High is a film released in 1967, directed by Larry Kent and starring Lanny Beckman, Astri Thorvik, Peter Mathews, Joyce Cay, and Denis Payne. The film was banned by the censors of Quebec immediately before its scheduled premiere at the Montreal International Film Festival for its use of drugs, nudity, and explicit sex scenes.Eric H. Wilson, "Larry's At It Again: Movie-maker Kent reels opinions and talks about High, his new banned film". Vancouver Sun, August 11, 1967.
Filmmakers Jean Renoir, Fritz Lang, and Warren Beatty defended High as a film of art, rather than gratuity.
Plot High is the story of dope-dealing university dropout Tom, and his strait-laced girlfriend Vicky whom he corrupts and leads down a path of petty crime and uninhibited sex.
Cast Lanny Beckman as Tom (as Lanning Beckman) Astri Thorvik as Vicky (as Astri Torvik) Peter Mathews Joyce Cay Denis Payne Laurie Wynn Kent Doris Cowan Mortie Golub Carol Epstein Al Mayoff Melinda McCracken Gary Eisenkraft Jack Esbein
Reception High is described in Peter Morris's 1984 Film Companion as Larry Kent's best film. It had a wide theatrical release in the U.S., however its sex scenes and dope smoking led to and a ban by the censor boards in Ontario and British Columbia.
Legacy The film was screened at the 18th Berlin Film Festival in 1968 as part of Young Canadian Film, a lineup of films by emerging Canadian filmmakers.Gerald Pratley, "In and Out of Cinema". Cinema Canada, September 1968. It was later screened at the 1984 Festival of Festivals as part of Front & Centre, a special retrospective program of artistically and culturally significant films from throughout the history of Canadian cinema.Carole Corbeil, "The stars are coming out for Toronto's film festival". The Globe and Mail, September 6, 1984. Kent considered High on of his crowning achievements.
It was part of a retrospective screening of Kent's films, alongside The Bitter Ash, Sweet Substitute, and When Tomorrow Dies. The retrospective screened at a number of venues in 2002 and 2003, including the venues Cinematheque Ontario in Toronto, the Pacific Cinémathèque in Vancouver, and the Canadian Film Institute in Ottawa.Matthew Hays, "Catch up on your Kent". The Globe and Mail, February 1, 2003.
References
Further reading
External links