Watch Cisco Pike

Cisco Pike is a 1971 film that follows the life of a musician and drug dealer named Cisco Pike, brilliantly portrayed by Kris Kristofferson. The movie is set in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Los Angeles, a time when the hippie counterculture movement was at its peak. The story is centered on Pike's attempts to get out of the drug dealing business and make a comeback in the music industry.

The film starts with a burned-out Pike getting released from prison after serving a sentence for drug possession. With no money and nowhere to go, he reconnects with his former partner, Jesse Dupree (played by Harry Dean Stanton) and his girlfriend Sue (played by Joy Bang). Pike desperately needs a job and agrees to sell a shipment of drugs for a sleazy record producer named Leo Holland (played by Gene Hackman) in return for cash and a chance to record a new album.

Pike's past mistakes and criminal record come back to haunt him as he is continually threatened by dangerous drug dealers and pursued by the police. One of the subplots involves a corrupt undercover police officer named Leo Holland (played by Gene Hackman), who also happens to be Pike's former music business contact. Holland tries to coerce Pike into taking on the new drug selling gig, which puts Pike in a tough spot. The drug lord, played by Antonio Fargas, is also after Pike and his girlfriend Sue for money they've borrowed.

Throughout the film, Pike must navigate the corrupt and violent world of drug dealing while trying to reunite with his former bandmates and record a comeback album. Karen Black plays the role of Piper, a former groupie and Pike's former lover who helps Pike to connect with a major record producer.

The movie has a gritty and realistic portrayal of the hippie counterculture movement in Los Angeles, which is evident in its atmospheric cinematography and excellent soundtrack. The film is also notable for its realistic portrayal of drug dealing and addiction, which is shown without glamorization or moral judgment.

Kris Kristofferson, who was a real-life musician and songwriter at the time, delivers a powerful and authentic performance as Cisco Pike. The supporting cast, including Karen Black, Gene Hackman, and Harry Dean Stanton, add depth and dimension to the story's characters.

Overall, Cisco Pike is an excellent film that showcases the dark side of the music business and drug culture in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Although the film is somewhat obscure, it is a must-see for anyone interested in the music and counterculture of the era.