Details
Movie Description
This fast-paced 1975 comedy, written by Robert Towne and directed by Hal Ashby (previous collaborators on THE LAST DETAIL), provides a sharp, satiric view of the sexual mores of 1960s Southern California. In the last few days before the 1968 election, George (Warren Beatty), a very popular Beverly Hills hairdresser who wants to open his own shop, becomes sexually involved with several, if not all, of his female customers. Drawing on the audience's knowledge of Beatty's reputation as a ladies' man, Towne's script cleverly uses the expectation of fun and carefree sexual high jinks to then slowly begin to show the emotional damage this lifestyle has done, not just to everyone around him, but in a deeper sense to George himself. On the night that Nixon is elected there is a big party for which George has done all the women's hair. Nixon's corrupt world parallels George's deceitful life, which, in both cases, eventually catches up with them.
Synopsis
A Beverly Hills hairdresser tries to borrow money from a shady investment counselor with whom he shares a few things already--he's sleeping with his wife, his mistress, and even his daughter. SHAMPOO is a quintessential 1970s flick.
Film Notes
Theatrical release: February 11, 1975.
Warren Beatty was romantically involved with costar Julie Christie when the film was made. They first worked together in Robert Altman's MCCABE AND MRS. MILLER (1971) and later starred as potential lovers in Beatty's HEAVEN CAN WAIT (1978).
SHAMPOO is reportedly based on the escapades of then-hairdresser, Jon Peters, who later became one of Hollywood's most successful producers. His credits include CADDYSHACK (1980), FLASHDANCE (1983), and BATMAN (1989).
SHAMPOO marks the film debut of Carrie Fisher, who would go on to portray Princess Leia in the enormously popular first STAR WARS trilogy.
Industry Reviews
"...The American film comedy of the year....A witty, furtively revolutionary, foul-mouthed comedy of manners..."
New York Times - p.II:15 - Vincent Canby (04/13/1975)
"...SHAMPOO gave audiences everything they expected from sex, a bull's-eye premise and a stellar cast..."
USA Today - Mike Clark (01/24/2003)
"...SHAMPOO still succeeds in catching the darker undertones of the new 'permissive' mood of the times..."
Total Film - Andy Lowe (02/01/2001)
"...Knowing, satiric comedy....A cleansing sadness [that] oddly makes Beatty an affectingly amoral roué..." -- Rating: B+
Entertainment Weekly - Lisa Schwarzbaum (04/07/1995)
"[With] one of the best scripts in the last three decades..."
Los Angeles Times - Carina Chocano (06/19/2008)
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