Rainbow Bridge (film)

Rainbow Bridge is a 1971 film directed by Chuck Wein about different countercultural figures interacting on the Hawaiian island of Maui. According to author Harry Shapiro, the idea was to shoot an antidote to Easy Rider showing the positive side of the youth movement. Wein described it as a kind of spaceage Candid Camera. Were going to place Pat New York model Pat Hartley, the protagonist in all kinds of reallife situtations, and film what happens. Were going to shoot a lot of film and just see what comes out of it.

Faced with a serious cash flow problem, Jeffery approached Reprise Records parent Warner Bros. with an idea for a youth film. He was able to secure a 450,000 advance with the promise of a soundtrack by Hendrix. While in Maui, Jeffery met Mike Hynson, star of The Endless Summer surf epic, and wanted to develop a film. With the proposed title Wave, it would be centered on the Maui countercultural community. Jeffery enlisted Chuck Wein, who had produced three Andy Warhol Factory films. Wein brought in Pat Hartley as the star, who had appeared in some of his films.Wein and art director Melinda Merryweather invited outrageous people to portray themselves in Rainbow Bridge. They included dope smugglers, priests and nuns, acidheads, gays, groupies, environmentalists, and a group who claimed to be from Venus, according to Hendrix biographer Steven Roby. Before long, Warners advance was used up with little to show for it. Although there was no plan for a Hendrix concert, Jeffery decided that a filmed performance was needed to rescue his investment. Later record producer John Jansen recalled, Jeffery had to talk Hendrix into performing. Up to that point, he had refused to write a note of music for the film. ........

Source: Wikipedia