A group of scientists take Simon, a psychology professor, as a test person for a brainwashing experiment and try to convince him that he is a living being from another planet.
Acting
Arkin's unhinged physical comedy is masterclass chaos
Writing
Brickman's sharp satire of 70s intellectual pomposity
Direction
Debut feature from Woody's Oscar-winning co-writer
Director
Marshall Brickman
Alan Arkin
Simon Mendelssohn
Madeline Kahn
Dr. Cynthia Mallory
William Finley
Fichandler
Wallace Shawn
Eric Van Dongen
Max Wright
Leon Hundertwasser
Fred Gwynne
Maj. Gen. Korey
Austin Pendleton
Dr. Carl Becker
Adolph Green
Commune Leader
Keith Szarabajka
Josh
Ann Risley
Pam
David Susskind
Himself
Dick Cavett
Himself
Billie Perkins
Commune Member
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Marshall Brickman co-wrote Annie Hall and Manhattan; this was his directorial debut after Woody Allen told him he should direct his own scripts.
The film satirizes the EST self-help craze and 1970s human potential movement—Simon essentially becomes a Werner Erhard-style guru by accident.
US
