By Lee Pfeiffer
The independent label Scorpion has released the 1972 low-budget thriller Girls on the Road as a special edition DVD. The film isn't as sexually charged as many might fear, or as many others might hope. The movie is primarily known as an early starring vehicle for Michael Ontkean, who went on to better things in the years to come. The plot centers on two nubile young high school grads (Dianne Hull and Kathleen Cody) who decide to sow their wild oats with a road trip to California's beach areas. En route, they promise each other that they'll pick up guys and engage in a lot of sexual experimentation. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out what happens: the two pick up the wrong type of man (Ontkean). He's a Vietnam vet who is carrying a lot of emotional baggage and is being treated for violent mood swings. One minute he's charming and seductive, and the next he's brandishing a pistol at anyone who stares cross-eyed at him. Yet, he brings out the maternal natures of the two teens, who are determined to help him overcome his psychological problems. They all end up in one of those dreadful EST-like self-help communes (this was the 70s, after all) run by none other than middle-aged hippie Ralph Waite. Before long, the girls are subjected to being stalked by a murderer- and all signs point to Ontkean.The film promises a lot of sex, but punts when it comes to delivering it. With the exception of a blink-and-you-miss-it shot of Hull flashing her breasts to elderly driver, most of the other exploitation scenes involve the two girls wearing skimpy clothing in an attempt to seduce Ontkean.
The movie was directed by Tom Schmidt, who died a few years later at age 35. Schmidt worked as assistant director on such A list films as Ice Station Zebra, The Day of the Dolphin and Hour of the Gun before trying to establish a name for himself as a director. If Schmidt had any discernible talents in this area, they are not evident here, though the film does classify as an entertaining "guilty pleasure". Ontkean is fine, as is Waite, arguably the only two cast members with any gravitas. The two female leads often overplay the drama and fear elements, resulting in plenty of unintentional laughs. The film was also released as Hot Summer Week and the Scorpion DVD includes the original opening shot with this title. As usual, the company affords "special edition" treatment to even a modest title like this, which makes viewing it highly enjoyable. In addition to a trailer, there is also an interview with screenwriter David M. Kaufman, who candidly dismisses the effort as terrible movie, though he does speak respectfully of Schmidt.He also elaborates on his own disinterest in the script and speaks about the modest film's troubled production.
Click here to order from Amazon
(This film is not regionally coded, which means it will play on any DVD player)