1969 *** (1988, Robert Downey Jr, Kiefer Sutherland, Bruce Dern, Mariette Hartley, Winona Ryder, Joanna Cassidy) – Classic Movie Review 10,793

Writer-director Ernest Thompson’s 1988 drama 1969 is a sincere and genial period piece, with appealing performances from the young Kiefer Sutherland and Robert Downey Jr as intelligent hippy Scott and his sensual best mate Ralph, college students who leave their Maryland small town and head for the open road as man lands on the Moon and the Vietnam War drags on.

Ralph is expelled from college and becomes ripe to serve in the war so the buddies act to ensure his freedom in a desperate bid to avoid getting drafted or growing up, especially after Scott’s brother is declared missing in action.

1969 is an entertaining and thoughtful look at America in transition, beefed up by a superb cast and a great Sixties soundtrack.

It was part of a Hollywood trend for nostalgia-blurred Sixties themes at the time.

Also in the attractive cast are Bruce Dern, Mariette Hartley, Winona Ryder, Joanna Cassidy, Christopher Wynne, Keller Kuhn, Steve Foster, Mert Hatfield, Welton Tootle, Don Devendorf, Jason Summers, Scott N Stevens, Michael Fowler and David Webster.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,793

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