Runtime: 75 minutes
Directed by: Doris Wishman
Starring: Chesty Morgan, Harry Reems, Richard Towers, Phillip Stahl and my new favorite stage name, SAUL METH
From: Juri Productions
A movie ONLY watched due to its director and it leaving the Criterion Channel at the end of the month... it was about time I discussed an early female director who while was almost always on the fringe directing sleazy genre entertainment outside “proper society”, Doris Wishman deserves credit for her time in the industry. She was the auteur of at least 30 feature films, no matter their quality or that many were sexploitation fair like this was. Writing and editing were among the other roles she had in creating what I understand were unique creations. In 2021 the Criterion Channel added some of her work to its lineup; it's finally leaving that platform at the end of March so I went with one that had an absurd premise.
Like its ostensible sequel Double Agent 73, star Chesty Morgan is the draw. Of course that's a stage name, and Chesty is the most apt name. You see, it was at least claimed that her measurements were 73-32-36! I can only say that they were enormous... she apparently was a burlesque dancer, although you see some of that in this film and well.--“barely move around on stage then taking off her top” was apparently her act. Then again, I don't even know how she could move around-but enough puerile comments.
The plot is that her beau engaged in some nefarious activities, two hitmen executed him while he was on the phone-so she heard the details of their identity, then she went off to kill them by... smothering them with her breasts after she surreptitiously drugged them! To the movie's credit, those that get their jollies from someone shaped like Chesty Morgan will be satisfied as she appears topless often and there is no shortage of gratuitous moments. It's all an odd experience which is helped by several elements, including stock music that was rather groovy or rockin' most of the time.
The acting is about as amateurish as expected, although nothing was bad enough to be repellent-although the obvious dubbing does take some getting used to. Naturally, Wishman had some acting regulars, one of whom was also in the makeup department—what a stage name he had: SAUL METH. I'll never not chortle at that. As for the director trademarks I've heard about, there was some interesting editing and shot selection-I've heard that focus on random items during dialogue scenes was a thing, and that is true—expect many shots of ashtrays & random body parts.. There also was some amazingly garish 70's décor and clothing; then again, the most garish sight was Chesty's beau in just his white briefs. That is because he's a pudgy middle-aged hairy guy!
While I didn't love this movie, there is no regret in finally discussing a unique director who learned everything on the fly. Because of her iconoclastic style, she is someone that is enough of a cult hero who has had a decent amount of her work preserved by the AGFA and Something Weird Video. Given the high-quality restoration work done on this print, I can only presume the rest was as well taken of given the elements available. In the future more Wishman will be experienced.
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