New Movies: Revolution

Hippiedom may be as dead as the Hupmobile, but you’d never know it from the movies. Hollywood has scheduled for release a flock of new films that mock, parody, praise or exploit the life of the flower children.

Meanwhile, a pictorial record of what was allegedly the real thing is on display in Revolution, a cinéma vérité documentary made on the San Francisco scene last summer. There is acid rock by such groups as the Quicksilver Messenger Service and Mother Earth. There are shots of long-haired nymphets looking stoned, solemn interviews with cops, doctors, and headshrinkers about the dangers of drugs, and interminable expositions of hippie philosophy by unbathed gurus. Apparently for the benefit of grind-house voyeurs, there is also some totally nude choreography—filtered through eye-blasting psychedelic lighting—danced by members of the Ann Halprin troupe.

Revolution is supposed to be a serious picture, but the “recommended for adults only” label gives it away. A Mondo movie, no matter what it is called, is still a Mondo movie.