Captain Milkshake

After a brief release in the 1970s, this original psychedelic anti-Vietnam-War film was taken out of circulation for dubious reasons and shelved. Only recently was the director, Richard Crawford, able to get the rights back to his 1970 film. As we watch Captain Milkshake in 2006, it becomes clear that there is not much difference between American war games then and now. While the period of flower power, sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll is a long way behind us, the essence and protest of Crawford's film remains very topical. The love that blossoms between a marine on leave and an anti-war activist is only the starting point for a grander story about a country in a state of change and about resistance to the banal conservative establishment running that country. Captain Milkshake is a wonderful and honest archeological find, not lastly thanks to the sounds rooted in weed and activism of Quicksilver Messenger Service, Country Joe & The Fish, The Steve Miller Band and Kaleidoscope. (CB)