The Love-Ins (1967)
A 1967 drama that plunges into San Francisco's psychedelic counterculture, where one professor's act of solidarity leads him down a far stranger path.
The Love-Ins - Movie Information
- Release Year: 1967
- Directed by: Arthur Dreifuss
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 1h 31m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 26, 1967 (United States - NR)
- Production Companies: Four-Leaf Productions, Columbia Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Love-Ins - Plot
A college professor falls in with the counterculture crowd in San Francisco after resigning from his position in solidarity with two expelled hippie students.
The Love-Ins - Trailer
See the counterculture chaos unfold in the official trailer below:
THE HIPPIES AND DIGGERS ARE HERE! WITH THE WAY-OUT EXCITEMENT THAT'S TURNING-ON AMERICA TODAY!...
Where to Watch The Love-Ins
Looking for where to watch The Love-Ins?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
The Love-Ins - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Arthur Dreifuss
Main Cast
- Richard Todd
- James MacArthur
- Susan Oliver
- Mark Goddard
- Carol Booth
- Marc Cavell
- Janee Michelle
- Ronnie Eckstine
- Michael Evans
- Hortense Petra
Writers
- Arthur Dreifuss
- Hal Collins
Producers
- Sam Katzman
The Love-Ins - FAQs
What is The Love-Ins about?
The Love-Ins follows a college professor who resigns his post in support of two expelled hippie students and soon finds himself swept up in San Francisco's 1960s counterculture. What begins as an act of principle gradually transforms into something far more complicated, as he embraces the movement's philosophy of free love and psychedelic experimentation.
Does the professor become a cult leader in The Love-Ins?
Yes — that's the film's central hook. Dr. Jonathan Barnett, played by Richard Todd, evolves from sympathetic academic to a charismatic guru figure, drawing devoted followers around him. The film uses this arc to examine how idealism can curdle into manipulation, making it one of the more pointed critiques of 1960s counterculture mythology.
Is The Love-Ins based on a true story?
The film isn't based on a single true story, but it draws heavily from real 1960s San Francisco counterculture — the Haight-Ashbury scene, LSD culture, and the Diggers movement. The guru-like professor character echoes real figures such as Timothy Leary, whose “turn on, tune in, drop out” philosophy was very much in the public consciousness at the time.
What is the ending of The Love-Ins?
The film builds toward a dark conclusion as the professor's growing megalomania and the movement's excesses spiral out of control. The idealistic students who once championed him are forced to confront the consequences of blind devotion, and the story ends on a cautionary note rather than a celebratory one — a pointed moral for its era.
Who are the main actors in The Love-Ins?
The cast is led by Richard Todd as the professor-turned-guru Dr. Jonathan Barnett, alongside James MacArthur and Susan Oliver as the young students caught in his orbit. Mark Goddard, Carol Booth, and Marc Cavell round out the principal cast in this Columbia Pictures production.
Where can you watch The Love-Ins?
Streaming availability for The Love-Ins varies by region and platform. As a 1967 cult curiosity, it tends to surface on classic film channels and specialty streaming services. Check JustWatch for the most up-to-date viewing options in your area, including any rental or purchase possibilities.
What films are similar to The Love-Ins?
If the counterculture and psychedelic themes appeal to you, Easy Rider (1969) is the obvious companion piece. Ciao! Manhattan (1973) offers a similarly raw look at the era's excesses, while Helter Skelter (1976) explores the darker side of 1960s cult dynamics. LSD: Trip to Where? (1968) covers similar documentary territory.
How was The Love-Ins received by critics?
The Love-Ins landed in the tradition of exploitation cinema — made quickly to cash in on the hippie craze of the late 1960s. Critics at the time viewed it as sensationalist, though today it holds genuine interest as a time-capsule document of how mainstream Hollywood perceived and packaged the counterculture for mass audiences.
More About The Love-Ins
Explore further details about The Love-Ins on these authoritative resources: