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Outer Limits: The Special One

by Billy Anderson

Best Friends: David & Jonathan Are Alive And Well, And Living In 1975 America

But, there's something even better: Rick Cunha is at Crown-International Pictures, Praise God!

Best Friends had its first run at Bill Wilkerson’s favorite Drive-in, the Halls, back in December of 1975. And, the Best Thing about this film is the music by Rick Cunha, "a guitar players' guitar player,'' and "one of America's finest songwriters. The music, from the opening song, "Good Old Days," to the closing "Best Friends," is great, and the one thing I really like about the film.

Drive-in movie fans fondly remember Richard E. (Dick) Cunha, who directed some favorite horror films of the 1950's, and his later credits included an early 60's Crown-International release, so, seeing a younger Cunha on the Crown-International credits list a decade and a half later, really warms our hearts.

Best Friends tells the story of two guys who are best friends, and their relationships with their girlfriends. There are some who say that it even touches on the taboo theme of male homosexuality. One of the characters is so attached to his best friend, that he doesn't like it that the guy plans to get married, so he tries to break up his buddy and his fiancée. Like David, mourning the loss of his friend, Jonathan, he sees the love of two men for each other, as far better than that of a man and woman.

To anyone who says this is homosexuality, I say, ABSOLUTELY NOT! My Sunday school teacher, the late Earlene Clump, said, most emphatically, that David and Jonathan were not homosexuals, and that anyone who said so, was just plain WRONG! And, if Earlene Clump Said It, I Believe It, and THAT SETTLES IT!

Well, back to the story. Pat (played by Doug Chapin), and Jesse (played by Richard Hatch), have been best friends since grammar school. They served in the U.S. Army together, and after their discharge, they travel across the U.S.A. in a motor home.

Most of Doug Chapin's film credits are as a producer, including some very successful horror movies. But, he does have some acting credits, too. Probably his most memorable role was on the old TV soap opera, Somerset. Doug played Tony Cooper, a pitifully tormented young man, that all viewers could sympathize with, and none could forget. Doug also gives an unforgettable performance here, but this time, he is the Tormenter, not the Tormented, and his character is so obnoxiously portrayed, you really hate him.

Jesse plans to marry Kathy (played by Suzanne Benton), and, Pat doesn't like it. He wants them to get motorcycles and have a good time riding together. Pat does get a bike of his own, but Jesse Doesn't. After marrying Kathy, he is going to have to give up those kinds of fun things. Pat just doesn't like a girl coming between him and his Best Friend, altho he does have a girlfriend himself, JoElla (played by Ann Noland). So, he thinks they should do some swapping. In this R-Rated film, there are some sexy scenes as the two couples are lovin' each other, in separate beds. "Hey, what's goin' on in there?" asks Pat.

JoElla goes along with the swap, and Jesse reluctantly agrees. But, when Pat demands that Jesse return the favor by letting him sleep with Kathy, Jesse most adamantly says, “NO!" Pat doesn't like this, and while the motor home is stopped out in the desert, he asks Kathy to come over and look at the beautiful view. She hears the rattle of a snake just in time to avoid stepping on it, and realizes that Pat s jealousy of her is getting dangerous.

Finally, Pat attempts to sexually assault Kathy, and Jesse, enraged, orders him out of the motor home. As often happens in real life, two best friends become worst enemies.

That night, Pat starts riding his motorcycle around the motor home, trying to scare Jesse, Kathy, and JoElla, who is still present. And, Jesse, enraged, takes his pistol, and starts shooting. Unfortunately, he accidentally winds up shooting and killing Kathy. Distraught, he sits down in the desert sand, and starts crying. Pat comes over, and sits next to him, trying to console him. JoElla approaches them, but Pat orders her away, saying, "GO away! You're a girl!"

As the sun rises, Jesse is still crying, with Pat next to him, going into a reverie about all the good times they had together, going back to grammar school. Remember the time the car got out of control, and they smashed up the hen house? He laughs, as Jesse keeps crying. How can Pat be so despicable?

And, remember the time we were smoking in the restroom? Old Man Marshall came in, and we threw the butts into the trash can so fast, hit those paper towels... the flames went straight up… We were the only ones in there... I'll never forget those fire engines… “

Then, the syrupy voice of Rick Cunha comes on the soundtrack, singing "...best friends, we were the best of friends . . . and I'd do anything for you . . . do anything for you..." The perfectly outrageous ending for this outrageous film!

Because of what my Sunday School teacher said, I reiterate that this was a film about a David and Jonathan friendship turned into a tragedy, not about male homosexuality. But, for those who say differently, what better way to end it, than a guy fondly reminiscing about the good times he had in the restroom with his best friend?