Adam at Six AM *** (1970, Michael Douglas, Lee Purcell, Joe Don Baker) – Classic Movie Review 12,273

Director Robert Scheerer’s 1970 American drama film Adam at Six AM stars Michael Douglas, Lee Purcell, Joe Don Baker, Louise Latham, Charles Aidman, Grayson Hall, Marge Redmond, and Dana Elcar.

Adam at Six AM is a good little film with a useful early performance by Michael Douglas as a US West Coast college teacher, UCLA semantics professor Adam Gaines, working in a small Midwest town in Missouri as a labourer during his summer vacation. He meets and falls in love with Jerri Jo Hopper (Lee Purcell) and starts friendships with the town locals.

Little-known director Scheerer’s easy-going, atmospheric and low-key picture is out of the ordinary, and boosted with strong support acting, especially from Joe Don Baker as Harvey Gavin.

This debut film for Steve McQueen’s production company Solar Productions was a financially risky venture and unsurprisingly a box-office loser. Solar had signed a multi-picture deal with Cinema Center Films.

Michael Douglas got a pay cheque of only $3,400 for the film but also received the orange Porsche he drives in it from McQueen.

Some strong language and nudity.

It was filmed on location in the small Midwest town of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, as well as Cameron, Missouri and Orrick, Missouri.

The cast are Michael Douglas as Adam Gaines, Lee Purcell as Jerri Jo Hopper, Joe Don Baker as Harvey Gavin, Louise Latham as Verna Hopper, Charles Aidman as Harry Hopper, Grayson Hall as Inez Treadley, Marge Redmond as Cleo, Dana Elcar as Van Treadley, Ed Call as Orville, Carolyn Conwell as Mavis, Butch Youngblood as Elwood, Greg Joseph as Ed, Timothy Blake as Girl at Party, Richard Derr as Roger Gaines, Pat Randal as Pearlie, Jo Ella Deffenbaugh as Marylist, Sharon Marshall as Rosalie, David Sullivan as Leroy, Del Monroe as Mutt Peavine, Meg Foster as Joyce, Anne Gwynne as Gladys Gaines, and Ned Wertheimer as Dr. Peters.

Writers: Stephen Karpf and Elinor Karpf.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,273

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com