Jennifer on My Mind

Plot

Marcus Rottner (Brandon), a 24-year-old heir of his late grandfather's fortune, is living in his New Jersey Palisades apartment as he finds out hippie girlfriend Jennifer Da Silva (Walker) has died of a heroin overdose in his living room. Fearing that he might be arrested for her death, he decides to dump her body, but not before his sister Selma (Taylor) and her psychologist boyfriend Sergei (Bonerz) — whom Marcus detests — pay him a visit. They notice his strange behavior and suspect that Marcus has gotten himself into trouble. They search his apartment, but to no avail.

A flashback shows how Marcus and Jennifer met. He first notices Jennifer in Venice, where both are enjoying their holiday. Marcus is immediately drawn to her reckless and careless behavior, and she falls for his looks and charm. She unexpectedly leaves Europe with her parents. He follows to her parents' home in Oyster Bay, where they briefly date until Jennifer again cuts all ties.

Heartbroken, Marcus leaves for Vienna, but returns to court Jennifer on her birthday, and is shocked to find out that she is injecting heroin with two minstrels (Bostwick and Conaway). Marcus scares away the two guys and attempts to save Jennifer as she, under influence, jumps from her rooftop.

Fearing that she might become a heroin addict, Marcus convinces Jennifer to return to Venice, but she grows bored, expressing her desire to return to New York. As he visits the ghetto, she leaves a note explaining that she cannot be with him. Marcus moves to New Jersey to clear his mind. One day, Jennifer suddenly shows up on his doorstep, telling Marcus that she has traveled the world and still has not found her luck in life. She asks to stay at his place for a while.

As he cooks her dinner, Jennifer injects herself with heroin and becomes manic. She begs Marcus to inject her once more, but this leads to a fatal overdose. Advised by his friend Ornstein (Vinovich), Marcus puts her body in his car trunk and plans on dumping her body in the river, but he is almost caught by a man helping him with his flat tire and by three Hell's Angels bullying him. While being chased by some joyriders, his car crashes and catches fire. Marcus watches it burn with Jennifer's body still in the trunk.

Cast

Production

A Los Angeles Times reviewer speculated that either Simon or Segal was inspired by the true 1966 case of Robert Friede, a twenty-five-year-old Annenberg publishing heir, and Celeste Crenshaw, a drug-addicted, nineteen-year-old socialite whose corpse was found in Friede's car. Friede was the son of Evelyn Annenberg Hall and her first husband, Kenneth Friede. Crenshaw and Friede's story is told in the book Turned On: The Friede-Crenshaw Case (1967) by Dick Schaap.

Based on the 1968 novel by Simon, the film's working title was Heir. The rights of the novel were initially acquired by Anthony Spinner and Barry Shear in October 1968. In June 1969, it was announced that Herb Jaffe of United Artists was set to produce the film in collaboration with Joseph M. Schenck Enterprises.

Actress Kim Hunter filmed some scenes as Jennifer's mother, but they were cut following a "disastrous preview" in San Francisco, which prompted the film's makers to edit it several times. The film marked the feature debuts for Bostwick and Conaway. It was shot on location in New York City, Venice and New Jersey.

Reception

The film received generally negative reviews. A reviewer of Variety noted: "The delightfully ridiculous plot, mock-sentimental narration, absurd dialog, infectious syrupy music and intermittent idyllic interludes all parody Love Story. And yet, like Pretty Poison, this is a potpourri of disarming satire, black comedy and poignancy that creates a strangely haunting aura. Michael Brandon, as Marcus, is charmingly boyish and natural. Tippy Walker, as Jennifer, comes across with a bitchy ethereal allure."