The Swinging Barmaids

1975 "They Can't Wait For Their Next Hot Date"
The Swinging Barmaids
5.3| 1h28m| R| en| More Info
Released: 15 July 1975 Released
Producted By: Carlin Company Productions
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

A cop goes after a psycho who is killing cocktail waitresses.

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Carlin Company Productions

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Reviews

Uriah43 Four young women by the names of "Boo Boo" (Dyanne Thorne), "Marie" (Renie Radich), "Jenny" (Laura Hippe) and "Susie" (Katie Saylor) all work as waitresses at a club in downtown Los Angeles. One night a man named "Tom" (Bruce Watson) comes in and has a small argument with Boo Boo. Later that night he follows Boo Boo home and kills her. Afterward he takes pictures of his handiwork. When the police arrive "Lt. Harry White" (William Smith) is informed that similar murders have occurred in both Miami and Chicago and that it's probable that the killer isn't quite finished in Los Angeles either. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk ruining it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a fairly typical movie produced during the 70's. Although I liked the casting of William Smith as the detective in charge and the presence of the aforementioned ladies, I must admit that the characters themselves lacked sufficient development and seemed rather shallow. In any case, I thought the movie was certainly adequate and I have rated it accordingly.
Woodyanders Geeky and misogynistic mama's boy psycho Tom (an enjoyably loopy portrayal by Bruce Watson) preys on the lovely ladies who work at a seedy Los Angeles bar. It's up to tough, no-nonsense detective Harry (a superbly rugged performance by legendary B-movie hard man William Smith) to nab the sicko. Longtime favorite unsung exploitation flick director Gus Trikonis (who also blessed us with the first-rate hicksploitation gem "Nashville Girl" and the spooky haunted house item "The Evil"), working from a racy and twisted script by frequent Roger Corman scribe Charles B. Griffith, relates the nasty plot at a nonstop zippy pace, maintains an appropriately harsh and hard-edged tone throughout, delivers a pleasing amount of tasty female nudity, and really pulls out all the stirring stops for the incredibly energetic and exciting climax that's loaded with bloody shootings and a rousing chase between a car and a motorcycle. Moreover, the scenes with the titular gals getting killed by the wacko are extremely brutal and harrowing, with the nut tearing off their tops and taking photos of their corpses after he's murdered them. The female cast is quite sexy and attractive: Laura Hippe as the cheery Jenny, Katie Saylor as the sweet Susie, Renie Radish as the sassy Marie, and Dyanne "Ilsa" Thorne as the bitter, snippy Boo-Boo. Contributing nifty supporting turns are Zitto Kazann as smarmy bar owner Zitto, Jim Travis as Jenny's nice physician fiancé Dave, Ray Galvin as crusty bartender Jack, and Andre Tayir as brash transvestite entertainer Ms. Bruce. Irv Goodnoff's rough, but effective cinematography makes inspired frequent use of a hand-held camera for the murder set pieces and rough'n'tumble fight scenes. Don Bagley's groovy-jammin' score likewise hits the get-down funky spot. Highly recommended to 70's drive-in cinema fans.
lazarillo A psycho killer is stalking the waitresses of the "Swing-a-Ling Club". While his identity is no mystery to the viewers, the dense characters and the police are a different story. So will the killer run out of the stuck-up and nasty waitresses to murder and move on to the nice girl (Laura Hippe) about to marry her doctor boyfriend, or will the police catch him in time? (To tell you the truth, I've already forgotten). This movie is HIGHLY implausible. The deranged, moralistic killer starts out as a customer before following his first victim (Dyanne Thorne) home and killing her. He is caught in the act, however, by her three dimwitted co-worker/roommates (whose full names are subsequently reported on TV as witnesses to the crime!). So what does he do? Why, he shaves off his beard, dyes his hair black, and goes back to the SAME bar to work as a bartender/bounce, naturally--and NOBODY notices! Okay, believability isn't necessarily all that important in a movie like this, but even as sexploitation this falls down. Even though all these actresses are VERY impressively built for the pre-silicone era, they're not actually strippers, but only very scantily clad "waitresses". The actual entertainment at the club is provided by an unfunny male comedian and one transvestite dancer(!). No wonder the poor male clientèle of the club can't keep their hands off the girls' boobs and bums. Bully for them I guess, but the problem for the viewer is that (with the exception of one lovemaking scene between the heroine and her boyfriend) pretty much all the female nudity occurs WHILE the various girls are being (pretty realistically) murdered. Of course, fans of these kinds of movies like sex and violence, but not necessarily for the same reason, and not at the EXACT same time. This was the first movie of the director, Gus Trikonis, and he would get a lot better in the future, but he really fumbles the exploitation elements here.The murders are pretty harrowing at least. And the movie has a good 70's grindhouse feel to it (Quentin Tarantino is reportedly a fan). It would be a great companion piece to the similar "roughie" porno/proto-slasher film "The Centerfold Girls". The psychotic killer in this one isn't as good as Andrew Prine who starred in that flick (but then few 70's "psycho" actors were). You do get an early appearance from Dyanne "Ilsa" Thorne (who I can take or leave personally), and the leading cop is played by perennial 70's tough guy William Smith (even if it's far from his best role). This is a pretty flawed movie, but I still might recommend it to die-hard 70's trash aficionados.
Pierre-Alexandre Buisson This surprising little piece of trashy exploitation from Gus Trikonis (mainly known for his Baywatch & Hercules episodes) is a rare find but a really fun viewing !The action takes place in L.A., during the seventies, as some "honest" and very busty girls struggle to survive while working in a crooked club called the "Swing-a-Ling". They walk around the place in bunny suits, serving drinks to the customers and getting their numerous exposed body parts grabbed-a-plenty. They complain a lot, but when they go home, their places don't look as if they were underpaid...One evening some bearded guy comes in and does not like what he sees, being a highly moral and religious man. He decides it's his duty to wipe these nasty gals from the face of the earth and then proceeds to at least try. And the fun starts.The fight scenes between "the killer" and the girls are effective and realistic, and always manage to rip their clothes in the right spots. The movie itself is pretty short, lacks moral and is overall a highly enjoyable ride if you like pointless violence and a bit of scenaristic nonsense. Dyanne Thorne, unforgettable as Ilsa, makes her appearance here, and she's right at home among the well endowed cast.As usual, the word is see it... if you can find it !