Goldie Hawn received much attention as a dancing bikini-girl in "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" TV show (1968), the one with all of the parody and flying jokes. Goldie was covered with funny slogans written in body paint. She would often flub her lines and giggle in a dizzy way. Voila, a star is born!
The "laugh-In" girl made some interesting pictures and did quite well on the big screen. At the very beginning of "Butterflies Are Free," the viewer gets the impression that Don Baker (Edward Albert) is a peeping Tom. Before long we understand that he is blind. Don had moved into his apartment building against the advice of his mother. Nearly the entire first hour of the movie is essentially a two-person play – with much dialog and little music – as neighbors Jill Danner (Goldie Hawn) and Don Baker (Edward Albert) get to know each other. Practically the entire setting occurs in Don's apartment (except when they go shopping for clothing). Goldie, as usual, is a delight to behold, with all of her zany expressions and sayings. She looks fine in her bikini, er, underwear, and comes across well as a freewheeling ex-hippy who falls for philosopher-neighbor Don.
More than halfway through the movie, we have a three-person act, as Don's domineering mother, Mrs. Baker, (Eileen Heckart) walks uninvited into the apartment while Jill and Don are hanging out in their underwear. It is apparent that Jill will not be a big hit with Mom. She does not believe that the giddy Jill is right for her son, who has already had a failed relationship. Furthermore, she disapproves of Don's neighborhood, and still wants her son to move back into her house. Mrs. Baker takes Jill out to lunch to discourage her from seeing Don, but to no avail. Then Ralph, a playwright, enters Jill's life; she gets the part of a nude in his latest play, and the waif is excited.
How will it all pan out with Don and Jill? No spoilers are given here. While it's not a "brainy" film it certainly is a charming and enjoyable romance feature. It's not too dated except that it does not contain the vulgarity of many recent films. Eckert and Albert won awards, the former the Oscar, and the latter the Golden Globe. The Golden Globe also nominated Goldie for Best Actress. Pleasant.
The "laugh-In" girl made some interesting pictures and did quite well on the big screen. At the very beginning of "Butterflies Are Free," the viewer gets the impression that Don Baker (Edward Albert) is a peeping Tom. Before long we understand that he is blind. Don had moved into his apartment building against the advice of his mother. Nearly the entire first hour of the movie is essentially a two-person play – with much dialog and little music – as neighbors Jill Danner (Goldie Hawn) and Don Baker (Edward Albert) get to know each other. Practically the entire setting occurs in Don's apartment (except when they go shopping for clothing). Goldie, as usual, is a delight to behold, with all of her zany expressions and sayings. She looks fine in her bikini, er, underwear, and comes across well as a freewheeling ex-hippy who falls for philosopher-neighbor Don.
More than halfway through the movie, we have a three-person act, as Don's domineering mother, Mrs. Baker, (Eileen Heckart) walks uninvited into the apartment while Jill and Don are hanging out in their underwear. It is apparent that Jill will not be a big hit with Mom. She does not believe that the giddy Jill is right for her son, who has already had a failed relationship. Furthermore, she disapproves of Don's neighborhood, and still wants her son to move back into her house. Mrs. Baker takes Jill out to lunch to discourage her from seeing Don, but to no avail. Then Ralph, a playwright, enters Jill's life; she gets the part of a nude in his latest play, and the waif is excited.
How will it all pan out with Don and Jill? No spoilers are given here. While it's not a "brainy" film it certainly is a charming and enjoyable romance feature. It's not too dated except that it does not contain the vulgarity of many recent films. Eckert and Albert won awards, the former the Oscar, and the latter the Golden Globe. The Golden Globe also nominated Goldie for Best Actress. Pleasant.