In Memoriam: Russ Meyer (1922-2004)

FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! (1965) Great title, so-so movie. Regardless, Meyer's hyper-kinetic tale of a trio voluptuous go-go dancers who embark on a rampage of murder and mayhem in the American southwest remains the stuff of legend. Name-dropped by cult film aficionados and Hollywood types alike (Directors John Waters and Quentin Tarantino both cite it as one of their faves.), Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! enjoyed an art-house resurgence during the 1990s and today holds the distinction of being Meyer's most recognized and lauded cinematic effort.

COMMON-LOG CABIN (1967) PG-rated softcore silliness pairing Swedish bombshell Babette Bardot and veteran Meyer screenwriter Jack Moran as proprietors of Hoopla Harry's, a "last resort" tiki bar nestled on the banks of the Colorado river. Irreverent, fun, but by today's standards, tamer than a game of Chutes & Ladders, Common-Log Cabin is far from Meyer's best work, but it easily leaves the bulk of his late-60s smut-peddling competitors in the dust.

BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1970) Meyer's big Hollywood debut (Film giant 20th Century Fox hired Meyer to direct this and 1971's seldom screened Seven Minutes before severing ties forever.) is best described as Josie and the Pussycats on acid. Co-penned by bloated movie-critic bigwig Roger Ebert -- back then he "liked boobs just as much as I did," Meyer's said -- Beyond the Valley of the Dolls follows the rise and fall of the midwestern all-girl rock group, The Kelly Affair, as they slowly succumb to the evils and debauchery of Los Angeles night life. Featuring abundant portions of drugs, sex, and oh-so-corny 70s dialogue ("You're a groovy boy; I'd like to strap you on sometime.") Meyer's notorious rock-n-roll nightmare is a 'got-to-be-seen-to-be-believed' example of psychedelic excess. Wild, weird, and unforgettable (though hardly a great movie), Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is quintessential Russ Meyer, showcasing the best the director had to offer along with his very worst. Ultimately, the King wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

### END ###

Are you a fan of cult cinema? Then grab yourself a copy of our new E-Book: "Stranger Than Fiction: The 99 Cent Video Review Guide to The Most Bizarre and Intriguing Documentary Films Ever Made," available now from Suite101.com. Copies are available for download at: http://www.suite101.com/topic_page.cfm/4...

Go To Page: 1 2