Russ Meyer
Ha cha cha cha, y'all! If you're in the G-rated category, you should just go right ahead and stop reading this blog entry because I'm about to dive into one of the most fascinating figures in 20th century filmmaking, Russ Meyer. The King of the Nudies!
Have you ever been sitting around, enjoying a nice pornographic film and thought to yourself - Hey, what did they do in the days before porn? Hopefully, this swim in Meyer pond will help answer that question...mostly since...he's the one responsible.
You have to trip back in time and remember how America was during the 1950's. The sensibilities of the general movie going public were pretty Donna Reed-ish. Frilly dresses, coiffured do's and all men wore ties, jackets and chain smoked. Television, films and music reflected an innocence as the country tried to mend itself after WWII. That caused a problem - there was nothing salacious to lure in the dirty minded minions. You can go decade by decade in films and everywhere you'll find a flash of skin, a glimmer of thigh-meat, a peek of boobie...just not in the 1950's. We were all busy purifying ourselves - and then came Russ.
Learning the skill of operating a camera by filming docu-dramas during the war, Russ returned to the west coast with his dirty mind and a new hobby. He wanted to produce/direct a new brand of film geared especially toward adults. He wasn't remotely concerned with making art, he wanted cash and lots of it - and boy...did he hit the nail on the head.
You've heard of blaxsploitation, sexploitation, and all the other sploitations. You can thank Russ for all those. It was, after all - his idea to make a film solely for the purpose of showing off one particular aspect that people would flock to due to their hunger for filth. His first attempt was The Immortal Mr. Teas (1959), while a great flick - is nowhere near what he would accomplish further down the road.
It was a tough call selecting a mere five titles to include. My close, personal friendship with some of the stars, crew and (yeah even ex-Mrs. Meyer herself) friends that worked to create these films led to some biased choices - but hey, you don't have to be here, yanno?
Also - I'd like to mention (brag/boast/jeer) that outside of a few of the stars from his films and his widow (and co-producer) Eve, I own the largest collection of Russ Meyer films in the known universe. That's right. I got them all. Take that, collectors of cult classics!
**Honorable Mention** "LORNA" (1964): Believe it or not, Lorna is considered the world's first "sexploitation" film. This film marks the end of Meyer's "Nudie" period (these films all feel like documentaries to me, very clinical and oh, by the way - here's a boobie). Lorna is the first of Russ' movies to actually have a coherent storyline holding together the glimpses of flesh. The actors aren't really as bad as you would expect. Lorna Maitland does some really amazing running, flopping around in shallow ponds and scampering in this movie. If you like watching giant breasted women frolic in cheap costumes across sandy backlots supposed to resemble "the desert" - then this movie is for you! Not the greatest movie in the Meyer canon, but to me - it's where you should begin.
5) "UP!" (1976): I swear to God, if I could get through this movie just one time without breaking a rib cackling at Kitten, I'd feel like I've accomplished something with my life. This is (by far) the most ridiculous of Russ' films. I'm not even sure where you begin to list off all the ways. Gay Hitler who likes to be whipped? Prosthetic penises that drag the ground...but are supposed to be believable? Oh, I know - how about Kitten Natividad buck naked, straddling a tree limb while quoting Ovid? Not enough for you - there's also lots of shallow ponds, running and frolicking in this one too. If you want to see a Russ Meyer film and catch him at his most hilariously-stupid, this is the one you want. I wish I could explain this movie. It stars Margot Winchester (aka Raven De La Croix), who is currently living a beautifully peaceful life on her ranch in Arizona. She seldom comments on her days with Russ with me as she's living a different lifestyle now but she still retains the magic and mystery that made her a star back in '76. Her performance is the one shred of salvaging grace to be found in Up! The rest...I just don't even know. It's that wacky...
4) "MOTORPSYCHO" (1965): Kaboom! This is (in my opinion) the sequel to FPKK in that now - we've got the guys terrorizing the countryside. Instead of hot-ass sports cars, they're on hot-ass motorcycles. Other than that, these two movies compliment each other like two sides of a dime. This was a historic movie in that it created the "marauding biker" flicks that went wild during the 60's/70's. It spawned a rock group (of the same name), and allowed Russ to make a ton of cash to fund his next wave of hits. The plot is pretty generic. Bikers kill an old man, his wife teams up with a (oddly) helpful veterinarian (yeah, no idea) to hunt them all down and MAKE THEM PAY! You know the story. You've seen it done to death. Revenge, hunting, vendetta, Hell's Angels. You've seen it to death but you seen where it all began? Try Motorpsycho for your viewing pleasure. You'll get a little dusty, but you're sure to laugh so hard a little pee comes out.
3) "MUDHONEY" (1965): Thus begins the core. The holy trinity of exploitation films, Mudhoney. What's not to love here? Russ was on top of his game. His editing is sharp enough to cut your thumb on, his casting...seriously, an explosion of awesomeness will happen on your screen once you see the performances in this one. The story, while still plodding through genericville (because the story doesn't matter you silly geese - it's all about the running, frolicking and shallow ponds, okay?) is actually fairly enjoyable. Lorna Maitland shows up in this one as does Hal Hopper, the nastiest cuss ya ever did see. I don't think this film was meant to be funny - it just is. It's dated, it doesn't hold up well in 2013...but who cares about that crap? Sit back, lower your expectations waaaaaay down and enjoy this trip to rural Missouri with Russ and the gang. This movie is mandatory viewing for people who visit my home. Sometimes willingly, sometimes not - either way, if you spend time with me...you're gonna see Mudhoney. There is no escape, resistance is futile.
2) "VIXEN" (1968): History! The world's FIRST X-Rated movie! Why? I have no idea. If you read the old reviews on this movie, they call it soft-core porn. Huh? I have to wonder if they're seeing a different cut of this movie because in 2013, this is barely a PG-13. Hell, all of Russ' films are in the same bracket. However ridiculous - it's a fact. Vixen was the first X-rated film in the world. It's also a source of frustration for me because deep down in my filthy little heart - it's number one. I love Vixen. I love the star, Erica Gavin. I am proud to consider myself a friend of this beautiful creature and her role in this movie is one of my all time favorite roles in all movie history. Nothing is greater than Vixen (ignore what I say in the next post). She completes me. The fish dance ... the fish dance. Think about the reasoning behind something like that scene. Objective: seduce dinner guest. Setting: dinner, grilling out. Best way to accomplish said objective? Take a dead fish, deep throat it, then cram it in your cleavage and jiggle around all sexy-like. Win! It also spawned two sequels that weren't nearly as funky - but worth checking out if you become accidentally obsessed like I did.
The budget on this film was $67,000. The film grossed $22,000,000.
Let that sink in for a minute...
And as if that weren't enough - the one-liners from Vixen should be bronzed. What a racist, sick, nasty, twisted freak she is...I LOVE HER! I cannot spoil this movie for those who have yet to experience it. I can, however say - Vixen is not a fan of equal rights. She doesn't mind much, she's even down with incest ... just don't make her share a seat with a black man. God forbid! Just wait 'til you see how the sparks fly ... oh wait, those aren't sparks - that's just Vixen gettin' jiggy with it!
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1) "FASTER PUSSYCAT, KILL! KILL!" (1965): Here she is boys, one of my dearest bff's of the past twenty years - the legend, the legacy, the woman herself - Ms. Tura Satana! Donning the role of Varla, Tura made my life change numerous times. I'd first heard of this movie through stalking out anyone and everyone who'd inspired director John Waters, but rural NC was not the place to find obscure "drive-in" classics - so I abided and I endured...and then I met Tura.
There are reams of write-ups about the movie itself. I won't bore you with redundancy. I can just say that FPKK should be restored and included in the Library of Congress. It's an important movie, not just for indie film buffs but for females everywhere. This movie was the first time in film history you had three BEAUTIFUL women...who knew they were beautiful...and would flirt heavily...while stomping your ass for looking. Tough girls. Leather broads. Bad bitches on the prowl. It had never been done before until Tura, Lori and Haji got together in the desert of southern California and created a classic. Such an important movie in so many regards, it's pointless to discuss. Whether you're a fan of bad movies or not - this demands to be seen. If you live a life without Tura, you failed. That's all I'm saying.
I miss Tura. I hope she's spinning her tassels and high-kicking somewhere heavenly until we meet again.
Have you ever been sitting around, enjoying a nice pornographic film and thought to yourself - Hey, what did they do in the days before porn? Hopefully, this swim in Meyer pond will help answer that question...mostly since...he's the one responsible.
You have to trip back in time and remember how America was during the 1950's. The sensibilities of the general movie going public were pretty Donna Reed-ish. Frilly dresses, coiffured do's and all men wore ties, jackets and chain smoked. Television, films and music reflected an innocence as the country tried to mend itself after WWII. That caused a problem - there was nothing salacious to lure in the dirty minded minions. You can go decade by decade in films and everywhere you'll find a flash of skin, a glimmer of thigh-meat, a peek of boobie...just not in the 1950's. We were all busy purifying ourselves - and then came Russ.
Learning the skill of operating a camera by filming docu-dramas during the war, Russ returned to the west coast with his dirty mind and a new hobby. He wanted to produce/direct a new brand of film geared especially toward adults. He wasn't remotely concerned with making art, he wanted cash and lots of it - and boy...did he hit the nail on the head.
You've heard of blaxsploitation, sexploitation, and all the other sploitations. You can thank Russ for all those. It was, after all - his idea to make a film solely for the purpose of showing off one particular aspect that people would flock to due to their hunger for filth. His first attempt was The Immortal Mr. Teas (1959), while a great flick - is nowhere near what he would accomplish further down the road.
It was a tough call selecting a mere five titles to include. My close, personal friendship with some of the stars, crew and (yeah even ex-Mrs. Meyer herself) friends that worked to create these films led to some biased choices - but hey, you don't have to be here, yanno?
Also - I'd like to mention (brag/boast/jeer) that outside of a few of the stars from his films and his widow (and co-producer) Eve, I own the largest collection of Russ Meyer films in the known universe. That's right. I got them all. Take that, collectors of cult classics!
5) "UP!" (1976): I swear to God, if I could get through this movie just one time without breaking a rib cackling at Kitten, I'd feel like I've accomplished something with my life. This is (by far) the most ridiculous of Russ' films. I'm not even sure where you begin to list off all the ways. Gay Hitler who likes to be whipped? Prosthetic penises that drag the ground...but are supposed to be believable? Oh, I know - how about Kitten Natividad buck naked, straddling a tree limb while quoting Ovid? Not enough for you - there's also lots of shallow ponds, running and frolicking in this one too. If you want to see a Russ Meyer film and catch him at his most hilariously-stupid, this is the one you want. I wish I could explain this movie. It stars Margot Winchester (aka Raven De La Croix), who is currently living a beautifully peaceful life on her ranch in Arizona. She seldom comments on her days with Russ with me as she's living a different lifestyle now but she still retains the magic and mystery that made her a star back in '76. Her performance is the one shred of salvaging grace to be found in Up! The rest...I just don't even know. It's that wacky...
4) "MOTORPSYCHO" (1965): Kaboom! This is (in my opinion) the sequel to FPKK in that now - we've got the guys terrorizing the countryside. Instead of hot-ass sports cars, they're on hot-ass motorcycles. Other than that, these two movies compliment each other like two sides of a dime. This was a historic movie in that it created the "marauding biker" flicks that went wild during the 60's/70's. It spawned a rock group (of the same name), and allowed Russ to make a ton of cash to fund his next wave of hits. The plot is pretty generic. Bikers kill an old man, his wife teams up with a (oddly) helpful veterinarian (yeah, no idea) to hunt them all down and MAKE THEM PAY! You know the story. You've seen it done to death. Revenge, hunting, vendetta, Hell's Angels. You've seen it to death but you seen where it all began? Try Motorpsycho for your viewing pleasure. You'll get a little dusty, but you're sure to laugh so hard a little pee comes out.
3) "MUDHONEY" (1965): Thus begins the core. The holy trinity of exploitation films, Mudhoney. What's not to love here? Russ was on top of his game. His editing is sharp enough to cut your thumb on, his casting...seriously, an explosion of awesomeness will happen on your screen once you see the performances in this one. The story, while still plodding through genericville (because the story doesn't matter you silly geese - it's all about the running, frolicking and shallow ponds, okay?) is actually fairly enjoyable. Lorna Maitland shows up in this one as does Hal Hopper, the nastiest cuss ya ever did see. I don't think this film was meant to be funny - it just is. It's dated, it doesn't hold up well in 2013...but who cares about that crap? Sit back, lower your expectations waaaaaay down and enjoy this trip to rural Missouri with Russ and the gang. This movie is mandatory viewing for people who visit my home. Sometimes willingly, sometimes not - either way, if you spend time with me...you're gonna see Mudhoney. There is no escape, resistance is futile.
2) "VIXEN" (1968): History! The world's FIRST X-Rated movie! Why? I have no idea. If you read the old reviews on this movie, they call it soft-core porn. Huh? I have to wonder if they're seeing a different cut of this movie because in 2013, this is barely a PG-13. Hell, all of Russ' films are in the same bracket. However ridiculous - it's a fact. Vixen was the first X-rated film in the world. It's also a source of frustration for me because deep down in my filthy little heart - it's number one. I love Vixen. I love the star, Erica Gavin. I am proud to consider myself a friend of this beautiful creature and her role in this movie is one of my all time favorite roles in all movie history. Nothing is greater than Vixen (ignore what I say in the next post). She completes me. The fish dance ... the fish dance. Think about the reasoning behind something like that scene. Objective: seduce dinner guest. Setting: dinner, grilling out. Best way to accomplish said objective? Take a dead fish, deep throat it, then cram it in your cleavage and jiggle around all sexy-like. Win! It also spawned two sequels that weren't nearly as funky - but worth checking out if you become accidentally obsessed like I did. The budget on this film was $67,000. The film grossed $22,000,000.
Let that sink in for a minute...
And as if that weren't enough - the one-liners from Vixen should be bronzed. What a racist, sick, nasty, twisted freak she is...I LOVE HER! I cannot spoil this movie for those who have yet to experience it. I can, however say - Vixen is not a fan of equal rights. She doesn't mind much, she's even down with incest ... just don't make her share a seat with a black man. God forbid! Just wait 'til you see how the sparks fly ... oh wait, those aren't sparks - that's just Vixen gettin' jiggy with it!
.jpg)
1) "FASTER PUSSYCAT, KILL! KILL!" (1965): Here she is boys, one of my dearest bff's of the past twenty years - the legend, the legacy, the woman herself - Ms. Tura Satana! Donning the role of Varla, Tura made my life change numerous times. I'd first heard of this movie through stalking out anyone and everyone who'd inspired director John Waters, but rural NC was not the place to find obscure "drive-in" classics - so I abided and I endured...and then I met Tura. There are reams of write-ups about the movie itself. I won't bore you with redundancy. I can just say that FPKK should be restored and included in the Library of Congress. It's an important movie, not just for indie film buffs but for females everywhere. This movie was the first time in film history you had three BEAUTIFUL women...who knew they were beautiful...and would flirt heavily...while stomping your ass for looking. Tough girls. Leather broads. Bad bitches on the prowl. It had never been done before until Tura, Lori and Haji got together in the desert of southern California and created a classic. Such an important movie in so many regards, it's pointless to discuss. Whether you're a fan of bad movies or not - this demands to be seen. If you live a life without Tura, you failed. That's all I'm saying.
I miss Tura. I hope she's spinning her tassels and high-kicking somewhere heavenly until we meet again.
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