JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Paramount, 1973, Color, 114 minutes, ***
Released October, 1973

Jonathan Livingston Seagull came to life in a very popular book. It was a heavy thing, and it came to symbolize our inner-spirits. Neil Diamond made some really far out music and then this film came out. Some of the critics and even some viewers tried to put it down, but those of us who were cool really dug it
this is a very beautiful film with great photography and great music!. But, it's certainly not an action-packed adventure, and many viewers (especially today) may find it rather dull (some did then, too, for that matter). So if you're looking for exploding cars and stuff like that, skip it. But if you just want to sit back, relax, meditate and enjoy some truly serene imagery and great music from Neil Diamond, this is the film for you!

The film is based on a book (or maybe the book was released after the film - I'm not sure). The book was very popular. The film is a very different sort of story about a seagull who wants to fly beyond his ability, and must learn the hard way that he is bound by the laws of nature as well as the laws of the flock.

Produced and Directed by: Hall Bartlett
Screenplay: Richard Bach (from his novel)
Music: Neil Diamond
Art Direction: Boris Leven
Special Effects: L.B. Abbott
Animation: Jim Danforth
Special Effects: L. B. Abbott
Cinematography: Jack Couffer
Film Editing: Marshall M. Borden, James Galloway, Frank P. Keller

Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography (Jack Couffer) and Best Film Editing (Frank P. Keller)

Cast: James Franciscus [voice of Jonathan], Juliet Mills [voice of Girl], Hal Holbrook [voice of the Elder], Philip Ahn [voice of Chang], David Ladd [voice of Fletcher], Kelly Harmon [voice of Kimmy], Dorothy McGuire [voice of Jonathan's Mother], Richard Crenna [voice of Jonathan's Father]

Musical Program: The entire story is told through music: (all songs performed by Neil Diamond) Prologue [And here begins our story - the sky, the sea, the flock,]; Be [Introduction of Jonathan - his flight and fall]; Flight of the Gull [Jonathan is carried to the heights of his ambition, and to near catastrophe]; Dear Father [Battered, and near death, Jonathan asks for reasons]; Skybird [Returning home to show what he has learned, his acrobatics only serve to anger the flock elders. He is put on trial, and forever...outcast.]; Lonely Looking Sky [Alone and adrift]; The Odyssey (Be - Lonely Looking Sky - Dear Father) [And so begins a journey, an odyssey, a test of the spirit]; Anthem ["Transcend, Purify, Glorious]; Be [Jonathan returns to teach the flock]; Skybird [The Lesson]; Dear Father [Rebuked again by the elders, Jonathan attempts to rally the flock]; Be [Recapitulation and farewell to Fletcher]