Shampoo – 1975
In a town where anything goes, everything does in this funny bedroom farce.
Director
Hal Ashby

Writers
Robert Towne (written by) and
Warren Beatty (written by)

Producers
Warren Beatty producer
Charles H. Maguire associate producer

Cast
Warren Beatty – George Roundy
Julie Christie – Jackie Shawn
Goldie Hawn – Jill
Lee Grant – Felicia
Jack Warden – Lester
Tony Bill – Johnny Pope
George Furth – Mr. Pettis
Jay Robinson – Norman
Ann Weldon – Mary
Luana Anders – Devra
Randy Scheer – Dennis
Susanna Moore – Gloria
Carrie Fisher – Lorna
Mike Olton – Ricci
Richard E. Kalk – Detective Younger
Ronald Dunas – Nate
Hal Buckley – Kenneth
Jack Bernardi – Izzy
William Castle – Sid Roth
Brad Dexter – Senator East
Doris Packer – Rosalind
Faye Michael Nuell – Norma
Howard Hesseman – Red Dog
Cherie Latimer – Girl in Car
George Justin – Producer
Lesley Evans – Secretary
Brunetta Barnett – Mona
Joan Marshall – Mrs. Schumann
Kathleen Miller – Anjanette
Janice Baker – Model #1
April Ross – Model #2
Paula Warner – Model #3
Luis Delgado – Waiter at Bistro
Dina Ousley – Hairdresser
Mack Eden – Hairdresser
Daryl Keith Roach – Boy at Party (as Daryl Roach)
Melinda Smith – Twin #1
Constance Smith – Twin #2
Sean Walsh – Boy with Twins
Gary Marsh – Boy #1
Andrew Stevens – Boy #2
Sharon Kelly – Painted Lady
Larry Bischof – Guest
Don Ames – Guest
Wally Crowder – Malone’s Delivery Boy
Cynthia Wood – Beauty Shop Customer
Jamie Cannon – Beauty Shop Customer
Susan McIver – Beauty Shop Customer
Kimberly McGowen – Beauty Shop Customer
Gail Landry – Beauty Shop Customer
Annalee Coyle – Beauty Shop Customer
Howard Culver – Newscaster (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey – White-haired Man at Party (uncredited)
Robert Towne – Party Guest (uncredited)

Review by Jack Gattanella

Shampoo (1975)

Good, not great, comedy of manners about a ladies man and the women around (and usually detesting) him,

Warren Beatty is George, a hair stylist in 1968 Beverly Hills. In Shampoo, he’s usually not in the same place for more than a minute (unless it’s with one of the ladies). His mind is also being tugged at different directions: at the start of the film he’s doing the deed with one woman, and then swings right over to town to meet his ‘love’ (Goldie Hawn). Enter Jackie Shawn (Julie Christie, a spirit in any movie she’s in), wife of Lester (Jack Warden, maybe the best performance of the film), a well-to-do man. Jackie, it seems, has a stronger will than George, which starts to turn him on to her. After a day of mishaps, uncomforted at a high society dinner, it goes to a hippie party, where everything starts to unravel for George. All the while the 68 election is on in the background, a dark shadow always around the ‘me-me-me’ qualities that would define a generation.

If the film isn’t as strong in a satirical way than it could’ve been, it is not without trying; Robert Towne does give a few funny parts (Julie Christie’s line, I won’t say which, but it makes Beatty almost choke, is uproarious), and its mostly low-key humor, or stuff that’s more subtle than expected. Hal Ashby, the director, keeps a good eye of interest throughout, making the hippie party at night even more interesting than the lead characters themselves. There’s also Beatty, who in this film acts very much like the typical Beatty we might envision- womanizer, liar, and ultimately like a little puppy that tries to give sympathy after making a mess. The female performances are, like their characters, a little above Beatty, giving note of the feminist collective that was strong at the time.

It’s not a bad film in the least, but to say that it wasn’t great isn’t a miscalculation- there are points where the laughs just don’t quite click, or the speed of everything washes over what could’ve been better scenes. And yet, there is a factor to Shampoo that is great for its time, which means that it is a little more challenging than the standard romantic-comic romp; the ending, to me, was a breakthrough. As George stand on that hill-top the next morning, there is a sort of catharsis if not message (its hard to get any message from this film, as it is a string of love/hate bits). How does a ladies man, a hairdresser of all things, get taken off his game? Shampoo reveals that. It might actually serve very well as a ‘chick flick’ in some circles, even for today’s audiences (that is, if the old-school Warren Beatty still serves as a Hollywood treat for women).

Shampoo (1975)

Review by Wayne Malin

I was bored,
A hairdresser (Warren Beatty) is addicted to sex. He sleeps with virtually every woman he meets (but primarily with Lee Grant, Julie Christie and Goldie Hawn). This takes place in 1968 and shows his life slowly unraveling because of his addiction to sex.

Unsuccessful, unfunny, unfocused and VERY obvious satire. It’s also very dated–no way would this be made today. I suppose in 1975 this was considered daring and innovative–it sure isn’t today. There are some good moments (especially a hilarious dinner party sequence) but they’re buried. Also Beatty’s character is such a jerk I felt no sympathy for him at all. It got dull watching a totally unlikable character seduce every woman he meets.

I’m giving this a 6 for the actors. Beatty is handsome, buff and very good. Lee Grant deservedly won a Best Supporting Actress Award for her role. Julie Christie is just gorgeous and very good as a mistress. Goldie isn’t that good–but she’s not given much to do. And Jack Warden was nominated for his performance as a cheating husband. Also this was Carrie Fishers’ film debut and look for Andrew Stevens (nude) at a drug party.

This was a huge hit in 1975. It just doesn’t hold up anymore.