Movie spotlight
Getting Straight
Graduate student Harry Bailey was once one of the most visible undergraduate activists on campus, but now that he's back studying for his master's, he's trying to fly right. Trouble is, the campus is exploding with various student movements, and Harry's girlfriend, Jan, is caught up in most of them. As Harry gets closer to finishing his degree, he finds his iconoclastic attitude increasingly aligned with the students rather than the faculty.
Insights
Plot Summary
A graduate student and part-time teaching assistant finds himself increasingly radicalized by the student protest movement against the Vietnam War. He struggles with his personal relationships and his own beliefs as he gets drawn deeper into the activism, facing pressure from both the administration and his more militant peers.
Critical Reception
Getting Straight was met with mixed reviews. While some critics praised its attempt to capture the zeitgeist of the late 1960s and the performances of its leads, others found it to be a somewhat unfocused and dated portrayal of student activism.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its authentic portrayal of student unrest and its lead actors.
Criticized for its melodramatic elements and perceived lack of clear direction.
Seen as a product of its time, reflecting the anxieties and idealism of the era.
Google audience: Audience reviews are not readily available.
Fun Fact
Harrison Ford, who plays a minor role as a fraternity member, was paid only $75 for his two days of work on the film.
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