Hair

Writing in VL-9/11, reviewer Bill Gibron said: 'A labor of love for Czech-born filmmaker Milos Forman, 1979’s Hair—adapted from the landmark counterculture musical—benefits from the work of famed choreographer Twyla Tharp. Molding the freeform narrative into a more standard story structure, Michael Weller’s screenplays centers on Oklahoma farm boy and Vietnam draftee Claude Hooper Bukowski (John Savage) and the band of hippies—George (Treat Williams), Woof (Don Dacus), Jeannie (Annie Golden), and Hud (Dorsey Wright)—he meets in New York City on a sightseeing trip that he takes before being inducted. Beverly D’Angelo costars as Sheila, the dream girl who drops her debutante demeanor to take up with the tribe. The flower children definitely leave an impression on Claude, but he reports for duty nevertheless and is stationed in Nevada, where he writes to Sheila, setting into motion a rescue mission with disastrous results. With the strong score by Galt MacDermot, memorable lyrics from James Rado and Gerome Ragni, and terrific performances from a capable cast, Hair—a relative bomb at the box office—makes a welcome…debut on Blu-ray.' Making its second appearance on Blu-ray as part of Olive Films’ 'Signature' line, this new release comes packed with a bevy of extras, including audio commentary by assistant director Michael Hausman and actor Williams, new retrospective featurettes with cast and crew, and an essay by critic Sheila O’Malley. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)