Product Details

• Actors: Craig Wasson, Jodi Thelen, Michael Huddleston, Jim Metzler, Scott Hardt
• Directors: Arthur Penn
• Writers: Steve Tesich
• Producers: Arthur Penn, Gene Lasko, Julia Miles, Michael Tolan, Stephen F. Kesten
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: September 5, 2000
• Run Time: 114 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792846648
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,195 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After winning an Oscar for his first screenplay (Breaking Away), Steven Tesich mixed fact and fiction in a telescopic view of the '60s. Like Tesich, Danilo (Craig Wasson), immigrates to America (Easy Chicago, Indiana to be exact) with his Yugoslavian parents. The center of his life is two other high school friends and the woman all of them are in love with: Georgia Miles (Jodi Thelen), a flower child even before she finds the movement. Georgia and Danilo are probably meant for one another but are too swept up in the '60s to settle down. The men fall in and out of Georgia's arms and through all the touchstone issues of the '60s: Vietnam, civil rights, hippies, sexual politics, and drugs. Director Arthur Penn shies away from the Pomp and Circumstance of later '60s-themed films like Forrest Gump; these characters witness the '60s more than participate. Even the soundtrack is different: it's void of hit songs, continually returning to a beautiful onscreen musical motif. What makes (The New York Times put the film on their 1981 Top 10 list) or breaks the appeal to the viewer is Tesich's tendency--successful or not--to reach for the "big scene," bursting with bravura emotions, most notably in the huge, tragic surprise that is the film's turning point. If you're caught up in Danilo's plight, the movie will make your list of favorites that no one else knows about. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all-time favorite movies, January 30, 2004

By 

beachkid3 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Four Friends [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I absolutely love this movie. I've seen it quite a few times and I still find it beautiful. I've cried during multiple scenes througout the film and even if I just catch the last few minutes I find myself crying. It's a wonderful tale.
Now, to be a bit more specific, it's about four friends (surprise!) who grow up together during the 60's and come in and out of eachother's lives. There is the whole thing about the torment in the 60's and "free spirits" but it really upholds the traditional values, showing the faults in this type of adolescent thinking. There is also a oldworld-newworld conflict because Danilo, the main character, is an immigrant from Yugoslavia.
There are so many levels of plot, but the emotion is what makes this film special. There are extreme moments of elation followed by bitter sadness and depression. It's real, it's beautiful, and it's a must see!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing!, November 27, 2000

By 

princehal "princehal" (Vienna Austria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Four Friends [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is Arthur Penn's greatest movie and should have taken its place as an American classic long ago. It drops a narrative bombshell halfway through that comes closer than anything else I've seen to evoking the traumas that America experienced in the 60s. It's wonderful to have it avaliable on video at last, but the luminous cinematography by Ghislain Cloquet deserves to be seen on widescreen DVD (any hope of this, MGM?).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally released : GET IT NOW !, October 13, 2005

By 

Mr. Thual Cedric (Paris, FRANCE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Four Friends (DVD)

Four friends is the most beautiful, romantic, dramatic, American fresque I have ever watched. The actors are wonderful and true. The story is human and deep as a great novel can be. I have been waiting for a dvd editions for years, sending many e-mails and finally my dream came true. I have just watched it, and it doesn't get old. Thank you Mr Penn, thank you Craig Wasson, my dear Danilo, this film will remain in my heart for ever, just like the little flute medoly Danilo plays when he arrives in the USA from his Yougoslavian home. And a great thank you to the editors for finally releasing it, with a special gift to me : the french language subtitles ! :o)
... did I mention FOUR FRIENDS is my favourite movie ever (OK Orson, after Citizen Kane... ;o) ) ?