Hootenanny A Go-Go

This is one of the worst films I have ever seen and I like "Isthar". Obsolutely corn-ball, silly and a waste of time! I'll bet this is one that the actors didn't put on their resumes. You should probably buy it just to see for yourself.

HOOTENANNY A GO-GO is a rare treat, a long-lost regional musical melodrama capturing that most beloved cultural artifact - the folk music coffeehouse scene of the early 1960s. Kudos to Alpha New Cinema for lovingly restoring this regional obscurity for a new generation to enjoy. Filmed in Miami, Florida, HOOTENANNY chronicles the travails of a local coffeehouse owner, his girlfriend, and all his pals and cohorts who struggle to make the scene in the local music business. Tied to this is a curious subplot about a fine art theft. Most magical are the many musical numbers, including the Goldbrairs and Jim, Jake and Joan (with a young Joan Rivers!). The film captures the era perfectly, and considering that according to the producers, it was filmed for under $50,000 (!), the film is well-scrubbed and wholly professional-looking. Amongst the many joys of this little gem are an animated credits sequence with a gorgeous theme song, a swinging night-time beach party, bizarre comic relief segments, a surreal dream sequence featuring our hero dressed in a teddy bear suit (!?!), and even a detour into light fantasy via a diabolical expresso machine. Also look for a cameo by stunning young beauty Deanna Lund, soon to be a TV superstar. The special edition Alpha DVD features an audio commentary by the producers, as well as the original credits sequence (as ONCE UPON A COFFEEHOUSE). HOOTENANNY A GO-GO is a wonderful time capsule of an innocent era long gone, a must-have for folk music lovers, movie musical buffs and collectors of rare independent cinema.