Review of Vixen! (1968) by Christopher R — 12 Sep 2007

Whilst 'Beyond The Valley of the Dolls' is an outrageous camp masterpiece, 'Vixen' is a big-breasted hydra - two parts sexploitation and one part political. Although Russ Meyer would argue that the sex is no less political than the discussions about race, Canadian-US relations, Vietnam, the failure of democracy, the lure and failure of Communism, and more.

For an 80 minute skin-o-rama this is curiously thoughtful, hilarious, and (sometimes) tender. But then again, this is Russ Meyer we're talking about. Rated X on release in '68, it is barely more graphic than some modern film clips, but even after 'Deep Throat' took XXX mainstream in 1972, Meyer refused to stoop to porn, and continued making his colourfully bonkers crowd-pleasers.

Backstage reports attest to the fact that Meyer never took advantage of his actresses, and punished those who wanted to. Of not even Bergman could that be said!