Review of Butterflies Are Free (1972) by Monsieur R — 02 Dec 2010

Stupendous romantic comedy/drama detailing the intense & difficult relationship between a young blind man (Edward Albert, son of "Green Acres"' Eddie Albert-) and his formidably-domineering, over-protective, yet loving mother (An astounding performance by character actress Eileen Heckart, who won an Oscar for this role-), set in the early 1970's, in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.

Enter goofy-&-gorgeous free-spirited & chirpy flower-child Goldie Hawn (In a role that seems tailor-made for her eccentrically-effervescent persona-) to turn their world completely upside-down, & point Albert in the direction of independence.

Hawn is sexy & enchanting here, spending the majority of the film clad only in bra-and-panties (Girl-watchers rejoice!), cavorting around Albert's apartment with reckless abandon. An alternately very comical & vastly-moving film with great performances throughout, with Heckart in the role of her career.

A little preachy at times & somewhat dated, what with its rampant Hippie-philosophiy & sensibilities, but mostly still very relevant & extremely entertaining. Look for early appearances by Paul Michael Glaser ("Starsky" of TV fame-) & Michael Warren, Officer Hill on "Hill Street Blues".