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Comedy Cult Classic

Sexual revolution hits the classroom at Harrad College, where education gets personal.

THE HARRAD EXPERIMENT

Harrad College... where free, liberated relations between coed students are encouraged!

1973 · 1h 35m · R · Comedy / Drama / Romance · IMDB TMDB

At fictional Harrad College students learn about sexuality and experiment with each other. Deals with the concept of free love during the height of the sexual revolution which took place in the United States, an Ivy League college incorporates a course on sexual relations into its curriculum.

Quick Answer

What is The Harrad Experiment about?

The Harrad Experiment is a 1973 United States comedy-drama-romance film directed by Ted Post about students at an experimental college who explore their sexuality and relationships in an open, unconventional environment.

Programmer's Pick

Whether you’re here for the social satire or the skin, The Harrad Experiment delivers a saucy slice of seventies counterculture. Expect equal parts group therapy, awkward pairings, and earnest lectures on sex education—plus more full-frontal nudity than your average classroom. Ted Post swaps the wild west for wild experimentation, and the result is as much sociology as it is cinema.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Set at the fictional Harrad College, The Harrad Experiment drops a group of students into an unconventional educational program where sexual exploration and candid discussion are part of the curriculum. Under the watchful guidance of Professor Philip Tenhausen, newcomers are paired as male-female roommates, tasked with moving beyond traditional taboos to gain a deeper understanding of intimacy, love, and themselves. The film follows these students as they confront personal beliefs, insecurities, and desires amid group therapy sessions, yoga classes, and experimental lifestyle choices. With its focus on free love during the height of the sexual revolution, this film examines how a radical curriculum can challenge and reshape young adults’ perspectives on relationships.

Details & Specs

Director
Ted Post
Writers
Michael Werner, Ted Cassidy, Robert H. Rimmer
Release
1973
Runtime
1h 35m
Country
United States of America
Language
English

Why This Matters

Reflecting the sexual revolution era, this adaptation of Robert Rimmer's novel explores free love and experimental sexuality at a fictional college, featuring early performances by Don Johnson and starring James Whitmore and Tippi Hedren, with a sequel following in 1974.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Ted Post Writers: Michael Werner +2 more

Why Cult

Sexual Liberation Campus

Harrad College’s experimental curriculum puts sexual exploration and open relationships at the center of higher learning.

Seventies Free Love

Set at the peak of America’s sexual revolution, the film’s Ivy League backdrop dives into the era’s concepts of free love and social change.

Nudity and Taboo

From skinny dipping to group therapy confessions, this film doesn’t shy away from nudity or challenging social taboos.

Star-Powered Instructors

James Whitmore and Tippi Hedren guide the experiment as Professor and Mrs. Tenhausen, adding gravitas to the campus chaos.

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

When was The Harrad Experiment released? +

The Harrad Experiment was released in 1973.

Who directed The Harrad Experiment? +

The Harrad Experiment was directed by Ted Post.

How long is The Harrad Experiment? +

The Harrad Experiment has a runtime of 95 minutes.

What genre is The Harrad Experiment? +

The Harrad Experiment is a comedy, drama, and romance film.

Trailers & Clips