A look at the new Jeunes Filles Impudiques (Schoolgirl Hitchhikers) Blu-ray

 

Jeunes Filles Impudiques, the newest addition to Kino Lorber's The Cinema of Jean Rollin collection, is now out via Blu-ray via Salvation's Jezebel line under its English language title Schoolgirl Hitchhikers.  The first 'Michel Gentil' production, Jeunes Filles Impudiques began to take shape while Rollin was shooting Requiem for a Vampire. Rollin recalled to Peter Blumenstock in Virgins and Vampires and Video Watchdog that producer, "Lionel (Wallmann) obliged me to put some sex scenes in Requiem-during the dungeon sequence. I told him that I wasn't too fond of that kind of thing, and he answered, "But you do that kind of thing very well. If we made an entire film like that, I bet it would be successful. You may not like it, but you know how to do it." Rollin continued with, 'Okay, I'll do it, but I won't invest any of my own money into it.' Well he raised the money, we made the film and he was right." Hence, the first Michel Gentil film was born and shooting commenced right after Requiem wrapped.

 

 

Jeunes Filles Impudiques, as many of you know, has had a frustrating run on home video.  It originally appeared on DVD on the public domain Grindhouse Collection several years ago via a severely cut and battered English language dub that was sourced from the obscure VHS copy pictured above.  Many Rollin fans rejoiced a couple of years back when Jezebel announced the film's first official DVD release but that disc turned out to be an absolute disaster and featured a smeary overly digitized print of the film that rendered it all but unwatchable. 

 

 

 

So the big question is does the new Blu-ray finally do Jeunes Filles Impudiques justice? 

For the most part the answer is yes as the new Blu-ray of Jeunes Filles Impudiques repairs most of the issues found on the older releases.  The film is now presented completely uncut and the original French language track (with optional English language subs) is thankfully finally included.  Jeunes Filles Impudiques also looks like an actual film again via this new release and not like some sort of cheap experimental digital production.  While many will lament the many scratches and specs found on this new release (that was captured from the original negative), I found this untouched look incredibly refreshing and the film has never looked quite as vibrant and colorful. 

 

The only real disappointment with the new disc of Jeunes Filles Impudiques is perhaps an unavoidable one as the occasional slight jitter in the first half of the film is still apparent due to an original camera malfunction.  So unless an expensive major restoration (something that is not very likely for this film) happens this is probably about the most 'perfect' release of Jeunes Filles Impudiques we will have. 

 

Jeunes Filles Impudiques is an admittedly slight film. It looks to only really operate as a soft core sex film and it does so quite well. Seasoned Rollin fans though will notice that this is still very much a 'Jean Rollin picture'. The opening images of our two lead female characters walking alone and stumbling on a seemingly abandoned mansion will immediately remind fans of some of Rollin's most iconic work (including the masterful film he had just completed) as will the camera's obsession with the antiquities of the house. Jeunes Filles Impudiques might just be a shot on the cheap quickie sex film, but there is a lot more to it than that. From the unmistakable photography and lighting of Jean Jacques Renon (working here as Oscar Lapin) to the playful score by Pierre Raph, Jeunes Filles Impudiques is a fascinating little entry in Rollin's filmography and, outside of its obvious importance in Jean Rollin's canon as the first 'Gentil' film, Jeunes Filles Impudiques's also marks the first time Rollin worked with the stunning French actress Joelle Coeur, a talented and extremely charismatic figure who would prove to be one of Rollin's most memorable performers.

 

 

Along with Zombie Lake, Schoolgirl Hitchhikers is the first disc in the Jean Rollin line that doesn't have any film specific extras.  A batch of trailers are the only supplements included here and the chat with Rollin found on the older Jezebel disc is missing, but since it wasn't related to this film (and can be found on other releases) its absence here isn't too devastating.  More information on this new Blu-ray can be found here. 

 

-Jeremy Richey, 2013-

Jean Rollin at Letterboxd

I recently joined the social movie site Letterboxd and I was happy to see that they have nearly twenty-five Jean Rollin films featured in their database that members can rate, review and add to a variety of lists.  I just created my own 'Top Twenty' Rollin list and wanted to share the link.  I'd love to hear from other members over at Letterboxd and see others top Rollin lists. 

The Valerie Harper Blogathon: "Rhoda the Beautiful"

***Many of our hearts were broken recently when we learned that the great Valerie Harper had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.  To pay a much-deserved tribute to one of our most cherished icons my friend Amanda over at the always amazing Made for TV Mayhem decided to host a blogathan dedicated to Valerie.  Here is my little contribution and, needless to say, I am honored to participate and while my post might be a short one my admiration and love for this very special actress and woman is huge.  So thank you Valerie Harper.  We all wish you the very best and send you lots of love.

 

 

Few actors have ever been able to project insecurity, self-doubt and vulnerability better than Valerie Harper and even fewer could project these very human frailties with as much charisma, wit and warmth as Valerie.  All of Harper's strongest skills as an actor and icon are on display during the terrific and touching third season episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show entitled "Rhoda the Beautiful", an episode that never fails to make me both laugh and cry throughout its 25 minute running time.

 

Watching Valerie Harper in her key role as the charming but neurotic Rhoda Morgenstern all these years later it is quite simply impossible to picture anyone else in the role, or even imagine the early seasons of the legendary series without her.  The fact that there was initially a push-back against casting the perfect Harper for the plum role of Rhoda is absolutely baffling...who else could have brought such extraordinary honesty, natural beauty and finely tuned comic timing to the role? 

 

The incredible "Rhoda the Beautiful" was written by one of The Mary Tyler Moore's Shows most important behind the scenes voices Treva Silverman, who was often credited as being the driving force behind the character of Rhoda Morgenstern.  The episode centers on the attention Rhoda gets when she participate in a work-sponsored beauty contest after losing twenty pounds.  The episode in the wrong hands could have been an exploitative disaster but Silverman (credited once by Harper as “Feminist conscience of the show”) wisely turns the focus of the show not on the pageant but Rhoda's frustrations at her inability to accept just how truly beautiful she really is.   

 

 

"Rhoda the Beautiful" is a classic Mary Tyler Moore episode.  It's funny, moving, wonderfully written and beautifully performed by the entire cast.  Valerie Harper is especially smashing here from her early scenes with Moore, where she just can't recognize that she isn't the frumpy overweight sidekick she has always considered herself as, to her hilarious mocking of the ridiculous nature of beauty pageants to her triumphant victory at the show, which Silverman wisely doesn't show (Harper's emotional and hilarious description of the show tops any footage they could have captured). 

 

Valerie Harper was rightly considered in the seventies (and beyond) as one of the most important role models for young women in all of popular culture.  I will go that even further and say that she, and her greatest creation Rhoda Morgenstern, was important to everyone (males included) who recognized their own self-doubts, fears and insecurities in her work.  She gave many of us hope and she helped us laugh off our inner demons that can cripple. 

 

Valerie Harper remains one of our absolute great actors, icons, humanitarians and beauties.  I love "Rhoda the Beautiful" for many reasons but I especially love that it acknowledges that Rhoda Morgenstern was indeed a knockout and, like Valerie Harper herself, was more importantly a knockout on her terms. 

 

-Jeremy Richey, 2013-

 

Please Help David Bowie Rise To the Top of The American Album Charts

 

I typically don't pay any mind to the Billboard album chart listings but the news that David Bowie's magnificent new LP The Next Day might finally give the great man his long deserved spot at Number 1 in the States has me very excited.  Bowie's triumphant first album in ten years is debuting all across the globe at the top of well over forty album charts but the American spot is going to be tough as The Next Day is running neck and neck with the new Bon Jovi album. 

It is absolutely insane that Bowie has never had a number 1 album here in the States so I am asking all reading here to please help support Bowie and The Next Day and buy, or legally download, a copy this week or weekend.  The Next Day is an absolute powerhouse and a Number 1 placing would be a glorious welcome-back for my beloved Bowie, and it just might help set in motion the much hoped tour many of us are praying for. 

So, help a brother out and buy The Next Day.  You won't be sorry. 

 

-Jeremy Richey, 2013-

Richard Hell's I DREAMED I WAS A VERY CLEAN TRAMP: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY out March 12th

The new book from my favorite writer and one of the most influential artists, and people, of my life comes out Tuesday March 12th and I am asking that you all buy it and give it a read. 

Richard Hell's I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp: An Autobiography promises to be one of the best and most important books of the year, and I do hope everyone here will support my favorite fellow Kentuckian and snag a copy of this long awaited work. 

If you aren't already familiar with the life and work of Richard Hell please, for God's sake, stop reading here and go immerse yourself in his official site. 

A big congratulations to Richard on his upcoming book and, needless to say, I can't wait to add it to my special bookshelf already dedicated to all things Richard Hell.