Synanon on AllMovie

This gritty examination of the rehabilitation of drug addicts was filmed in the actual Synanon House in Santa Monica, California, which became famous in the early 1960s as one of the first major drug treatment centers to use a modern approach emphasizing "tough love." The clients ran the house themselves, with those farther along in recovery watching over the new arrivals. Zankie Albo (Alex Cord) is one of the new clients, an ex-convict who chafes at the severe restrictions of the center. He soon starts an affair with Joaney (Stella Stevens), an ex-prostitute who has been assigned to shepherd Zankie through his recovery. Another recovering addict who is smitten with Joaney is Ben (Chuck Connors), and his jealousy leads to a fight with Zankie. Zankie and Joaney leave the house, but Zankie returns to using. Edmund O'Brien appears as Chuck Dederich, the former alcoholic who started Synanon House over the objections of neighbors. Director-producer Richard Quine uses a semi-documentary style and employs several actual residents of Synanon House as actors in the film to achieve a remarkable realism.