Slaughterhouse-Five *** (1972, Michael Sacks, Ron Leibman, Eugene Roche, Sharon Gans, Valerie Perrine, Sorrell Booke, John Dehner, Perry King) – Classic Movie Review 6321

Director George Roy Hill bites off more than he can chew in this 1972 movie of another of Kurt Vonnegut Jr’s virtually unfilmable fantasy novels – Slaughterhouse-Five or the Children’s Crusade – adapted by screen-writer Stephen Geller.

Michael Sacks plays the universal hero Billy Pilgrim, who goes on adventures in time and space — from being a German prisoner of war in World War Two, via marriage to Valencia Merble Pilgrim (Sharon Gans), children and a breakdown, to sharing the planet Tralfamadore with starlet Montana Wildhack (Valerie Perrine).

Still, although it is arty and hard to follow, it is nevertheless still impressive and rewarding. It represents a brave try by Hill, who makes it look eye-smacking with the help of Miroslav Ondricek’s Technicolor cinematography, Henry Bumstead and Alexander Golitzen’s production designs and Universal’s millions ($3,200,000), and does justice to Vonnegut’s themes.

The great Glenn Gould adapts Bach’s music for the soundtrack.

Also in the cast are Ron Leibman, Eugene Roche, Sorrell Booke, John Dehner, Perry King, Roberts Blossom, Kevin Conway, Stan Gottlieb, Friedrich von Ledebur, Nick Belle [Ekkehardt Belle], Henry Bumstead, Lucille Benson, Gilmer McCormick, Holly Near, Richard Schaal, Karl-Otto Alberty, Gary Waynesmith and Tom Wood.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6321

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