage is the country boy inductee who leaves his farm totally willingly to go to the induction station and serve the military. Claude is made to be a 3 dimensional character and still shows interests in the hippies he meets in central park, and meets one of hippies, George Berger (played by Treat Williams); Claude makes friends with them dispite a few misgivings and finds friendship with the Hippies but will not be disuaded by them to not report to the induction station. There is an understanding that the Hippies and Claude gain and a strong bond of friendship which sets the stage for the rest of the film to unfold. Most of all, the film deals with the counter culture and establishments attitudes toward the Vietnam War and questioning obeidence to the governments policies in the prosecution of the vietnam war.