Turn On to Love

Turn On to Love is a 1969 film directed by John G. Avildsen in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Sharon Kent, Richard Michaels, and Luigi Mastroianni, and explores themes of love, freedom, and personal discovery against the backdrop of the late 1960s counterculture. Released during the era’s wave of independent filmmaking The film marks Avildsen's feature directorial debut, which would later define his more widely known works..

Premise

Janice, a bored housewife starts spending time in liberal Greenwich Village, where she gets involved with pot-smoking hippies and Rico, an Italian filmmaker.

Cast

Sharon Kent as Janice
Richard Michaels as Gerard
Luigui Mastroianni as Rico
Jackie Riley as Randy
Frank Rogers as Roach
Elizabeth Tarrington as Betty
Steve Wingate as Henry

Reception

Roger Greenspun of The New York Times found the film average but liked the fact that it is not preachy when it comes to its subjects, and had harsh words for the lead actress: