I feel truly robbed of a weekend, this past one being spent nursing a horrific cold. Of course it wasn't entirely a bad thing that I barely set foot outdoors. It gave me time to catch up on my sneezing, sleeping, coughing and nose-blowing. The muscles along my ribcage on the left side are sore from the constant hacking up of slimy yellow phlegm and I spent the first fifteen minutes of the morning today hunkered over the bathroom sink upchucking what I hope is the last of it.
During the time I was able to keep my eyes open I also managed to do a bit of reading (a slim but interesting volume on modern animation from the 1950s) and watch a video tape of '52 Pickup' which I purchased recently from the Salvation Army for a mere buck. If you're not familiar with the movie, it's based on the Dutch Leonard novel of the same name and involves a blackmail plot, sordid murder, rape, drugs, drinking, plenty of full-frontal nudity and a party scene peopled with a half-dozen or so pornographic actors from the era (1986), including the ubiquitous 'Hedgehog' himself, Ron Jeremy (listed in the credits as 'Ron Jeremy Hyatt').
The movie stars Ann-Margret, Roy Scheider and an assortment of interesting character actors, among them Doug McClure and Prince's one-time squeeze, Vanity. I originally decided to buy it based on the likelihood that I'd get a gander at Vanity's boobs, and without giving anything away plot-wise, I can confidently assure you that they are brilliantly displayed at some point and well worth waiting for. Featured as one of the bad guys is Clarence Williams III (Link from 'The Mod Squad'), who hums the first few bars of Benny Golson's 'Killer Joe' as he exits various crime scenes. He's twitchy, creepy and evil. In a good way. A very young Kelly Preston deliciously plays her part as victim in a chilling scene that recalls the horror of a 'snuff film'.The film score by Gary Chang is effectively jarring and a couple of recordings by jazz pianist George Russell, which Roy Scheider plays on the cassette deck (remember them?) in his vintage Porsche, are also nicely showcased. Ann-Margret is very good, the timing of the movie's release catching her just before she passed over the hill (her boobs, ass and legs are magnificent), and Scheider is a believable bastard as her cocky husband. John Frankenheimer directs in a gritty style, and lurid locations around the Los Angeles area add plenty of atmosphere. Many scenes are set in an adult theater where Vanity works as a peep show dancer and the manager is one of the bad guys. At one point you can hear the sound from a real porno movie inside the theater as Scheider confronts a bad guy in the projection room. But John Glover steals the show as the evil criminal mastermind who kills and rapes without remorse, all the while grinning and chewing gum.
I don't know how I missed this one when it was in theaters back in the day. It's a great popcorn flick. A B-Movie with brains and class. It truly made my Saturday night.
It's gray here today, rainy and warmer than last week. The yard is covered with yellow Maple leaves that curl and crunch as I walk over them. I'm waiting for the last of them to fall or be blown away before I even attempt to rake. I'm also waiting for this cold to leave my body entirely, which judging from the rattle in my throat when I breathe, may take a few more doses of expectorant and several more episodes of hunkering over the bathroom sink.
Very Truly Yours,
Marty Sherman
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