UP IN THE CELLAR
US, 1970, 94 minutes, Colour.
Wes Stern, Joan Collins, Larry Hagman, Judy Pace.
Directed by Theodore J. Flicker.
Up in the Cellar is a film of the late '60s, early '70s: the Vietnam War, student protests, the hippie movement, freedom of expression and protest, violence on the university campuses of the United States. The film was written and directed by Theodore J. Flicker, writer and director of satiric films like The President's Analyst.
The film seems very passe from the standpoint of later decades. However, it is an interesting example of how Hollywood film-makers saw the period at the time. Larry Hagman is unctuous as the hypocritical dean of the university. Wes Stern is the poet, excluded from his scholarship, wanting to commit suicide but surviving and deciding to ruin the dean's life by the seduction of his wife and daughter. Joan Collins appears as the dean's wife.
The film is satirical, spoofing university life at the times as well as the movements of the period. However, it reminds us of the contradictions of the '60s. (The film is also called Three in the Cellar because American International had a great success with its Three in the Attic some time before. Other university films of the period include Richard Rush's Getting Straight and Stanley Kramer's RPM.)
1. Interesting satirical American comedy? Spoof of the period? A viewpoint of the '60s and early '70s?
2. The university campus, the style of the late '60s, the Vietnam War, protests, hippiedom, permissiveness...? The campus and the people on the campus? The musical score?
3. The title - and the young student plotting his revenge, working with the university underground?
4. The focus on the young man and his scholarship, the poet? Earnest? The interview with the dean and his treatment? The loss of the scholarship? His protests? Suicidal? His meeting with the underground group, their using him? The planned suicide stunt with the media - and his survival? Its impact, his decisions? The encounter with the daughter, seductive, falling in love with her? Her rebellion against her father? The encounter with his wife, her interest in astrology, the affair? His being exploited by the students? The transformation, the genuine love, being caught with the mother? The filming and the expose? His running away with the dean's daughter (echoes of The Graduate)? How typical a young man and his attitude? Attitudes of the period?
5. The portrait of the dean, interested in bureaucracy and reputation? His double dealings with his family and his black mistress (and the student discovering this, the encounter with the mistress and their being found out)? Public utterances, going for public office, media campaigns? Speeches and interviews? His treatment of his daughter? His attitude towards his wife? His being exposed - and exploiting situations like rescuing the young man from the tower? Getting rid of his wife? Despising his daughter? His final comeuppance?
6. The daughter, prim and proper, the demands of her father, helping in his campaign? The encounter with the student, her letting her hair down, the affair, rebellion against her father? Her disappointment with his behaviour with her mother? Forgiving him - and running off?
7. The picture of the mother, glamorous, relationship with her husband? Her eccentricities with superstitions and astrology? The affair with the student? Turning against her husband?
8. The mistress, black, black-white relationships? Her being attracted to the student? The clash with the dean?
9. The presentation of the university staff, their attitudes? The changing face of universities in America in the '60s? Expectations of protest? Violence on the campuses? Learning and the obstruction of learning?
10. Exaggerated characters, farcical situations? Education, politics? Relationships, racism, sexuality? The confusions of the late '60s?
