Getting Straight (1970)

Getting Straight (1970)

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“I’m not putting it down; I’ve just done it already!”

Synopsis:
After returning from serving in Vietnam, a former college radical (Elliott Gould) earning his master’s degree on a campus rife with student protests struggles to meet the demands of both his department chair (Jeff Corey) and his girlfriend (Candice Bergen).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Candice Bergen Films
  • Cecil Kellaway Films
  • College
  • Counterculture
  • Elliott Gould Films
  • Veterans

Review:
After showing success with AIP’s Hells Angels on Wheels (1967) and Psych-Out (1968), Richard Rush — perhaps best known for helming The Stunt Man (1980) — directed this topical flick (an adaptation of Ken Kolb’s novel of the same name) about campus unrest during the late 1960s. It covers the gamut of timely issues, ranging from veteran reintegration (Gould is trying hard to secure a meaningful career after his service):

… to draft-dodging (Robert F. Lyons plays Gould’s wacky, wily friend who is willing to try anything and everything to avoid serving):

… to relationship problems (Gould and Bergen go back and forth numerous times about whether to stay with one another — and if so, in what way):

… to campus unrest in various forms (the movie was filmed at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon).

Unfortunately, all of this is way too much territory for one film — and most problematic is that we don’t really feel invested in Gould’s desired outcome of earning a teaching credential (which was the primary focus of the source novel).

The college protest scenes are well worth a look (László Kovács’ cinematography is top notch as always), but this is otherwise only must-see viewing for fans of the stars. Watch for Harrison Ford in a bit role as a fellow college student:

… Jeff Corey as Gould’s stern committee chair:

… Cecil Kellaway (in his last role) as a kindly professor:

… and Jeannie Berlin in her cinematic debut as a student activist.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

  • Elliott Gould as Harry Bailey
  • Candice Bergen as Jan
  • László Kovács’ cinematography

Must See?
No, though it’s worth a one-time look for its historicity.

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One thought on “Getting Straight (1970)”

  1. First viewing (2/29/20). Only for those with interest in a representative ’60s campus flick.

    Typically chaotic Richard Rush film. Verbose, wildly uneven, it also satirically exploits several set plot pieces beyond the point of being effective: this includes everything from Gould’s car being a hunk of junk to a college chum being a confirmed pot-head / draft dodger to Gould’s over-analyzed relationship with Bergen.

    I found it easier to get through this film in half-hour segments with breaks. It does get points as a period piece for the way it captures late ’60s campus unrest – which may be the reason that, of the number of such films made at the time, this was the only one that was a box office success.

    The only really compelling sequence comes at the 3/4 mark – when Gould is up against a university head, explaining to him that the school’s methods are woefully outdated and that – for a so-called progressive school – it certainly remains in an earlier decade in its refusal to adjust to diverse, present-day needs.

    Gould’s oral exam for his Master’s, to which the film builds, is ambitious in the way it pits a grad student against a committee – but it sort of implodes unconvincingly as it settles for ending in an explosive free-for-all, to justify Gould’s non-conformity.

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