''The Harrad Experiment'' is a 1973

coming-of-age Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can ...

film about a fictional school called Harrad College where the students learn about sexuality and experiment with each other. Based on the 1966 novel of the same name by

Robert Rimmer Robert Henry Rimmer (March 14, 1917 – August 1, 2001) was an American writer who authored several books, most notably ''The Harrad Experiment'', which was made into a film in 1973. The recurring theme in almost all of Rimmer's writing w ...

, this film deals with the concept of

free love Free love is a social movement that accepts all forms of love. The movement's initial goal was to separate the state from sexual and romantic matters such as marriage, birth control, and adultery. It stated that such issues were the concern ...

during the height of the

sexual revolution The sexual revolution, also known as the sexual liberation, was a social movement that challenged traditional codes of behavior related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships throughout the United States and the developed world from the 1 ...

, which took place in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The movie stars

James Whitmore James Allen Whitmore Jr. (October 1, 1921 – February 6, 2009) was an American actor. He received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Theatre World Award, and a Tony Award, plus two Aca ...

and

Tippi Hedren Nathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren (born January 19, 1930) is an American actress, animal rights activist, and former fashion model. A successful fashion model who appeared on the front covers of ''Life'' and '' Glamour'' magazines, among others, Hed ...

as the married couple who run the school, and includes a young

Don Johnson Donnie Wayne Johnson (born December 15, 1949) is an American actor, producer and singer. He played the role of James "Sonny" Crockett in the 1980s television series ''Miami Vice'', for which he won a Golden Globe, and received a Primetime Em ...

(who later became Hedren's son-in-law) as one of the students who tries to go beyond the rules. It was directed by

Ted Post Theodore I. Post (March 31, 1918 – August 20, 2013) was an American director of film and television. Highly prolific, Post directed numerous episodes of well-known television series including '' Rawhide'', ''Gunsmoke'', and ''The Twilight Zone'' ...

.The screenplay was co-written by

Ted Cassidy Theodore Crawford Cassidy (July 31, 1932 – January 16, 1979) was an American actor noted for his tall stature at and deep voice. He tended to play unusual characters in offbeat or science-fiction series such as ''Star Trek'' and ''I Dream of ...

and Michael Werner based upon Rimmer's novel. A sequel, '' Harrad Summer'', was released in 1974.

Plot

Cast

as Philip Tenhausen *

as Margaret Tenhausen *

as Stanley Cole *

Bruno Kirby Bruno Kirby (born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu Jr.; April 28, 1949 – August 14, 2006) was an American actor. He was known for his roles in ''City Slickers'', '' When Harry Met Sally...'', ''Good Morning, Vietnam'', ''The Godfather Part II'', and ' ...

as Harry Schacht (as B. Kirby Jr.) * Laurie Walters as Sheila Grove * Victoria Thompson as Beth Hillyer * Elliott Street as Wilson *

Robert Middleton Robert Middleton (born Samuel G. Messer, May 13, 1911 – June 14, 1977) was an American film and television actor known for his large size, beetle-like brows, and a deep, booming voice (for which he was known as "Big Bob Middleton"), usually ...

as Sidney Bower *

Billy Sands Billy Sands (January 6, 1911 – August 27, 1984) was an American character actor who appeared as a regular on ''The Phil Silvers Show'' (''Sgt Bilko'') as Pvt. Dino Papparelli and was a regular on ''McHale's Navy'' as Harrison "Tinker" Bell. He ...

as Jack * Sharon Ullrick (née Taggart) as Barbara * Maggie Wellman as Cynthia * Michael Greene as Yoga Instructor * Ron Kolman as Evan *

Eric Server Eric Server (born December 4, 1944 in Santa Monica, California) is an American television actor, best known for providing the voice of computer brain Dr. Theopolis in the 1979 TV series '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''. From 1979 to 1981 he ...

as Workman * Robert C. Ross as Workman ;Additional cast :(all uncredited) *

as the diner patron *

Gregory Harrison Gregory Neale Harrison (born May 31, 1950) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Chandler in the 1987 film ''North Shore (1987 film), North Shore'', as Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, the young surgeon assistant of Dr. Trapper John ...

as a student *

Melody Patterson A melody (from Greek μελῳδία, ''melōidía'', "singing, chanting"), also tune, voice or line, is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. In its most literal sense, a melody is a combinati ...

as Jeannie * Dennis F. Stevens as the heckler at the ''Ice House'' * Ace Trucking Company employees: **

George Memmoli George Memmoli (August 3, 1938 – May 20, 1985) was a founding member of the Improvisational comedy, improv troupe Ace Trucking Company and an actor. He was known for his corpulent presence in his roles, weighing as much as 450 pounds. He ...

** Michael Mislove ** Mary Elaine Monti **

Bill Saluga William Saluga (born September 16, 1937), aka Ray Jay Johnson, is an American comedian and founding member of the improvisational comedy troupe Ace Trucking Company. He has appeared on several television programs, including ''Seinfeld''. Youngst ...

Fred Willard Frederic Charles Willard (September 18, 1933 May 15, 2020) was an American actor, comedian, and writer. He was best known for his roles in the Rob Reiner mockumentary film ''This Is Spinal Tap'' (1984); the Christopher Guest mockumentaries ''Wai ...

Melanie Griffith Melanie Richards Griffith (born August 9, 1957) is an American actress. She began her career in the 1970s, appearing in several independent thriller films before achieving mainstream success in the mid-1980s. Born in Manhattan, New York City, ...

as an extra

Home video

The film was released on DVD on May 22, 2001 by Marengo Films.

Reception

'' Time Out'' said that while Post had employed long, "voyeuristic" takes and the theme music was poor, the film had more appeal than his other work and deserved its success.

References

External links