Cherry, Harry And Raquel / Common Law Cabin [DVD]

This is one of Russ Meyer's finer films, a late 60's collage of psychedelia, sex and violence occasionally overdubbed with psuedo-scholarly narration about class struggle(?) A bizarre and thoroughly entertaining mix. Charles Napier shines, as usual.

The DVD, on the other hand, is a bit of dissapointment. While it sports the "MINT QUALITY--From Original Negative" tag on the cover, don't be fooled..the picture (full frame) and sound (mono) are pretty much indistinguishable from the VHS edition of the same film. You get an animated menu, chapter stops, and a few trailers from other RM films, but that's about it.

If you already own the VHS, you may want to skip the DVD. Otherwise, go for it.

This Russ Meyer classic opens with a disclaimer heralding the importance of free speech- a movie that David Lame and cobbers will abhore. Which is GOOD for us "jackbooted liberals" "lacking in moralistic backbone". (YOU'RE reading this, so you must be. Right? ha ha ha)
As expected, Russ has filled every possible frame with shots of tight female buns and big bouncy jubblies. One wouldn't expect any less from the "titular" Grandmaster of sexploitation.
CHERRY, HARRY AND RAQUEL's threadbare plot is supposed to center around marijuana smuggling in a small town in the Arizona desert. It's good to see Meyer is clearly anti-drug, which will annoy my other fave people, The NZ Green Party.
Scripted by Meyer and author Tom "Bonfire Of The Vanities" Wolfe from Meyer's story, the movie stars Charles Napier ( later better known as Murdock from RAMBO 2) as Harry, Larissa Ely as Raquel and Linda Ashton as Cherry the nurse; who early on gives a dirty old man a bed bath. Lucky Gramps. As you'd guess from the title, this is a love triangle with lots of hetero and lesbian sex scenes. Meyer also tosses in a scattering of gore; though personally what I found most disturbing was the brief full-frontal of Napier running along a beach with his wobbly bits bouncing left, right and centre. Crikey Russ, people don't pay to see your movies to be subjected to gratuitious salami shots!
That's my sole complaint, but that will give women a reason for watching this. Anything to help spread the disease,so to speak (How un P.C of me). As with his earlier movie BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS Meyer concludes the film with a philosophical, moralistic narrative, which is more sensible than anything the SPCS can attempt to force down the NZ public's throats (This movie was made in 1969. Just goes to show how out of date NZ is). But don't worry guys, Russ has generously insterspersed his moral reasoning with a montage of T&A shots from the movie, just to help jog your memory. This is the most fun you can pack into 70 minutes. Eat your black heart out, David Lame.

This is not so much a review of the movie (it is a good, but not great Meyer film) as it is a note that the disc should play in US DVD players. Even though this disc is listed as non-USA format, I have played it on 3 cheapie DVD players (all $50 or less)from 3 different manufacturers. All of the players were region 1 DVD players.
Anyhow, I just thought I would mention this in case any US customers were thinking about picking this film up.