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| Special Features: |
Interactive menu.
Scene selection.
Bios.
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| Video Format: |
Full Frame (1.33:1)
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| Languages: |
English (Dolby Digital) Mono
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| Captions: |
None.
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| Casing: |
1-Disc Keep Case
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Sam Fuller was a gutsy filmmaker. Best known for his autobiographical war film "The Big Red 1," Fuller took on
taboo subjects at a time when the old production code was in its death throws. Filmed in 1964, "The Naked Kiss"
deals with such taboo subjects as prostitution, police corruption, child molestation and murder in a frank and
serious manner.
Kelly (Constance Towers) is a prostitute on the run. The film opens as she beats what appears to be a drunken
john into unconsciousness. The john grabs her by the hair pulling off a wig and revealing her bald head. Kelly
takes the money that is coming to her and runs. Jump forward 3 years. Kelly, now a blonde gets off a bus in a
small town.
Griff (Anthony Eisley) the local police chief sees her get off the bus. He follows her and quickly determines
that she is a hooker. He also quickly takes her to his apartment to sample her wares. He then informs her that
he runs a clean town and she will have to leave. He tells her about the wide open town just across the river.
There is a whorehouse there called Candy's. Kelly can hire on immediately.
The next morning, Kelly has an epiphany after looking in the mirror. She decides to go straight. The years have
taken their toll on her soul and she is now starting to show her age. Kelly is hired as a nurses aid at a hospital
for crippled children. She is introduced to the hosptal's patron saint Grant (Michael Dante). Grant falls for Kelly.
Will their love survive the revelation she must make to him? Will Griff give Kelly a moments peace? To the answer
to these and many other plot points that I haven't touched on for the viewer's sake, get "The Naked Kiss."
Director Fuller's story is one of the most interesting in Hollywood. The maverick director dealt with his
subjects in a striaghtforward and serious manner. Despite the sordid subject matter, "The Naked Kiss" is
not an exploitation film. It is a serious adult drama that was way ahead of its time. There is one
exploitation connection though. Look quick for the raven haired beauty, Eddy Williams (Mrs. Russ Meyer) as one
of Candy's Bon Bon girls.
The acting is good for the most part. At the beginning, Ms. Towers has several awkward scenes during her
"see the light" period. However, she improves as the movie gets deeper into it's more difficult subject matter.
Fans of Fuller will enjoy this minor classic. While it does not rise to the level of "Shock Corridor"
of "The Big Red 1" it is very good.
Not much in the extra department. There is a rather lengthy biography of Director Fuller.
Picture Quality: 7/10
The picture quality ranges from very good to poor at times. I don't know what was used to make this compression,
but there is a varience between certain scenes. The film is in black and white.
Sound Quality: 8/10
No hisses or cracks that you sometimes hear on older soundtracks. Not bad sound.
Menu: 7/10
Simple, easy to navigate. Nice use of the "film noir" music.
Extra Features: 4/10
Not much there. There is a good bio section on Sam Fuller.
The Final Word:
Get this for the film. I hope that VCI will bring other Sam Fuller films to us on DVD. The price is right. Now
if VCI could only find and restore Fuller's "The Big Red 1" to its 4 hour director's cut! I movie fan can wish
can't they?
Rusty White
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American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina’s destruction, supplying hundreds of
thousands victims left homeless with critical necessities. By making a financial gift to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red
Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.
