The Conspiracy Circus -- Chicago '70 (1970)
Directed by Kerry Feltham
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Synopsis by Dan Pavlides
This offbeat serio-comedy performed by the Toronto Workshop is a bizarre combination of Lewis Carroll's "Alice In Wonderland" and the court transcripts from the Chicago 7 conspiracy trial. The feature is filmed in 16mm and has fine performances from all, although the color process is unlisted. Mel Dixon plays Bobby Seale, Calvin Butler is Arlo Guthrie. Neil Walsh has a double role as the pompous Mayor Richard Daley and as Country Joe. A credit disclaimer denies an indictment of the sourpuss conservative Judge Julius Hoffman, no relation to Abby Hoffman (Peter Faulkner). Those with little or no knowledge of the historic trial will be confused. George Metesky plays beat-generation poet Alan Ginsberg. Not all of the Chicago 7 are portrayed; nobody plays Tom Hayden in this surrealistic satire of the American justice system.
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trial [courtroom], politics, America