Kinky Babylon

Black and white UCLA Student Film, Preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Edgar, a Jamaican American who is smoking marijuana, drinking whiskey, and making love to his girlfriend Sam (Samantha) in a car overlooking the city, witnesses a Mercedes-driving European man who quotes Steppenwolf murder a girl. Edgar reports the murder and identifies the murderer from photographs, but the murderer works with the police to frame Edgar as "the moonlight rapist." At the end of the film, Sam, who previously wore glasses and a blonde wig, is seen discarding the glasses and wig and escaping with Edgar, over the protests of her mother. Among the photographs shown Edgar by the police for identification purposes are photographs of Bob Rosen and Geoff Gilmore.

Directed by Greyling William, Kinky Babylon leans on a strong ensemble — Mike James, Ingrid Johnyne, Josh Kean — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1979.