If he weren't a drop dead handsome blind man, would Goldie have anything to do with him? Nay, I say!! Miss Superficial of 1972 posing as a free spirit doesn't come out as herself until her 80s films where she shows her materialistic and conniving sides. I think it was generally poorly cast. There was little magic here.

After listening to a witty radio interview featuring Harold Krentz—a blind man mistakenly classified as "1-A" by his local draft board—screenwriter Leonard Gershe (the 1958 Oscar winner for 'Funny Face') was inspired to write 'Butterflies Are Free', a play about a young blind man who moves from Scarsdale to Greenwich Village to get away from his overprotective mother and establish his independence. Opening at the Booth Theatre on W. 45th Street on Oct. 21, 1969, 'Butterflies' starred Keir Dullea ('2001, A Space Odyssey') as Don Baker, the blind protagonist; Eileen Heckart as Baker's mother; Blythe Danner as Jill Tanner, Baker's next-door neighbor and love interest; and Paul Michael Glaser as Ralph Austin, a friend of Jill's. A surprise hit, the play ran for nearly three years (1,128 performances) and earned Danner a 1970 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. In March 1970 producer Mike Frankovich ('Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice') paid Gershe $300,000 and a percentage of the film's future earnings for the screen rights to his play. Frankovich also hired Gershe to adapt his play to the screen and the play's director, Milton Katselas, to direct the film. Of the original cast, Eileen Heckart and Paul Michael Glaser were tapped to reprise their Broadway roles but television's favorite blonde hippie chick, Goldie Hawn ("Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"), replaced the then relatively unknown Blythe Danner and 20-year-old Eddie Albert, Jr. supplanted 35-year-old Keir Dullea in an obvious bid to lend the film greater youth appeal. Likewise, the setting was switched from New York City to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, to marinade the story in hippie counterculture ambiance. Viewed now, decades after its initial release, 'Butterflies Are Free' can be regarded as a time capsule of a short-lived Aquarian Age, or more cynically, as a transparently slick exercise in sentimentality dressed up in hippie garb. Eileen Heckart's turn as Mrs. Baker earned her the 1973 Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. A final irony: although the title sounds like the quintessence of hippie philosophy, it was actually derived from Charles Dickens' 1853 novel, 'Bleak House'! VHS (1996) and DVD (2002).

I first saw the play, then the movie, then a play put on at a local University. Now I watch the movie anytime I notice it on and have the time.This movie will be hard to comprehend unless you can devote full attention to it as it moves fast and just gets better as it goes along - in other words if you don't have a copy of it make sure you've got your popcorn and a quiet house. It's mostly happy, with a few sad points but has a happy ending. This one gets all the stars and we did have one Oscar winning performer in it, I'll let you guess who.A movie not to be missed, and if you can see it in a local play don't hesitate as it performs well even on the small stage.

I have been wanting to see this hard to find flick since I had the chance to play the "Goldy" character in the stage play. Although the film dates to '72 it really isn't even dated, although in one segment it does reference two out of operation airlines--sign of the times. The cinematic version retains many of the features one would find in the stage play. I found the experience of watching "Butterflies are Free" so much more rewarding then many more countless modern pictures I've forked out 8 bucks for at the theater.The character development is fantastic, Goldie Hahn is really classic as a"reformed hippie" San Fran transplant. However, I feel the supporting characters really shine with their nuancedperformances. The long camera angles and the sets really allow you to see the interaction between the actors and the talent shines. This film is entertaining and enjoyable without expensive special effects, graphic violence or vulgarity-- just a young Goldie in her cute panties and tiny, svelte figure.