Big Bosoms and Square Jaws: Russ Meyer, King of the Sex Film

by Jimmy McDonough

  Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970), aka La Vallée des plaisirs (France), aka Hollywood Vixens (France), aka Orgissimo (France), aka La Vallée des débauches (Belgium), aka Blumen Ohne Duft (Germany), aka Lungo la valle delle bambole (Italy). A Twentieth Century Fox release. Producer, director, screenwriter, editor (uncredited): Russ Meyer. Assistant producers: Red Hershon, Eve Meyer. Assistant directors: David Hall, C. E. Dismukes. Screenwriter: Roger Ebert. Uncredited additional script work: Manny Diez. Director of photography: Fred J. Koenekamp. Editors: Dann Cahn, Dick Wormel. Sound: Richard Overton, Don Minkler. Music: Stu Phillips, Igor Kantor, William Loose. Songs performed by Lynn Carey, the Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Sandpipers. Art directors: Jack Martin Smith, Arthur Lonergan. Set directors: Walter M. Scott, Stuart A. Reiss. Cast: Dolly Read, Cynthia Meyers, Marcia McBroom, John LaZar, Michael Blodgett, David Gurian, Edy Williams, Erica Gavin, Phyllis Davis, Harrison Page, Duncan McLeod, Lavelle Roby, Jim Iglehart, Charles Napier, Henry Rowland, Haji, Pam Grier, Garth Pillsbury, Princess Livingston, Veronica Erickson, Stan Ross, Angel Ray, Karen Smith, Sebastian Brock, Bruce V. McBroom, Ian Sander, Koko Tani, Samantha Scott, Tea Crawford, Heath Jobes, John Logan, Susan Reed, Robin Bach, Ceil Cabot, Mary Carroll, Joseph Cellini, Jackie Cole, Cissy Colpitts, Frank Corsentino, Mibb Curry, Coleman Francis, Charles Fox, T. J. Halligan, Rick Holmes, Marshall Kent, Michael Kriss, Tim Laurie, Bebe Louie, Lillian Martin, Ashley Phillips, “Big Jack” Provan, Joyce Rees, Chris Riordian, Bert Santos, George Stratton. Color, 109 min. Rated X. Currently unavailable on DVD in the United States. Released in pan and scan versions by Magnetic Video in 1980 and Fox in 1993. A special edition for which Roger Ebert has already recorded a commentary is said to be imminent, as of 2005. Available in several other countries on DVD.

  The Seven Minutes (1971), aka 7 minuti che contano (Italy), Los siete minutos (Mexico). A Twentieth Century Fox release. Producer, director: Russ Meyer. Associate producers: Red Hershon, Eve Meyer. Assistant director: David Hall. Screenwriter: Richard Warren Lewis. Based upon the Irving Wallace novel. Director of photography: Fred “Fritz” Mandl. Camera operator: Orville Hallburg. Editor: Dick Wormel. Sound: Don J. Bassman, Theodore Soderberg. Music: Stu Phillips. Songs by B. B. King, Don Reed, Merryweather and Carey. Art director: Rodger Maus. Set Directors: Walter M. Scott, Raphael Bretton. Cast: Wayne Maunder, Marianne McAndrew, Philip Carey, Jay C. Flippen, Edy Williams, Lyle Bettger, Jackie Gayle, Ron Randell, Charles Drake, John Carradine, Harold J. Stone, John Sarno, Billy Durkin, Robert Moloney, Berry Kroeger, Olan Soule, Stanley Adams, Tom Selleck, Alex D’Arcy, David Brian, Yvonne De Carlo, James Iglehart, Stanley Adams, Yvonne D’Angers, Jan Shutan, Berry Kroeger, Ralph Story, Charles Napier, Kay Peters, Richard Angarola, Shawn “Baby Doll” Devereaux, Regis J. Cordic, John Lawrence, Mora Gray, Stu Lancaster, Henry Rowland, Barry Coe, Calvin Bartlett, Wolfman Jack, Ken Jones, Bill Baldwin, Vince Williams, Robin Hughes, Jim Bacon, John Gruber, Chris Marks, Peter Shrayder, Lynn Hamilton, Patrick Wright, Lillian Lehman, Judy Baldwin, Paul Stader, George De Normand, Jeffrey Sayre, Barry Coe, Russ Meyer. Color, 115 min. Rated R. Out of circulation since theatrical release. Has been broadcast on TV in both uncut and cut versions: fairly easy to find via the Internet.

  Blacksnake (1973), aka Dutchess of Doom, aka Sweet Suzy, aka Slaves (UK), aka Le Serpent noir (France), aka Carne cruda (Italy), La serpiente negre (Mexico). Presented by Trident Films. Producer, director, screenplay, second unit cinematography: Russ Meyer. Associate producer: Anthony James Ryan. Screenplay: Len Neubauer. Original story: Russ Meyer, Anthony James Ryan, based upon a script by Manny Diez, The White Witch of Rose Hall (uncredited). Director of photography: Arthur Ornitz. Production manager: Fred Owens. Editor: Fred Baratta, A.C.E. Art direction: Rick Heatherly. Sound: Richard Serly Brummer. Music: William Loose. Cast: Anouska Hempel, David Warbeck, Percy Herbert, Milton McCollin, Thomas Baptiste, Bernard Boston, Vikki Richards, Dave Prowse, Bob Minor, Bloke Modisane, Anthony Sharpe, Robert Lee, Carl Corbin, Eggie Clark, Sydney A. Harris, Donna Young, Lawanda Moore, Wendell Williams, Bruce Richard, Don Dandridge. Color, 85 min. Rated R. Available on VHS from RM Films.

  Supervixens (1975), aka Russ Meyer’s Supervixens, aka Vixens (Canada), aka Les Superbes renardes (Canada), aka Supervixens Eruption (Germany). A September 19 Production presented by RM Films International Inc. Producer, director, screenplay, cinematography, editor: Russ Meyer. Uncredited work on script: Jim Ryan, Roger Ebert, Charles Napier. Associate producers: Wilfred Kues, Charles Napier, Fred Owens, James Parsons. Executive producer: Anthony James Ryan. Camera operator: Douglas Knapp. Assistant cameraman: Tom Neuwirth. Art director: Michael Levesque. Sound/sound editor: Richard Serly Brummer. Production manager: Fred Owens. Grip: Stanley Berkowitz. Assistant to the producer: Les Barnum. Makeup: Barbarello Catton, aka Haji. Music: Bill Loose. Song by Daniel Dean Darst. Cast: Shari Eubanks, Charles Napier, Uschi Digard, Charles Pitts, Henry Rowland, Christy Hartburg, Sharon Kelly, Deborah McGuire, Glenn Dixon, John LaZar, Stu Lancaster, Haji, “Big Jack” Provan, Garth Pillsbury, Ann Marie, Ron Sheridan, John Lawrence, Paul Fox, F. Rufus Owens, John Furlong, Russ Meyer. Color, 105 min. Rated X. Available on DVD/VHS from RM Films.

  Up! (1976). A RM Films International, Inc. Production. Producer, director, cinematographer, editor: Russ Meyer. Associate producers: Fred Owens, Uschi Digard, George K. Carll. Screenwriters: B. Callum (aka Russ Meyer), Reinhold Timme (aka Roger Ebert, Kitten’s narration only). Original story by Russ Meyer, Jim Ryan, Reinhold Timme. Camera operators: Pat Lennef, E. E. Meyer (aka Russ Meyer), Tom Hammel. Second unit cameraman: Master Sergeant (aka Fred “Fritz” Mandl). Art direction: Michele Levesque. Sound: Dan Holland, Richard Anderson, Fred Owens. Music: Bill Loose, Paul Ruhland. Ichthyologist: Charles E. Sumners. Costumes: Maureen of Hollywood. Cast: Raven De La Croix, Robert McLane, Edward Schaaf, Mary Gavin (aka Candy Samples), Elaine Collins, Su Ling, Janet Wood, Linda Sue Ragsdale, Harry, Monte Bane, Larry Dean, Marianne Marks, Bob Schott, Foxy Lae, Fred Owens, Wilburn Kluck, Ray Reinhardt, Francesca “Kitten” Natividad, Russ Meyer. Color, 80 min. Rated X. Available on DVD/VHS from RM Films.

  Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens (1979), aka Russ Meyer’s Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens, aka Imtienfen tal ser Superhexen (Germany). A RM Films International Inc. release. Producer, director, cinematography, editor: Russ Meyer. Associate producers: Fred Owens, Richard Serly Brummer, Uschi Digard (uncredited). Screenplay: R. Hyde (aka Roger Ebert), B. Callum (aka Russ Meyer). Original story: Russ Meyer. Art director: Michele Levesque. Sound: Fred Owens. Assistant to the producer: Les Barnum. Crew: Uschi Digard, Don Ouellete, Bruce Pastarnack, Mitch Browne, Frank Scarpitto. Music: William Tasker. Sound editor: Richard Serly Brummer. Cast: Francesca “Kitten” Natividad, Anne Marie, Ken Kerr, June Mack, Pat Wright, Michael Finn (aka Mickey Foxx), Steve Tracy, Sharon Hill, Henry Rowland, Robert E. Pearson, De Forest Covan, Don Scarbrough, Aram Katcher, Uschi Digard, Candy Samples (aka Mary Gavin), Stuart Lancaster, Russ Meyer. Color, 93 min. Rated X. Available on DVD/VHS from RM Films.

  Pandora Peaks (2001). Producer, director, cinematography, screenplay, and editor: Russ Meyer. Associate producer and sound recorder: Anthony James Ryan. Cinematography: Joe Longo. Sound editing and final postproduction: Richard Brummer. Music: Ron Di Iulio. Wardrobe and makeup: Haji. Narration: Russ Meyer, Uschi Digard, others. Cast: Pandora Peaks, Tundi, Leosha, Candy Samples, Anthony James Ryan, Charles Sumners, Russ Meyer. Color, 72 min. Home video VHS release only. Incorporates some footage from the abandoned The Breast of Russ Meyer.

  Laser Discs

  All the following were released in the United States in the mid-nineties by Image Entertainment/RM Films.

  The Immoral Mr. Teas with Mondo Topless; Eve and the Handyman, Wild Gals of the Naked West! with Common Law Cabin; Lorna with Mudhoney; Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (with Meyer commentary) with Motorpsycho!; Cherry, Harry and Raquel and Up!; Blacksnake!; Vixen, Supervixens, and Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens (the last three with Meyer commentaries).

  A wide-screen Be
yond the Valley of the Dolls laser disc was released in the nineties.

  In 2003–04 an elaborate “Vixen Box” of eight Meyer DVDs saw release in Japan; the transfers are said to be of better quality, but still not from the negatives. Due to Japanese censorship, pubic hair is reportedly fogged out on these releases. A set of new Meyer DVDs were to be released in the UK by Arrow Films starting in March 2005. Sporting a raft of extras, these look to be the definitive Meyer DVD releases thus far, but while the transfers are supposed to be an improvement over U.S. DVD/VHS releases, information suggests they have not been struck from the original negatives.

  Music Videos

  “Don’t Change That Song.” Faster, Pussycat. 1987.

  “Soultwister!” Jean Park. Germany. 1991.

  Vinyl Soundtracks

  Vinyl 331⁄3 soundtracks for Vixen and Cherry, Harry and Raquel were released on Beverly Hills Records.

  Soundtracks for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (with Lynn Carey vocals replaced by Ami Rushes; see text) and The Seven Minutes were released by 20th Century Fox.

  Various promotional-only 45 rpm vinyl radio spots for Meyer’s films were recorded and turn up on eBay from time to time.

  CD Soundtracks

  Russ Meyer’s Mudhoney/Finders Keepers, Lovers Weepers/Motorpsycho. QDK Media CD 011. Germany (all of these German releases feature elaborate color gatefolds with booklets containing stills). 1995. Also released on vinyl.

  Russ Meyer’s Lorna/Vixen/Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! Qdk Media CD 008. Germany. 1995. Also released on vinyl.

  Russ Meyer’s Good Morning . . . and Goodbye!/Cherry, Harry and Raquel/Mondo Topless. QDK Media CD 014. Germany. 1995. Also released on vinyl.

  Russ Meyer’s Up!/Mega-Vixens (aka Supervixens)/Beneath the Valley of the Ultra Vixens. QDK Media CD 009. Germany. 1995. Also released on vinyl.

  Russ Meyer’s The Immoral Mr. Teas/Eve and the Handyman/Wild Gals of the Naked West! QDK Media CD 020. Germany. 1995. Also released on vinyl.

  Beyond the Valley of the Dolls original soundtrack (for the first time with Lynn Carey’s original vocals). UK. 2003. Harkit Records, HRKCD 8032. U.S. release, 2004, Soundtrack Classics.

  Vixen, Delta 12922. USA.

  Cherry, Harry and Raquel, Delta 12919. USA.

  Unfinished Productions

  Who Killed Bambi? (1977). Script by Meyer, Roger Ebert, Rene Daalder.

  The Breast of Russ Meyer

  Melissa Mounds 1990s “documentary” said to be completely finished except for the Melissa Mounds narration.

  Mondo Topless, Too 1980s/1990s “documentary” starring Eva “Tundi” Horvath, Tami Roche, Shawn “Baby Doll” Devereaux, and Kristine Mills.

  Unproduced Scripts

  The Eleven (circa 1971). Script by Manny Diez, Jim Ryan.

  Foxy aka Viva Foxy! (1972–73). Script by Roger Ebert.

  Beyond Beyond (1972)

  Up the Valley of the Beyond (1990). Proposed “sequels” (co-written by Roger Ebert) to Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. May be two different names for the same script.

  Choice Cuts (circa 1971–72). Script by (playwright) Jim Ryan.

  The Final Steal (circa 1971). Script by Manny Diez.

  Blitzen, Vixen and Harry (1982)

  Kill! Kill! Pussycat, Faster! (1990s)

  The Jaws of Vixen aka The Jaws of Lorna

  The Bra of God (1990s). Script by John McCormick.

  In 1974, Rene Daalder and the architect Rem Koolhaas wrote a script for RM entitled Hollywood Tower.

  Documentaries

  “Russ Meyer.” Incredibly Strange Picture Show, season 1, episode 5, 1988. 40 minutes. Hosted by Jonathan Ross.

  “Russ Meyer.” E! True Hollywood Story, 1999. Ethan Prochnik, David Schiff, producers. Ashley Adams, segment producer.

  “Big Bosoms and Square Jaws.” Canada.

  “Russ Meyer, King of Sexploitation.” 2004 (UK). Jon-Barrie Waddell, director.

  Significant Meyer Appearances

  Amazon Women on the Moon. 1987 anthology comedy. John Landis directed the segment during which RM appears briefly.

  At Risk: Combat Camera. Robert Kirk, director. Produced by Greystone Communications, Inc. 1991.

  Shooting War. Richard Corliss, producer/director. Doug Freeman, co-producer. Steven Spielberg, executive producer. Tom Hanks, host and narrator. 2000.

  Playboy’s Voluptuous Vixens, Playboy Home Video, PBV 0820, 1997.

  Playboy’s Voluptuous Vixens II, Playboy Home Video, PBV 0820, 1997.

  RM contributed still shots to The James Dean Story, a 1957 documentary co-directed by Robert Altman.

  For the record: All titles with exclamation marks appear above the way they are shown in the actual title sequence in the film itself (in the case of the long-unseen Erotica, Europe in the Raw!, and Heavenly Bodies, I went by pressbook material). Curiously, while the title sequences for both Vixen! and Cherry, Harry and Raquel! sport exclamation points, the ad campaigns don’t, and with Blacksnake it’s the opposite case. In Meyer’s filmography for A Clean Breast, he lists the following titles with exclamation points, although some of these films carried no such punctuation in either the movie itself or the ad campaigns: Wild Gals of the Naked West!; Heavenly Bodies!; Motorpsycho!; Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!; Good Morning . . . and Goodbye!; Finders Keepers, Lovers Weepers!; Blacksnake!; and Up! Other than Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and Up!, which seems to demand an exclamation mark, I have avoided the exclamation mark brouhaha in the text of the book.

  Acknowledgments

  First things first: Had it not been for an extremely fortuitous, spur-of-the-moment call to author David K. Frasier a few years back, this book might never have been attempted. Mr. Frasier not only encouraged me to go forward with the project, he opened his archives, shared unpublished interviews, and donated his formidable research expertise as well. I highly recommend all his books. During the recent John Waters picture, A Dirty Shame, no less than David Hasselhoff can been seen perusing the pages of Frasier’s most recent masterwork, Suicide in the Entertainment Industry.

  Gordon Lish to my Raymond Carver (apologies to RC), Charlie Beesley once again had a hand in many drafts of the manuscript. Hopefully the final results don’t smell too bad, Charlie.

  Having David McCormick as a literary agent is like having Cus D’Amato in your corner of the ring. You’re ready to start punching, even if it’s only on a keyboard. The guy is incredible. Thanks also to Leslie Falk, who expedited every detail.

  An ace editor, Carrie Thornton, challenged me to do better at every turn. What a dame. She did a tremendous job on this book. I expect to make a return visit to the Island of Dr. Moreau, Thornton. Thanks also to Doug Pepper, my original editor at Crown and the source of a great deal of enthusiasm. And one must not forget Orly “The Unicorn” Treiber.

  Amelia Zalcman entered the picture at the last minute, aiding me in making Big Bosoms a much more complete work. Glad we’re on the same side of the chessboard, Amelia. Thanks to Mark McCauslin for his eagle-eye diligence.

  Thanks to Carol O’ Connor for the legal research. Many others offered research assistance, among them Eric Caidin, Mike Trombetta, Mike Mariano, Jeffrey South, Dean Harris, Nathaniel Thompson, David Kalat, Robert Bentley, Ann Sumners, Mike Carroll, Patrick McGilligan, and Marty Supervixens Traynor. Thanks to J. Scott Wynn for the great photograph. For helping with interviews, thanks to Souixzan Perry, Teri Thomerson, and Kristen Fischer. Last-minute legal research: Jeffrey C. Graf and Sarah Heldman. German translations: Bettina Briggs. Always a partner in crime, Johnny Legend has a very funny story concerning himself, Leslie Nielsen, and Russ Meyer. Ask him to tell it. The Great Rudolph Grey did much to assist this project. My eternal gratitude to Leo Trombetta, who not only put me at his house on research trips and bailed me out upon occasion, but provided me with a gangbusters ending as well.

  Thanks to John Waters, a swell guy. Dolores Fox did everything she could to assist me in my journey. Roger Ebert was a very good sport. Jim Ryan and T
om McGowan were always ready to help. Both “Colonel” Rob and Chris Schaffner were invaluable resources, and a lot of laughs. Thanks to all the rest of the interviewees who are listed in the Source Notes. As always, a tip of the Jimmy top hat to Lux Interior and Ivy Rorschach.

  One cannot write about the women of Russ Meyer without acknowledging the work of author Steve Sullivan. He interviewed many of them in-depth for the first time, creating a body of impeccable research to draw upon. So many writers covered the Meyer beat, and this book has benefited greatly from their legwork: Kenneth Turan, Stephen Zito, Arv Miller, Paul Sherman, Burton H. Wolfe, Dan Scapperotti, Dale Ashmun, Kent Beyda, Tony Crawley, Stan Berkowitz, David Lees, Jonathan Ross, Ethan Prochnik, David Schiff, Ellen Goosenberg, Tony Rayns, Richard Corliss, Harvey Fenton, R. Allen Leider, Roger Turrell, Sergei Hasenecz, Charles Schneider, Kris Gilpin, John Donnelly, Phyliss Braden-Lowe, Nathan Rabin, Gene Ross, Jim Morton, Lewis Black, Kristi Turnquist, Nathaniel Thompson, and hundreds of others I’ve left out. Special thanks to John McCormick for his two excellent Meyer pieces.

  Thanks as well to Brian O’Hara, Eliza Paley, Bruce Kitzmeyer, Neva Friedenn, Craig Leibner, Kim Morgan, Brooke Viviano, Richard Meltzer, Isaako Si’uleo, Poncho Sampedro, Liz Main, Sarah Heldman, Bill Bentley, and Eliza Wimberly, wherever you are. Bulletin to Graeme Bowen: Mr. Depp is awaiting your book, G.B. Special thanks to John McDonough, George Hedges, and the future king of the honky-tonks, John Kopf. Inspiration: the fabulous Demolition Doll Rods—Danny, Margaret, and Christine, aka Thumper. Too bad Meyer never saw these three in action—he might’ve stuck ’em in a movie or two.

  Hair by Jerry Ripley, Portland Tonsorial Parlor.

  A very special thank you to Lucy Fur, Anna Hinterkopf, Kat Heldman, Jessica Wainman, Mara Stevenson, Sarah Heldman, Jessica Winn, and Andrea Viviano. They know why.