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Pick-up (1975) - Blu-ray Review

Movie Review

4 beersIt begins with the longest piss ever. And it ends with a stuffed cat floating in a Florida swamp. Everything in between this trippy story about two hippy chicks hitching a ride is both sexy and surreal. There is a bizarre atmosphere surrounding this feature and it practically radiates out from the disc when you hit play. That’s what happens when Vinegar Syndrome and The American Film Genre Archive team together as fans also get a bonus movie from the same director with this release.

Pick-Up is an exploitation flick directed by documentary filmmaker Bernard Hirschenson that has an unfair rap as a simple-minded T&A flick. Full of symbols and some seriously great camerawork, the film is a little light on story but rides to high acclaim thanks to its striking mood and a serious attitude that is on point as it depicts a world in which a cultural shift was bound to happen. Sex and drugs are rampant and the old guard doesn’t understand why. This film – with its metaphorical images and strikes against religion – attempts to explain why.

Carol (Jill Senter), who was abused by a priest, and Maureen (Gini Eastwood), who dances provocatively for a bunch of boys in the back of a truck, are in need of a lift and decide to hitch a ride with a dude driving a big ass mobile home. Chuck (Alan Long) doesn’t mind; the girls are pretty hot. And so their adventure into the swamplands of Florida begins.

Originally released by Crown International Pictures, it would be a HUGE mistake to dismiss this film as simple sexploitation. It’s not. While there is a fair amount of nudity, the film is aiming for more than just tits and ass. This is a film that goes deep with naked expression as a rainstorm brings about a recollection of first times for both women and then drives audiences straight into the heart of spirituality thanks to the highlighted aspect of the natural world. And all of that is brought about due to a demanding rainstorm that sidelines the mobile home.

Simply put, everyone is forced to dwell upon their own issues thanks to the presence of the world around them. It’s almost as if their childhood experiences are coming back to haunt the girls but none of that is made clear enough, keeping some of the images and the meanings behind them completely unknown to us.

The inclusion of a goofy politician who repeats their own beliefs – even if he disagrees thanks to the giant cue cards he is holding – and a bizarre dancing clown don’t help matters, though. We have to revert back to the piled on images in order to find the film’s purpose. While much has been made of this film’s use of “lower animal passions” throughout its 80-minute running time; however, not enough has been said about its use of visuals as it relates to the world that is created by this happy accident of roadside attractions.

Pick-Up is now available on blu-ray thanks to Vinegar Syndrome’s newly scanned and restored 2K transfer from the film’s original 35mm camera negative. It is the second release in their Limited Edition Sexploitation Signature Series and is strictly limited to 2,000 units.

Get those thumbs ready. There’s a highway right outside the door. `Going my way?

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Film Details

Pick-up (1975) - Blu-ray Review

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 80 mins
Director: Bernard Hirschenson
Writer: John Winter
Cast: Jill Senter, Alan Long, Gini Eastwood
Genre: Drama
Tagline: It was the longest ride of her life!
Memorable Movie Quote: "I want you to touch me."
Theatrical Distributor: Crown International Pictures
Official Site: Release Date: September 1975
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: December 12, 2017
Synopsis: Carol and Maureen have just been picked up by Chuck, a young man driving a giant mobile home through the Florida Everglades. After getting caught in a rainstorm and finding themselves stranded in the wilderness, their senses of reality begin to diminish as the trio of travelers find themselves engulfed in a dreamlike world of sensual delights, with an ever increasing threat of violence…

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

Pick-up (1975) - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Vinegar Syndrome
Available on Blu-ray - December 12, 2017
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A, B

Pick-Up is presented courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome and features a new 2K scan from the original camera negatives for this 1080p HD transfer. This is a stellar 2k restoration and, presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, gives us a good look at the greens and browns of the swampland. There’s just not a bad bone in this body. Using the original 35mm camera negative, this drive-in film now has details that were never before visible. Both the mobile home interior and the back road trails look layered with fine detail and, with the wind at their backs, the fantasies that happen are realized with a starkness that, while sometimes hilarious, is completely unexpected. The clothing is textured and so is the natural world around them. The sound, presented in a DTS-HD mono track, is adequate for this release.

Supplements:

Commentary:

The commentary track is full of good information about the making of the movie and is provided by Bernard Hirschenson, the film’s director.

Special Features:

This region free Blu-ray/DVD combo pack fro Vinegar Syndrome is packed with a new commentary, a bonus feature film – Orgy at Lil’s Place from 1963, and a new interview with the film’s director who talks about his history working with the medium. The film’s original theatrical trailer is included and so too is a teaser trailer and alternate Crown International opening and ending credits. Complete with a photo gallery and a reversible cover, this film is quite the find.

Orgy at Lil’s Place (1963) Audio Interview With Co-star Gini EastwoodOn-Camera Interview with Bernard HirschensonOriginal Theatrical TrailerTeaser TrailerAlternate Crown International Opening & Ending CreditsPromo Gallery

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Pick-up (1975) - Blu-ray Review

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