Hair (1979)
88%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 5 nominations
Spiritedly performed by a groovy cast and imaginatively directed by Milos Forman, Hair transports audiences straight to the Age of Aquarius
Hair is like a time capsule of the 60s, complete with flower power, hippies, and catchy tunes. While some may find it dated, it’s hard not to get swept up in the joy and energy of the film. Plus, who doesn’t love a good dance number? It’s a fun and nostalgic trip down memory lane, even if you weren’t alive during the era.
Production Company(ies)
Jalem Productions,
Distributor
CBS/Fox, United Artists
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1979
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 1m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 14, 1979 Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2001
Genre(s)
Musical
Keyword(s)
starring John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D’Angelo, Annie Golden, Dorsey Wright, Don Dacus, directed by Milos Forman, written by Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Galt MacDermot, musical, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Judith Martin, Meaghan Morris, John Lapsley, Colin Bennett, Alexander Walker, Derek Malcolm, William Kloman, Philip French, Roy Peter Clark, Rick Chatenever, Stanley Eichelbaum, Herb Michelson, PG, Vietnam War, Central Park hippies, upper-middle-class debutante, love story, Age of Aquarius, groovy cast, imaginative direction, artistry, story ballet, Twyla Tharp, rebellious times, peace, catchy tunes, free spirit, timeless message, military, musical comedy, Oklahoma farm hand, city girl, young lovers, theatrical adaptation
Worldwide gross: $15,313,606
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $66,594,480
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,214
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 7,262,212
US/Canada gross: $15,284,643
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $11,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $47,835,845
Production budget ranking: 828
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $25,759,602
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$7,000,967
ROI to date (est.): -10%
ROI ranking: 1,444
Treat Williams – Berger
Beverly D’Angelo – Sheila
Annie Golden – Jeannie
Dorsey Wright – Hud (Lafayette)
Don Dacus – Woof
Director(s)
Milos Forman
Writer(s)
Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Galt MacDermot
Producer(s)
Michael Butler, Lester Persky
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (61) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (11)
The surprising added ingredient is art, a particularly cinematic and choreographic artistry that gives the film the simplicity and strength of a story ballet.
November 9, 2021
Judith Martin
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Forman’s film is much more than a curiosity showing that extravagant risks can pay off. It is, first and foremost, a great screen musical comedy.
November 9, 2021
Meaghan Morris
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Director Milos Forman and his production team have performed an artistic task akin to carefully restoring a chandelier… It is new — but it is not.
November 9, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
John Lapsley
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Although some of the music retains its pulsating vitality and the informal ballet is resourcefully executed, the ideas are passé.
November 9, 2021
Colin Bennett
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Hair has, in the main, such a liberating euphoria that you feel ten years younger instead of just wishing you were.
November 9, 2021
Alexander Walker
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
The fact of the matter is that the under-25s who form the main part of most audiences nowadays are receiving it as a blinding revelation. Unfortunately it’s stale cheese to me, and I’m writing this review.
November 8, 2021
Derek Malcolm
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Visually and musically at least, Hair is done beautifully, faithful to its roots.
May 18, 2022
William Kloman
Washington Blade
Hair is ill-judged nonsense, full of indulged whims and unchallenged whimsy. The music is still attractive, despite the newly ironed-out disco arrangements, but is it possible we once thought the lyrics witty?
November 8, 2021
Philip French
Observer (UK)
In its best moments, Forman’s film has a surrealistic, dreamlike quality that seems the perfect format for some splendid dance numbers and Ragni and Rado’s best songs.
November 8, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Roy Peter Clark
Tampa Bay Times
With its cast of young, unknown stars-to-be, and its bright, unusual choreography by Twyla Tharp, the film violates most of what we know about musicals on screen, packing an emotional wallop that uncannily penetrates the essence of the era it depicts.
November 8, 2021
Rick Chatenever
Santa Cruz Sentinel
No matter how you look at it, Hair is dated, and the efforts by Forman to turn it into a ’60s’ fable — a fondly remembered period piece — is only moderately effective.
November 8, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Stanley Eichelbaum
San Francisco Examiner
Hair is so full of love, bright dancing, and marvelous music that it’s a shame you can’t put it in your pocket and take it home with you.
November 8, 2021
Herb Michelson
Sacramento Bee…
Plot
This movie, based on the cult Broadway musical of the 60s, tells a story about Claude, a young man from Oklahoma who comes to New York City. There he strikes up a friendship with a group of hippies, led by Berger, and falls in love with Sheila, a girl from a rich family. However, their happiness is short because Claude must go to the Vietnam war.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels praises the “spiritedly performed” cast of Hair, calling them “groovy.”
Milos-Forman.jpg
