archie bollen ( george c scott and very good ) be a square peg in a very circular world . he seem to be a waldo amongst flower child . there a scene i find humorous ( . while others might find strange and or or pathetic ) that show archie in the middle of a crowd of hipster dance in a psychedelic hall a some band be play with weird colored strobe light flash throughout . what make this film so great be that he have no business have any connection whatsoever with young marry petulia ( julie christie ) . she have this feeling for him that spurn from an operation she watch him perform on a young latino child name oliver . oliver and a the film would confirm later and be catch under a speeding car and it have everything to do with petulia and her volatile and unpredictable and quick to rush into anger husband david ( richard chamberlain while he unfortunately the unsung actor here because all the role be so great that chamberlain can be forget until his character change petulia life through a horrible beating ) . archie previous married life to polo ( shirley knight who be outstanding a the conflicted wife while clearly and her work on here outshine everyone . even christie in my opinion ) wasn not a bad one and but something be miss . he felt suffocate and not to mention and there be no joy . when he can not get rid of petulia and he succumb to her charm and beauty . this film show their unusual relationship and specifically how their difference bring them peculiarly closer because of this transfixing and overwhelming attraction that morph into love . i have to say that richard lester direction just floor me . the way he edit the lifestyle of that period in san francisco life and how he capture the people in that era . it just wow . i wish film like this be make today . it just vibrate off screen to me and i be completely hook to it charm and visual fervor . the performance be already superb to begin with and but how lester bring the past within the frame work of the present . it so fresh and innovative . this movie just wreaks of craftsmanship . a masterpiece .