Wonderwall

Released Oct 3, 1969

1h 33m

Drama

List

80%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

39%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

Absent-minded professor Oscar Collins (Jack MacGowran), studying in his charmless apartment, is bothered by loud music from the flat next door. Peeking through a tiny crack in the wall, he discovers a gorgeous young model, Penny Lane (Jane Birkin), and becomes obsessed with her and her swinging hippie lifestyle. In surreal fantasy sequences, he imagines doing battle with Penny's gauche photographer boyfriend (Iain Quarrier) for her hand. George Harrison provides the period soundtrack.

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Keith Phipps

The Dissolve

It's as much lava lamp as movie, a true head picture from its psychedelic dcor [...] to [George] Harrison's music, an often-remarkable mix of rock sounds and traditional Indian instruments.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 24, 2014

Full Review

Penelope Houston

The Spectator

Self-indulgent whimsy, with not a great deal to be self-indulgent about.

Jul 11, 2019

Full Review

Bobby LePire

Film Threat

Prism Of Light is impressive in that the person who made it is so young.

Rated: 6.5/10

Feb 2, 2019

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Sarah Boslaugh

Playback:stl

Wonderwall should be required viewing for anyone interested in popular culture of the 1960s...

Rated: 7/10

Mar 20, 2014

Full Review

Shane Burridge

rec.arts.movies.reviews

In spite of its trippy feel, the basis of the storyline is surprisingly conservative

Jun 28, 2003

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Audience Member

This quirky slice of psychedelic eye candy is a fun lark of a movie. Yeah, it's pretty time-locked, like such movies as 'Psych-Out' and 'The Trip' are. And true, there's not much more than the visual stimulation and great soundtrack, but that's enough sometimes. Seems a lot of the audience went into this with the wrong mindset. What did they expect, Fellini or Kubrick? The musical vignettes make for some arresting moments outside of the science lab and Prof. Collins' lair, but there's some clever bits that are prime examples of the pop art and psychedelia of the era. I half expect Brit Ekland or Twiggy to pop up. And the music provided by the likes of George Harrison, John Barham, Tony Ashton, Mahapurush Misra, Ashish Khan, numerous other Indian musicians, and The Remo Four, is a terrific mix of backdrop and companion pieces to the movie. I found myself like poor Oscar, just wanting to watch her through the wonderwall. 3 stars grading on the niche cult curve.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

Directed by Joe Massot, (Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same (1976) and Space Riders (1988)), adapted from a story by Gérard Brach (Repulsion (1965), Cul-de-sac (1966) and Tess (1979)). This is a very trippy drama which does benefit from some very out-there set design by Dutch design collective The Fool, (who also appear in the film), and most famously, the Indian themed score by George Harrison. Oscar Collins (Jack MacGowran) is an odd, eccentric professor who keeps to himself, and just gets on with his scientific research with his assistant Perkins (Richard Wattis), he is usually pestered by his landlady Mrs. Peurofoy (Irene Handl) because he's a bit of a recluse. However, when a pop photographer (Iain Quarrier) and his girlfriend/model Penny Lane (Jane Birkin), move into the flat next door. Oscar discovers he can see her through a hole in the wall separating his flat from their flat. As he looks through the hole in the wall, he looks in on their photo shoots, and he becomes more drawn and obsessed by Penny and has surreal fantasies. In the hands of anyone else, they could have been a dark thriller, but it isn't here. It's a trippy film, and while it looks dated, some of the psychedelic sequences are well done and the George Harrison score is sublime. It never got a wide release, and the film, along with the soundtrack, was unavailable for years. Shame really

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

a.l.jude p

A complete wast of time. Disappointing music by Harrison. Once more it was proved Singers/Musicians are failed in composing film score ( Like Local Hero by Mark Knopfler).

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

What it lacks in plot it makes up in some 60s-tastic visuals and a great soundtrack from George Harrison. Also you get to look at Jane Birkin, which is basically the only reason you'd watch this movie anyhow. If there was a better (less weird) plot it could have been pretty good... though props for managing to ride the line between 'scientific observation' and 'creepy old man.' Bonus- the apartments are freaking amazing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An absent-minded professor falls in love with the bohemian fashion model next door (a luminous Jane Birkin) when he peeps through a hole in his apartment wall and spies her frolicking in a psychedelic wonderland. It's sort of the ultimate hippie movie: not a lot happens, but there are plenty of pretty swirling colors and long-haired people being groovy. Start your rating at 2.5 stars and add a half-star with each bong rip.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

There is some interest here as a sort of late '60's Swinging London pop culture time capsule. However, one really needs to have a very strong love for that era. Visually, there is merit. But, this is a cinematic error.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Joe Massot

Director

Jack MacGowran

Professor Oscar Collins

Jane Birkin

Penny

Irene Handl

Mrs. Peurofoy

Richard Wattis

Perkins

Iain Quarrier

Young Man

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Synopsis

Absent-minded professor Oscar Collins (Jack MacGowran), studying in his charmless apartment, is bothered by loud music from the flat next door. Peeking through a tiny crack in the wall, he discovers a gorgeous young model, Penny Lane (Jane Birkin), and becomes obsessed with her and her swinging hippie lifestyle. In surreal fantasy sequences, he imagines doing battle with Penny's gauche photographer boyfriend (Iain Quarrier) for her hand. George Harrison provides the period soundtrack.

Director: Joe Massot
Distributor: Cinecenta
Production Co: Alan Clore Films, Compton Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 3, 1969, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo

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