Best known for his string of thrillers during the 1970’s and 1980’s, and his action films in the 1990’s, Brian De Palma has always had a subversive streak, never afraid to explore more playful themes. Released in 1970, Hi, Mom!, is the second collaboration between De Palma, and a young Robert De Niro. Greetings (De Niro’s first major film role),released in 1968, features De Niro as aspiring filmmaker Jon Rubin attempting to avoid the draft.
Made for just $95,000, Hi, Mom! brings back Jon Rubin. This time he’s determined to revolutionize X-rated movies. He rents a dumpy apartment in Greenwich Village and buys a cheap movie camera. The apartment allows Jon to film the windows—and lives—of the middle-class tenants opposite him, hoping to capture relationships (especially sex), that feels less ‘staged’ than traditional pornography. Jon pitches his idea of a future where adult stars won’t know their being filmed, to sleazy adult movie producer Joe Banner (Allen Garfield). Joe is curious to see what Jon comes up with. To make things more realistic, Jon decides to get in on the on-camera action. He starts flirting with hot neighbor Judy Bishop (Jennifer Salt).
At the same time, Jon meets across the street neighbor Gerrit Wood (Gerrit Graham) who’s a white NYU student, and member of a confrontational theater group that’s supposed to give rich whites a sense of what it’s like to be black in America. Their latest production, “Be Black Baby!” is being filmed for television in New York City, so Jon volunteers to play a part in the show. A scene where De Niro is running lines with a mop is reminiscent of his “you lookin’ at me” scene in Taxi Driver.
Still finding his footing, De Palma struggles with the film’s comedic moments. They feel awkward and unnatural. His exploration of Joe’s discontent has brief elements of the tension that would make his later thrillers—The Fury, Dressed to Kill, Blow Out. etc.—real standouts. When Jon sets up his telescopic lens, it would be easy to dismiss it as a homage to Rear Window, but when we combine it with a scene in a store that demonstrates the of images, zoom, and focus, Hi, Mom!, feels more like the kind of film that would make Brian De Palma legendary.
It’s interesting to note that several actors in Hi, Mom!, would work with De Palma again: Jennifer Salt and Charles Durning are both in Sisters, Gerrit Graham appears in Phantom of the Paradise, and De Niro and De Palma would work together again on The Untouchables.
From a new 4K restoration from the original camera negative, Radiance Films has delivered an excellent release. Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the image is sharp throughout. colors are surprisingly vibrant, and blacks are inky. Scratches and other anomalies aren’t an issue.
The Audio is DTS-HS MA 1.0 mono. Simple but effective, dialogue is clean, clear, and concise throughout.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following extras are available on the included Blu-ray:
- Audio Commentary by Writer Travis Woods: A De Palma fanatic, Woods covers all the facts about this film.
- Interview with Critic Ellen E. Jones (12:23) A discussion of the impact Hi, Mom!, had on the careers of Brian De Palma and Robert De Niro.
- Dionysus in ‘69 (85:27) Released in 1970, this is an experimental theater production of Euripides’ ‘The Bacchae.’
- Son of Greetings (76:29) An extensive behind the scenes documentary shot during the making of Hello, Mom!
- Archival interview with Charles Hirsch (9:41) The co-writer and producer discusses the film.
- Trailer (1:56)
- Limited edition booklet: Essay by Matt Zoller Seitz.