Three wild women - Varia, Rosa and Billie, go-go dancers by profession - like to live life in the fast lane. They drive their cars fast and take the men that they want. In the desert, they come across the pretty but innocent Linda, whom they decide to kidnap and hold for ransom. When they go to a nearby town and learn about a wheelchair-bound old man who lives in an old ranch house with his two sons. More importantly, rumor has it the man is rich and has money hidden all over the place. The old man and his sons aren't the pushovers they thought he would be and the girls plans don't quite work out as they hoped. Three beautiful female dancers are driving through the desert when they come across a young couple. They kidnap the woman and leave the man for dead. Travelling further they come across an old man living with his two sons. The old man is apparently sitting on a pile of cash and the girls do their best to separate him from it. This is my favorite Disney movie. <br/><br/>Few people know it's based on a novel by Louisa May Alcott. <br/><br/>The scene where the brave prince rescues little Amy always gets to me. <br/><br/>And the things the Old Wise Man says … well, that's advice more people should emulate.<br/><br/>Remember the part where the little fawn is taking a drink at the brook, then looks up and a sunbeam comes down through the glade and makes him blink? Does it get any better than that? I get a catch in my throat every time.<br/><br/>I give it ten bluebirds of happiness. Sniff.<br/><br/>My teapot is whistling. Better go. The things in this movie that strike me most are: the six guitar strings in the beginning which vibrate as the human voice delivers the top news of the world (weird); the camera angles (in "drunken master" style); the jazzy/funky music that goes nuts now and then (very refreshing and exhilarating); Varla's vile face expressions (plain menacing and sophisticated), tight gloves (ready for battle!), and her evil bursts of laughter (quite hellish); the hysterical behaviour of the kidnapped girl who even before her boyfriend's grisly death is lunatic (careless in a most childish manner); the goofy gas station attendant nicknamed "Einstein" ("Do and think little but talk volumes, especially about other people's secrets!" must be his motto); the way The Vegetable "gives" the knife to Rosie (what does she expect from the highly controversial and unstable knot of muscles? "Here you are, take it, please"?); the simplicity of the whole production (a few characters, minimum sets, almost no special effects, the stunning b&w picture).<br/><br/>The greatest disappointment (the major spoiler ahead!): the three heroines all die in the course of the movie. That is unfair. They are too groovy and too busty to die. They should have killed off every other character in this flick and survive, walking away in the sunset with the smoking guns, bloody hands, and swaying hips. How could the director be so cruel to this trio that remains the best female criminal gang to ever hit the screen? The technical side of the film is superb. Hardly anybody could make it better. The WWII did not pass in vain for Mr Russ Meyer, that's for sure.<br/><br/>A 7 out of 10 (because of "the greatest disappointment" - minus 3 points, alas). Thanks for attention.
Janjames replied
370 weeks ago