SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5-1972-It would seem an impossibility even today to do a film version of this Kurt Vonnegut Jr. novel but George Roy Hill tried to do just that in ‘72 right between his two big blockbusters BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID and THE STING.
Making his screen debut star Michael Saks is Billy Pilgrim, a man who has become “unstuck in time”. At any moment he can be living (re-living) his life The most harrowing part of his life is his time as a POW when the city of Dresden is firebombed. (based on Vonnegut’s real life experience) but later he is kidnapped by aliens and put on display with a Hollywood actress (Valerie Perrine; the movie got some notoriety due to her topless scenes). All the jumping around really doesn’t work but it was a nice attempt.
Eugene Roach, Kevin Conway and Ron Liebman are fellow soldiers. Holly Near and Perry King are his kids. Sorrell Brook, John Dehner Friedrich von Ledebur and Roberts Blossom have roles too.
Star Saks made sporadic movie appearances after this and later retired from acting to become a successful businessman.
"It is the duty of a patriot to protect his country from its government"…Thomas Paine
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