THE WILD SCENE (1970) **

Dr. Grant (Virigina Nelson) is a psychiatrist who is writing a book about the problems of young people.  Her first case study is of a girl who tried to commit suicide after her father’s death.  Turns out she had the hots for dear old dad and despised her rich bitch of a mother.  The next is about a pair of sisters experimenting with drugs.  Things turn tragic when one of them gets high (in both senses of the word) and plunges to her death.  The third case is a young woman who works as a prostitute “for kicks” that has her doctor father write her and her co-workers prescriptions for the pill.  This is probably the best of the bunch thanks to the twist, but it still isn’t all that great.  The young mistress of a rich guy reveals she’s cheating on him with another woman in the final tale. He eventually gets his kicks by watching them in bed.  Meanwhile, the shrink can’t seem to get a handle on her own rebellious daughter (Anita Eubank) who has fallen in with a no-good louse parading as an activist. 

Directed by William (Black Rebels) Rowland, The Wild Scene is a mixed bag.  The big issue is the structure as the case studies are awkwardly crammed into the narrative featuring the shrink and her daughter.  The point of the structure is to hammer home the idea that will all her degrees and experience, she still can’t help her own kid.  That’s all well and good, but it’s just handled in a clunky manner. 

The previews made it out to be an expose on the happenings of hippie counterculture, but it’s more of a study of the generation gap and the moralistic and cultural divide separating youth from their parents.  While the young people make an occasional good point concerning the differences they have with their parents, most of the time their dialogue scenes just feel like an attempt by the screenwriters to cram in as much hippie jargon as possible.  Although it’s an earnest enough attempt, it often comes off like an After School Special.  It’s also frankly, kind of dull. 

The Wild Scene does have a great acid rock theme song though.  The psychedelic dance party scene with topless dancing, flashing lights, and painted faces is amusing too.  It’s just a shame the print is so jumpy in spots. 

Of all the slang-filled dialogue, my favorite line was, “Love is a bum trip!”