A "Jean Genet" is credited as co-writer. Make of that what you will...
Joins Mandingo, Drum, Farewell, Uncle Tom, Man Friday and of course - Fight For Your Life in the genre that must remain unnamed.
Poor Pretty Eddie is a bizarre concoction, the sort of movie that they just don't make anymore, and certainly not in the way in which this politically incorrect creation from 1974 was made. Released on DVD in 2006 with a fairly lousy and dark transfer, the film has been issued in a Blu-ray and DVD combo pack by the folks at HD Cinema Classics. Remastered in high definition by Film Chest, Inc. from a 35mm theatrical print, Poor Pretty Eddie concerns an African-American singer, Liz Weatherly (Leslie Uggams), who ends up stranded in the woods after her car breaks down and encounters a bizarre group of characters. Due to the presence of the newly-built interstate (have you ever noticed how all of these characters’ ills are attributed to government highways?), the remote southern town that she stumbles across is on its last legs. It would be impossible to discuss this film without making a mention of John Boorman’s Deliverance made two years prior to it, and all of the backwoods redneck jokes that probably popped into the audiences’ minds while viewing the film.
Weatherly takes a room at an inn that is home to a group of show business wannabes, most notably Bertha (the always reliable nutcase Shelley Winters, fresh from her turns as Mrs. Armstrong, Auntie Roo and Helen Hill), Bertha’s lover Eddie (Michael Christian) who has patterned himself after Elvis and sees Bertha as his ticket to fame, Keno (Ted Cassidy aka Lurch) the handyman, and Sheriff Orville (Slim Pickens). Dub Taylor even shows up! The Charlie Williams Pinecrest Lodge in Athens, GA doubles as the inn - where 90% of the action was filmed. The film appears to have a look and feel that seems to almost be drug-induced, with a strange array of characters and big colors as part of the set design. It is an unpredictable hodgepodge of weirdness and must be seen to be believed.
Cinematographer David Worth provides a very interesting and entertaining commentary along with cult film historian Joe Rubin. Mr. Worth’s loquacity is matched only by his erudition of the film business, and for a film made nearly 40 years ago he speaks with tremendous flair and great recollection, despite his claims to the contrary. In the early 1970s, aspiring editors and directors generally cut their teeth in what was then known as the porn industry (now called the “adult film industry” – it has become more respectable I suppose!). They rarely had their names appear in the credits of such fair. Poor Pretty Eddie was no stranger to controversy, as it contains a rape scene involving Eddie and Liz; the scene juxtaposes images of dogs mating in slow motion. Make of THAT what you will!
The transfer is in high definition, although the print is not completely free of lines and scratches, particularly just after the head of the reel changes. This is a minor complaint, however. The audio is especially good - no English subtitles, however.
In addition to the feature audio commentary, the package contains the following extras:
- Theatrical Trailer
- Production Stills
- A historical essay
- A neat postcard featuring the original poster art
- A restoration demonstration
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On paper it sounds like a dream: Ted Cassidy (Lurch from "The Addams Family"), Shelley Winters and Leslie Uggams in a tale of backwoods rape and depravity, but somehow it doesn't live up to its potential. Winters gets off a few great one-liners ("I don't care if she farts Chanel No. 5", "Eddie knows alot about poontang but don't know nothing about women") and calls Uggams a "vicious black little b**ch", and Eddie (Michael Christian) looks great in a wifebeater, but somehow it just isn't enough to save the movie. Uggams has such a chip on her shoulder from the beginning, we don't really sympathize with her. **NOTE** See the screen grabs I posted in the Images section of this product.
The screenplay was written by B.W. Sandefur, who must have loved writing these backwoods stories; he's the guy responsible for the worst episode of "Charlie's Angels"--the dreadful "Moonshinin' Angels" from the show's final season.
Okay to see once; but IMO it doesn't have much replay value.
Three Stars.
Prime Video
Poor Pretty Eddie
A jazz singer's car breaks down near an isolated lodge run by a faded starlet and a homicidal Elvis impersonator.
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- The Film Detective
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KaseyG
Not as Good as It Sounds
Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2012Verified Purchase
Not as Good as It Sounds
Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2012
As a '70s exploitation flick, this is just ok--I've seen much better and I've seen worse. Noted singer (Leslie Uggams) becomes stranded in hicksville after a gig and becomes the object of desire for the slightly off-balance wanna-be entertainer of the film's title. Problem is, Eddie is the "kept man" of Big Bertha (Shelley Winters) and she ain't about to give up her prize stud!Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2012
On paper it sounds like a dream: Ted Cassidy (Lurch from "The Addams Family"), Shelley Winters and Leslie Uggams in a tale of backwoods rape and depravity, but somehow it doesn't live up to its potential. Winters gets off a few great one-liners ("I don't care if she farts Chanel No. 5", "Eddie knows alot about poontang but don't know nothing about women") and calls Uggams a "vicious black little b**ch", and Eddie (Michael Christian) looks great in a wifebeater, but somehow it just isn't enough to save the movie. Uggams has such a chip on her shoulder from the beginning, we don't really sympathize with her. **NOTE** See the screen grabs I posted in the Images section of this product.
The screenplay was written by B.W. Sandefur, who must have loved writing these backwoods stories; he's the guy responsible for the worst episode of "Charlie's Angels"--the dreadful "Moonshinin' Angels" from the show's final season.
Okay to see once; but IMO it doesn't have much replay value.
Three Stars.
Images in this review
