The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart *** (1970, Don Johnson, Linda Gillen, Michael Greer, Dianne Hull, Victoria Racimo) – Classic Movie Review 10,248

Director Leonard J Horn’s 1970 The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart stars a very young and sweet-looking Don Johnson in his film debut as the 23-year-old home-movie addict Columbia University student dropout Stanley Sweetheart, blowing his mind Sixties-style and seeking his identity during the sexual revolution.

This weird movie hit censorship problems in Britain because of its strong sex and its drugs references.

The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart is an interesting, even quite fascinating postcard from the edge of the Sixties. Though it is not too much fun, it sheds a bright light on the free love era’s sexual revolution, and therefore an intriguing minor relic of the period.

Also in the cast are Linda Gillen, Michael Greer, Dianne Hull, Victoria Racimo, Holly Near, Brandon Maggart, Karen Lynn Gorney, Robert T Westbrook, Barbara Maggio, Andy Warhol, Joe Dallesandro, Candy Darling and Ultra Violet.

The screenplay by Robert T Westbrook is based on his semi-autobiographical novel.

The Magic Garden of Stanley Sweetheart is directed by Leonard J Horn, runs 117 minutes, is made by Martin Poll Productions, is released  by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1970) (US) and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1970) (UK) , is written by Robert T Westbrook, based on his semi-autobiographical novel, is shot in Metrocolor by Victor J Kemper, is produced by Martin Poll and Robert T Westbrook (associate producer), is scored by Mike Curb (music supervisor) and Jerry Styner (composer/ conductor: additional score) and designed by Gene Callahan.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,248

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