RUBY: OVERLOOKED AND UNDERAPPRECIATED HORROR FILM

I first saw RUBY back in 1977 when it was first released. The movie played at the drive-in as the first of two features, the second of which I can no longer recall. But this movie left an impression on me. Perhaps it was due to the fact that it took place in a drive-in for most of the film’s 85 minute length. The drive-in at that time was my lifeline to movies, a new double feature playing twice a week all summer long. I saw more movies that way than at any other time until I began working as a theater manager for 5 years.

The movie opens in 1935 as Ruby Claire (Piper Laurie) and her lover Nicky Rocco are out for a moonlight spin in his car, stopping near the docks at the nearby swamp. Ruby is obviously pregnant at this time and as the two prepare to go for out in a rowboat another car pulls up. Out step the members of the gang Nicky is a part of who then open fire and kill Nicky. Swearing on his dying breath that he will have his revenge, Ruby goes into labor there on the dock.

Fast forward to 1951. The land that was once owned by gangster Jake Miller (who was in charge of the gang that shot Nicky) is not controlled by Ruby. She’s taken the land and turned it into a drive-in, employing the old gang members to do the day to day operations. Heading them up is Vince (Stuart Whitman), selling tickets and overseeing the rest who run the concessions and projector. Living in the big house on the hill that overlooks the drive-in along with Ruby is Jake, now muter and confined to a wheelchair, Vince and her daughter Leslie (Janit Baldwin).

As Leslie’s 16^th birthday draws near strange things begin to happen at the drive-in. As ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN shines on the screen each of the old gang members are being killed off in the most ingenious ways tying into the whole drive-in concept. Concerned about what is going on Vince has contacted the prison psychologist who helped him, Dr. Paul Keller (Roger Davis). Keller was interested in studying the paranormal on the side and Vince is certain something is afoot here.

As the film progresses Ruby continues to reminisce about the old days, walk around drinking more than she should and dreaming of Nicky. What she doesn’t know it that Nicky is about to make his return. He possesses the body of his daughter, talking through her to let them know he’s here to collect his revenge. And it won’t be pretty.

The movie works on so many levels even though the budget constraints on this film are well known. Director Curtis Harrington (who also directed NIGHT TIDE, QUEEN OF BLOOD, WHOEVER SLEW AUNTIE ROO? and WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH AUNTY HELEN?) displays the skill he had at creating an effective atmosphere with what little he had. There are plot holes to be found and the pickier of people writing about the film seem to bask in their glory noting those whole. But that short changes what Harrington was able to accomplish with what he had to work with here.

The same can be said for the main actors on display: Laurie, Whitman and Davis. Laurie had just come off the hit CARRIE showing she had a knack for horror. 45 years old at the time the film was made (which is certain to be considered old in Hollywood years) she looks lovelier than ever here, still an attractive woman and that’s what the role needs. The character of Ruby is one that all the men around her adore and desire while having no chance to find those needs satisfied. Whitman was always willing, ready and able to provide a solid performance no matter what he was in. An unappreciated actor you have to remember he had starred against giant rabbits 5 years prior in NIGHT OF THE LEPUS. And Davis was the heartthrob tragic werewolf that teens lusted over for years on TV’s DARK SHADOWS, later moving into ALIAS SMITH AND JONES after the tragic suicide of actor Pete Duel. He never gave a bad performance that I’ve ever seen and does a solid job here as well.

The thing about this movie that makes it work so well is the combination of setting and atmosphere heaped on in heavy doses by Harrington. Intended from the start to be a drive-in feature it benefits from the fact that much of the film takes place in a drive-in. Side stories take place there, mostly around a young woman who teases her various dates and who Whitman notes to tonight’s choice that he’s seen her there every night for the past week with someone new. The killings of at least two of the old mob are both eerie with the second having a hilarious joke tossed into the mix.

The low lying swamp that permeates the air with a mist from the start of the film until the very end also plays an integral part to the story. The fog that just seems to touch the ground, hovering but never rising too high gives it that nice, creepy touch. The house with its old dance hall that Ruby used to sing in is a nice bit to have on hand and combines the memories of Ruby with the run down appearance of her world now. It only increases her longing for days gone by.

The movie rarely played on TV and was actually chopped up when it did. Harrington was not a fan of what the owners of the film did to his final work and says so in one of the extras here. While the film has been available on DVD in the past this is the first time it’s been released on blu-ray. What we have here is supposed to be the definitive theatrical edition of the film or as close to it as we will ever see. The print is a 2k transfer with restoration that provides this version with the cleanest look since it was originally released. Included in the extras are a 2001 interview with Harrington by David Del Valle, a commentary track with Harrington and Laurie, 2 episodes of SINISTER IMAGE featuring host David Del Valle with Harrington, a commentary track with Del Valle and Harrington expert Nathaniel Bell, liner notes written by Bell, the original theatrical trailer which has been restored and as a bonus the DVD copy of the film.

As I’ve said before this was a movie that I found to be one of my favorites from the time when it was released. It remains a favorite of mine and one that I’ve watched on several occasions having bought the original DVD release several years ago. I can say that this edition on blu-ray exceeds that original copy and has provided fans with something to enjoy as much as they did when it was originally released. With the memories it brings back I can’t wait to open the window this summer, listen to the crickets chirping outside, make a nice size bowl of popcorn, a tall soda nearby and my arm around my wife (then girlfriend) sitting beside me on the couch remembering those good old days at the drive-in. At least ours wasn’t haunted.

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