The Crazy World of Julius Vrooder

In the psychiatric unit of a California Veterans Hospital, delusional (and possibly schizophrenic) young ex-soldier fresh from Vietnam wins over a pretty and fearless nurse with his unconventional charm, perplexing genius, and adorable smile. An odd project to come from very-conventional director Arthur Hiller (to say nothing of executive producer Hugh Hefner!). However, the film does have a formula agenda at heart, and the streak of sentimentality is detectable right down the line. The man's hideaway world off the hospital grounds is a terrific addition, yet the unpointed satirical asides with the Water & Power and Telephone Companies trying to figure out who is stealing their services is curiously lax. Hiller doesn't get preachy, yet he's a stalwart purveyor of Tastefulness--and his unruffled movie is so staid, it's in constant danger of turning into the cinematic equivalent of cottage cheese. Leads Timothy Bottoms (easily working his winsome boyishness) and Barbara Seagull/Hershey (easily working her youthful luminousness) are very nice to watch, but the script could've stood some additional layers. "Julius Vrooder" is likable enough, but piffle doesn't stay fresh for very long. ** from ****

You either loved it or hated it, I loved it. I have angered a number of friends with the car lighter bit. It was quite fun and I have been looking for a copy for years. The idea of having a Viet Nam style hooch on an on ramp to the freeway was wild. The experience of dealing with parents and siblings that didn't have a clue what you had just gone through hit close to home. I came back and went to visit my best friend, he took one look at me and asked "how many babies did you kill?" So the movie takes a sometimes dark look at what the experience was like, gives it a twist of warped humor. And besides, back then Barbara Hershey was real easy to look at!

Timothy Bottoms reminds me of what acting is all about in this one.... Real, grounded, free, earthy, wild. Emotional.

The movie (music, pacing) is of its time - so be prepared for 1974 cinematography. All the actors hit their characters on point.

Even with its period nature, the storyline itself is also earthy, grounded, and free... It blasts expected barriers and keeps you guessing as it delves into and twists around the main character's mentality, his fellow patients' PTSD, the doctors and people of his time ... and love.

i just happened to catch this today (09/06) and found it mildly amusing, typical fare for the post Vietnam era..,not to mention it was produced by playboy productions aka Hugh hef. the best part is the conversation with the doc and the word association bit, other than that i knew i recognized Barbara seagull aka Barbara Hershey but couldn't think of her name (boy she was a hottie back then) anyway i digress,, so if your bored and have nothing better to do and remember the 60's and 70's fondly like i do (and had friends who had hair down to their butts both guys and girls and wore American flags as capes) you just might enjoy it rick f

I first saw this movie in 1976 while serving in the U.S. Navy. I have never forgotten the title or how much I enjoyed it. I literally fell in love with the character "Zanni" played by Barbara Hershey (at that time her screen name was Barbara Seagull). In my eyes, it has always been a great romantic comedy. In the past 20+ years since I have seen it, much has happened in my life which has often brought my thoughts back to that movie including working at a V.A. hospital. I have recommended many times that if people ever have the opportunity to see it, they would not be disappointed.