Review of Mudhoney! (1965) by Liam U — 03 Jun 2011

Between 'Lorna (Meyer, 1964)' and this offering, Russ Meyer directed one other film - 'Fanny Hill (Meyer, 1964)'. Currently unavailable on DVD, it has been reported that this is one of the few finished products that Meyer was unhappy with and sought to fight any further release. After the success of 'Lorna' Meyer was keen to capitalise on his target audience, and recast Lorna Maitland in another story about love, lust and violence. Once again religion seeps through the story, and by the time the closing credits roll it is apparent Meyer is trying adamantly to make a point. This is essentially a drama wrapped up in a sexploitation - the large breasts serving to distract only the most determined one-armed viewers from a considerably decent story.

'Mudhoney (Meyer, 1965)' is based upon a novel penned by Raymond Friday Locke titled "Streets Paved With Gold". Set in depression-era 1933 amidst the small gossiping town of Spooner, Missouri, where the prohibition is looked upon without much concern enters Calif McKinney (John Furlong). He's on his way to California, but is in need of cash. Luckily for Calif, Lute Wade (a fantastic Stuart Lancaster) is in search of a farm hand, and it just so happens Lute's daughter, Hannah (Antoinette Cristiani) is a striking blonde bomb-shell. There's just one small problem.

She's married to Sidney Brenshaw (Hal Hopper, once again playing an utterly detestable villain), and he's just counting down the days until Lute's bum ticker gives up the game and he can sell the farm for a large amount of money. The main focus of the story centres around these four characters, and unlike the wife in 'Lorna', Hannah takes her marital vows rather seriously, despite the fact her husband is abusive.

Yet there's a storm brewing in Spooner, for the folk of this small town are prone to talk and are easily swayed by the ramblings of Brother Hansen (Frank Bolger). To exacerbate an already tense situation further, Sidney frequents a brothel run by the toothless hag Maggie Marie (Princess Livingston, previously spotted in 'Wild Gals of the Naked West (Meyer, 1962)' rather briefly) - a character that quickly turns from humorous to irksome. Her two daughters are the remarkably cute but deaf mute Eula (Rena Horten) and the top-heavy Clara Belle (Lorna Maitland) who appear at regular intervals to inject a little bit of spice into the proceedings.

Meyer's competent presence can be felt throughout this film, and it is clear that here is a director entering his stride. Misplaced comedy aside, this is an interesting story with a scathing attack on the Bible-wielding mindless masses - a message that may come as a surprise after 'Lorna'. Unfortunately the pacing slackens during the middle, and the nudity and sex offered feel a little shoehorned in to appeal to Meyer's regular audience.

But Meyer manages to reign it all together during the last moments, as events build to a thrilling climax. While the acting isn't great from the female cast members (and, let's be honest, it's not for their acting skills they were hired) the men of the film manage to root the story with a humanity that doesn't feel out of place. Thankfully, the characters are a little more complex than those found in 'Lorna', which allows some interesting issues to arise.

Despite this, 'Mudhoney' is distinctly lacking in something 'Lorna' had in abundance - clarity. The story makes some puzzling departures, and could easily have been trimmed in several places. While it is in no way as dire as 'Eve and the Handyman (Meyer, 1961)', Meyer himself considers the film as something of a failure due to a poor turnout. But he wasn't quite ready to abandon his roughies just yet.