Alice's Restaurant (1969)
Synopsis of Alice's Restaurant
Intrigued by the counterculture tale of Arlo Guthrie's epic 1968 talking-blues record The Alice's Restaurant Massacree, director Arthur Penn, co-scripting with playwright Venable Herndon, adapted the song into the 1969 feature Alice's Restaurant. Hippie outsider Arlo (Guthrie, playing himself) encounters suspicion from the straight world; visits his dying father, renowned leftist activist/singer Woody Guthrie (Joseph Boley), in the hospital along with friend Pete Seeger; and hangs out in the title converted church/commune created by his friends Alice (Pat Quinn) and her husband Ray (James Broderick). After Alice's "Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat," Arlo is arrested for littering by rule-following Officer "Obie" Obanhein (William Obanhein, playing himself). That littering arrest helps Arlo avoid the Vietnam draft, but the commune is threatened after more personal, old-fashioned conflicts over sex and partnerships permeate Alice and Ray's alternative world. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 111 mins
Complete Cast of Alice's Restaurant
- Arlo Guthrie - Arlo
- James Broderick - Ray
- Geoff Outlaw - Roger
- Kathleen Dabney - Karin
- Seth Allan - Evangelist
- Joseph Boley - Woody
- Sylvia Davis - Marjorie
- Louis Beachner - Dean
- Rev. Dr. Pierce Middleton - 2nd Deconsecration Minister
- Shelley Plimpton - Reenie
- Lee Hays - Himself
- Simon Deckard - Medic
- Judge James Hannon - Himself
- John Quill - 2nd Cop
- Vinnette Carrol - Draft Clerk
- Pat Quinn - Alice
- Michael McClanathan - Shelly
- Tina Chen - Mari-Chan
- Pol. Chief William Obanhein - Officer obie
- Monroe Arnold - Bluegrass
- Pete Seeger - Himself
- Simm Landres - Jacob
- MacIntyre Dixon - lst Deconsecration Minister
- Donald Marye - Funeral Director
- M. Emmet Walsh - Group W Sergeant
- Eleanor D. Wilson - Landlady
- Thomas DeWolfe - Waiter
- Graham Jarvis - Music Teacher
- Frank Simpson - Sergeant
- Ron Weyand - 1st Cop
- Director(s):
- Arthur Penn
- Writer(s):
- Arthur Penn, Venabel Herndon
- Producer(s):
- Joseph Manduke, Hillard Elkins
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