For young people today it’s hard to believe that there was a
time when certain movies were made that weren’t headed for regular theatrical
release so much as for drive-ins that were scattered around the country. While some
still remain (and should be treasured) there are few drive-ins these days,
enough so that some have no idea what a drive-in was. And yet there was a time
when stars were made roughing through the trenches of low budget films only to
become big later in life. Such was the case with Pam Grier who found bigger
roles later in life after having paid her dues in Blaxploitation films like
this one.
The story is simple: in some small spot in the Philippines
two very different women are sent to a women’s prison, one a seemingly upright
revolutionary determined to help the people and another a would be harem girl
on the outs with her “boss”. Neither one takes a liking to the other and are
more likely to kill each other than those around them. Never the less, the pair
find themselves having to work together when they are handcuffed to one another
during a transport and escape still chained together.
While Karen (Margaret Markov) wants to rejoin her fellow
revolutionaries with information they can use all Lee (Grier) wants to do is
get as far away as possible along with the money she stole from her gangster
lover. Their trek across county in search of assistance and an escape makes up
the majority of this movie. Along the way we get to learn about the ruler of the
island, connections to dirty cops and bounty hunters (including the great Sid
Haig) who want nothing more than to take on the job of finding these two women.
Will they escape? Watch and see.
The movie contains everything that was essential to drive-in
movies, especially exploitation films, at the time. If you have a women in
prison film expect to see gratuitous nudity and at least once a shower scene
that allows women to be displayed. Cat-fighting in these films is a must and
can be checked off the list for this film. A lesbian guard is almost always in
attendance, another check off the list here. And corrupt officials are always
to be found, one more check on the list completed.
What makes this film work is first off the plot device of
two women, one black and one white, chained together who must work together to
get where each one wants. The easiest comparison for this is the film THE
DEFIANT ONES where Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier found themselves in the same
situation. While not a rip-off of that film it does use the same device. The
other thing that makes it work is the acting ability of all involved. The three
main leads, Grier, Markov and Haig, made a living in many low budget flicks in
their time. What many may not recall is just how good they were in those films.
There are many low budget films with some of the worst acting in them. This
isn’t one of them.
As with most Arrow Film releases (which I always praise)
this one is no exception to the rule. They have once again outdone themselves
for fans of the film and the genre. The transfer of the film has never looked
better. That’s always a plus when it comes to films that have more or less been
tossed aside and not given their due. Arrow always makes each release look as
close to a new film as possible with the best transfers around.
As for extras they have done more than many as well in that
department. Not only do you get the best looking print of this film to be found
as well as one that has had the sound retooled, you get a commentary track with
filmmaker Andrew Leavold, and interview with Margaret Markov, and interview
with Sid Haig, an archive interview with director Eddie Romero and the trailer
for the film. All at a reasonable price. Not only that but the first pressing
also includes a booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by Temple of
Schlock s Chris Poggiali and extracts from the original press book, illustrated
with archive stills and posters. Wow!
Fans of the movie, fans of Pam Grier and Sid Haig and fans
of the drive-in will delight in the release of this film. For me it just showed
once again how great a job Arrow Film continues doing and makes me anxious to
see each month just what they have to offer.
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