Switchblade Sisters

Rating:
Summary: Fun 70s exploitation flick.
Review: "Are they young rebels fighting for survival in a decaying society? Or are they hoodlums taking advantage of their youth?"
Directed by Jack Hill, SWITCHBLADE SISTERS is a cult classic that was sadly overlooked until Quentin Tarantino managed to get it re-released. Cinema snobs (People who think the only films worth watching are arthouse junk that make "statements") will look down on anyone who calls this a movie- but those of us who aren't pretentious geeks (i.e: ME, & hopefully YOU who are reading this) will see merit in this cheesy B grade sex & violence entertainment.
Also known as THE JEZEBELS & PLAYGIRL GANG, the movie centers around two street gangs The Dagger Debs: Lace (Robbie Lee), Patch (Monica Gayle), Donut (Kitty Bruce- Lenny's daughter) & Bunny (Janice Karmen) & their male counterparts the Silver Daggers; who run a drugs & prostitution racket at their high school.
One night at a diner the Dagger Debs try to recruit a customer named Maggie (Joanne Nail) to the gang after she pulls a knife on Patch & nearly cuts out her good eye. Unfortunately the cops sweep the place and Maggie is jailed along with the rest of the gang.
On their release, the gang decide to put Maggie through her first test towards becoming a member. This involves seducing some greasy gimp named Clutch (Paul Lichtman) & stealing his medallion as part of the initiation; but in an act of retaliation Clutch abducts & rapes Bunny, leaving her hospitalised in a critical condition.

This of course leads to an all-out gang war in the movie's latter third- with The Dagger Debs re-christening themselves The Jezebels & joining forces with the Silver Daggers & soon the streets are flowing with blood. There is however, some brief insight into the psychology of the gangs: an explaination one of the Silver Daggers gives for being in a gang is because of his insecurity over having a crooked willy. Now there's a plausible reason to go out and knife people!
SWITCHBLADE SISTERS is a fun explotation flick, but is a bit lacking in the T&A department (that's not to say there isn't any, though)- it's also worth noting that this was made four years before Walter Hill's THE WARRIORS which made this genre hip. Granted, SWITCHBLADE SISTERS isn't up to the standards of director Jack Hill's earlier classic SPIDER BABY; but for its kitschy late night entertainment value, SWITCHBLADE SISTERS is hard to beat. Check it out.

Rating:
Summary: I've never seen an exploitation film prior to seeing this...
Review: ... To give you a summation of what the 70's exploitation cult classic was all about, the movie had the gang rape of a girl in a moving vehicle, in-school forced-prostitution, a knife-wielding gang of femme fatales, a sadistic lesbian warden, and a rapist that can only be described as being a third-rate Fonzy wannabe. As I watched the movie, I remember I kept saying to myself (since it was all coming as a shock to the exploitation movie virgin that is me), "Jeez, this is wrong on so many levels." However, even though it was devoid of ideas and intelligence, I was completely drawn to the action-packed exploitation film for some arbitrary reason. Maybe I have an innate love for poorly made and poorly acted out movies that is always in suspension and precipitates only when I watch such movies making me momentarily susceptible to enjoying them? Or maybe my sadistic obsession with female degradation can only be sublimated by subjecting myself to meandering and wayward films like this making me a more socially acceptable member of society once I get my fill of female debasement presented on the medium that is film? Whatever the reason, Switchblade Sisters was a breath of fresh cinema in light of the recent Criterion craze that has seemingly swept the nation overnight. Sure some of modern cinema and contemporary action movies can be unfocused and disjointed like Switchblade Sisters, but unlike those movies Switchblade Sisters has a lot of heart in it and the ability to not take itself too seriously. The movie's ability to encompass that ideology of "bah!-I-don't-need-to-justify-this-senseless-violence" makes the insatiable Evil-Dead-blood-thirsting-B-movie fan in you just feel warm and fuzzy inside when viewing this movie. Speaking of Evil Dead, Switchblade Sisters operates under the same principles of the Evil Dead trilogy because technically it's a terrible movie, but it revels in its own campy pastiche (a camp pastiche that has aged gracefully unlike most exploitation films which just seem horrendously retroactive) making it enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Switchblade Sisters Transcends the Genre and Then Some
Review: Forget all the condescending snobs who dismiss this movie as no more than memorable camp. Granted, this movie has plenty of camp, and it is memorable; but it has a lot more going for it as well. Jack Hill was one of those directors who could recognize the potential in the lowliest of genres, making great movies like "Coffy" and "Switchblade Sisters" and still delivering as much fun as the wildest B-movies could ever pack.

Roger Ebert started taking his vacation from cinematic reality when he panned this movie. (He cancelled the return trip back to reality, apparently, when he raved about "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow," but that's another story). As the movie started getting under way, I was surprised and impressed that it had nothing to do with the "so-bad-it's-good" spectacle other reviewers were describing. This is a good movie and it is actually a lot less cheesy than other seventies action films like the preposterous "Marathon Man."

The plot is typical exploitation movie fare: teen gangs, radical militants, evil female prison guards, and lots of assorted weaponry. In other words, yes this movie contains a lot of camp. It also contains an inspired performance by Monica Gayle as the Iago-like Patch. While we're on this topic, I found her Patch a much more compelling performance then Kenneth Branagh's melodramatic, loudly whispering, offensive stereotype of a gay man that he tried to pass of as Iago in his version of "Othello," but I digress. Not all of the acting is equal to Gayle's, but it is better than what you will find in nine out of ten big-budget Hollywood productions.

In summary, if you despise anything but Bergman and Brakhage--"Switchblade Sisters" isn't for you. If you already made up your mind not to like the movie when you heard the title, it isn't for you either. More importantly, if you just don't like the subject matter of so-called "exploitation" films (including rape in this movie), you may want to pass even though "Switchblade Sisters" deals with the conventional topics in a thoughtful way. The label "exploitation cinema" hardly does justice to this move, but I realize the genre is not for everyone.

If you are looking for a good movie with fast action, moving drama, and a couple of memorable performances and some of the best quotes in cult-film history; and if you are not too high falutant for a healthy dose of camp mixed in with your drama and character studies, then see "Switchblade Sisters."

Rating:
Summary: A great film, but not why you'd think
Review: I must disagree with many of the other reviewers - this film is not cheese at all. In the strictest sense of the word, it's not a sexploitation flick, either, although many may argue this point.

This film was written as a modern-day, female version of 'Othello,' not a gang/bike/trash story at all! Basic rundown - The Dagger Debs gang, led by Lace, takes on a new member named Maggie. She is fiercely loyal to Lace, but gang member Patch is jealous and manages to turn Lace against Maggie through a series of well laid out machinations. Meanwhile, Lace's boyfriend Dominick is making the moves on Maggie. Much madness and mayhem ensues. So, yes, there are lots of cat-fights, tough chicks, and chain fights, not to mention more than one tight top to be seen and maybe a breast here or there. But don't let these be the only thing you see when watching this film! With the exception of the actress playing Donut, the acting in this film is perfectly good (Donut is Lenny Bruce's daughter, and she got the part on name merit alone). Additionally, character development is high, the plot moves well, action is great. And, durn, it's based on Shakespeare!....sort of.

There are a variety of reasons to watch 'Switchblade Sisters,' whether you are a fan of sexploitation flicks, B-movies, Jack Hill, or the cult genre in general. There's even a bonus for those interested in finding a 'diamond in the rough' or other hidden cinematic gems - this is one well-made film. You really cannot go wrong with this movie.

A note on different versions of this film: The Quentin Tarantino/Rolling Thunder version is terrible. As usual, Tarantino places himself both at the beginning and end of the film, rambling incoherently and redundantly about the merits of the work. It is a real distraction and he has absolutely -nothing- interesting to say. If you are able to purchase the Johnny Legend release instead, I would suggest you do so. It includes some interesting interviews at the end of the tape with Jack Hill and the two main actresses.

Rating:
Summary: "Everybody's Gotta Be In A Gang!"
Review: I saw this gem way back before Quentin Tarrantino rereleased it on Rolling Thunder Pictures, and I dug the hell out of it. Not trying to prove how old school I am with that, but it's odd how this film was universally reviled before, and now is considered a cult classic. It's still the same movie it was before Tarrantino put this DVD out. I just wanna make it known that this is one person who always liked it.

First of all, this is not meant to be a realistic portrayal of what life is like for girls in gangs, nor a cautionary tale of the future. It's meant to be trashy fun. Jack Hill actually did research about gang life before he made this movie, but then threw it all out, because he didn't think stark realism would work well with chicks in hot pants. It's set in the near future, or possibly an alternate present, but it is in no way meant to be taken seriously.

Believe it or not, Switchblade Sisters is a neo-futuristic retelling of Shakespeare's "Othello." And it is so much cooler than the Josh Hartnett vehicle, "O." The movie opens with a girl gang called The Dagger Debs, the counterparts to the male gang, The Silver Daggers. The Debs' leader, Lace, (the "Othello" character, for those of you paying attention) is brilliantly played with much gusto by Robbie Lee. Her boyfriend is the leader of the Silver Daggers, Dominic.

The Daggers and their Debs are chillin' in a fast food joint when they notice a blond babe who won't leave "their" table. They hassle her, but to their surprise, she impressively defends herself. Her name is Maggie, and after they do a little jail time together, she and Lace forge a fast friendship.

Lace isn't the only one Maggie has impressed, however. Lace's boyfriend Dom is after her. Maggie admits that she has feelings for Dom, but would never betray Lace. This is just enough for Patch (aka Yago) to use to manipulate Lace into believing that Maggie is her enemy.

One great scene is when Maggie must prove her loyalty to the Dagger Debs by retreiving the medallion worn by Crabs, the leader of the rival gang. It's hilarious to see her manipulating him by playing the bad stereotype of a ditzy woman in order to hide her intelligence and skill. "Um...I'm trying to get into the Dagger Debs? And I'm supposed to deliver a message. I don't know what it means!" And of course this girl comes right out and tells the creepy looking Crabs that she's from a rival gang, and yet he believes that she wants to fool around with him, rather than steal his medallion! I'm not knocking that as an unbelievable plot point, cuz we all know that's how it is with guys like him.

From a feminist perspective, it's hard to overlook the rape scene between Maggie and Dominic. First of all, I've seen lots of exploitation movies, and lots of rape scenes that were far more offensive than this. Many of these rape scenes are shot so that the audience becomes voyeur, and the woman is exhibited for the audience in the same way she is exhibited for her attackers. These rape scenes are meant to be titilating, but usually leave me feeling disgusted, and guilty for watching women being exploited. But in this scene, Maggie is not being exposed, and most of what happens is in the dark, or on the other side of her door. What we see is not excessive, but it also doesn't look censored. And at the end of it, I'm feeling pissed off, but for the right reasons.

It may seem offensive, or just strange, that after this happens, Maggie is still on speaking terms with Dom. But the point of this is not to say that what Dom did was acceptable. He's a gigantic pig, and not good enough for either Lace or Maggie. Yet, any time he does anything to reveal what a low life he actually is, both girls turn a blind, codependent eye, and convince themselves that it isn't really his fault. Of course this is wrong, but it's the tragic flaw that tears their otherwise loyal friendship apart.

We can see it's gotten too far when Lace conspires with a rival gang to have Maggie killed. Luckily, it backfires, and our heroine lives to see another day, but with disasterous consequences. "I had to do it! He was treating me like a little gutter cat!" At this point, Lace actually believes that Maggie's presence is causing Dom to be a jerk, rather than Dom himself.

There are some real zingers in here as far as dialog is concerned, and many of them are punctuated with the actors' enthusiastic delivery, particularly in the case of Robbie Lee as Lace. However, one of the most notoriously bad lines, "If you leave, it's all gonna turn out bad!" sounds ok to me. Lace is pleading with Dom to stay with her, and in a moment of scattered desperation, it sounds like something a girl her age would really say. Lace really believes she can't be happy without Dom. I guess it got such a big laugh from audiences because the rest of the dialog ("My old man, God rest his ass!" or "Hey, Crippledick, everyone knows your crank could hook a tuna!") is so wild and unexpected that this line sounds silly by comparison.

Another one of my favorite scenes is when Maggie decides that the Dagger Debs will no longer be defined only by their male counterparts ("We're nobody's Debs anymore!") and decides to change the gang name to The Jezebels.

I wasn't too fond of the audio commentary track with Jack Hill, the director, and Quentin Tarrantino, the Guy Who Really Likes This Movie. I was hoping Tarrantino would be interviewing Hill, and encouraging him to say more about his experience making the movie. Hill is very soft spoken, and unfortunately, Tarrantino keeps interrupting him throughout. I want to hear about Jack Hill's experience making the movie, not a bunch of stuff Tarrantino once read about it, or worse, what his famous friends thought about the movie when he showed it to them.

I've seen a lot of exploitation movies that claim to be all about female empowerment by having a female lead. But this film is one shining example of feminist exploitation cinema. I don't know if such a term exists, but if it doesn't it should be created just for this classic. I never thought I'd say this, but I agree 100% with Tarrantino when he says, "You start out laughing at this movie, but about halfway through you realize that you actually care about these people." If he can do that with trashy exploitation, Jack Hill is one of the most underappreciated directors of our time.

Rating:
Summary: I shot the B/W stills on the set..good flick
Review: I was there for the entire shoot.. have never before seen pics of all the girls, b/w some color. went to H.S. with Robbie Lee (Hoopes). If you like her acting you can catch her on old reruns of the 6million dollar man.

Rating:
Summary: Quintessential exploitation, in a good way.
Review: I'm tired of people who consider themselves above the "camp" films they are extolling displaying their sense of superiority to the films they supposedly admire. For example, there is nothing at all "terrible" about the technical aspects of the Evil Dead films (read the other reviews and you'll understand to what I am referring) especially when their budgets are taken into consideration. As for Switchblade Sisters, let me just say that this is one of those quintessential flicks that blur the boundary between "art" and "exploitaiton," much like Jess Franco's better films. In fact, this is precisely what Tarantino did in Pulp Fiction: but since that film had a bigger budget and name actors, mainstream audiences reacted differently. "Switchblade Sisters" is best enjoyed with a copy of Shakespeare in one hand and Mickey Spillane in the other. In other words, heartily recommended.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Of The Bad
Review: If you're a connoisseur of awful movies that are unintentionally hilarious, Switchblade Sisters hits the bullseye bigtime. Ed Wood would have adored this tawdry mix of sex and violence within and between tough high school gangs. Of course, the gang members are ludicrously played by actors clearly in their mid to late twenties. I can't recommend this movie enough for a Bad Movie Night with your friends. Everything about it is dreadfully sincere--and sincerely dreadful The line readings are not-to-be-believed. At times, it seems as if the actors were filmed seperately and then cut together, their 'styles' are so dramatically different. Keep your eyes open for the long, lingering reaction shots that make absolutely no sense whatsoever. Once you clue into the deep awfulness of this movie, you will not stop laughing. Switchblade Sisters contains what I think is the single worst performed piece of dialog ever committed to film. I won't give it away here, but look for it just as Dominic is about to walk out on the pregnant Lace. Whatever you think about Quentin Tarentino, you've got to concede that he recognizes good cheese when he sees it. His short-lived Rolling Thunder Productions re-released Switchblade Sisters a few years back so that others could appreciate this little-known gem. Trust Quentin, trust me, and settle down with your own gang of rowdy upstarts and watch Switchblade Sisters. It's hell on wheels!

Rating:
Summary: The Best Of The Bad
Review: If you're a connoisseur of awful movies that are unintentionally hilarious, Switchblade Sisters hits the bullseye bigtime. Ed Wood would have adored this tawdry mix of sex and violence within and between tough high school gangs. Of course, the gang members are ludicrously played by actors clearly in their mid to late twenties. I can't recommend this movie enough for a Bad Movie Night with your friends. Everything about it is dreadfully sincere--and sincerely dreadful The line readings are not-to-be-believed. At times, it seems as if the actors were filmed seperately and then cut together, their 'styles' are so dramatically different. Keep your eyes open for the long, lingering reaction shots that make absolutely no sense whatsoever. Once you clue into the deep awfulness of this movie, you will not stop laughing. Switchblade Sisters contains what I think is the single worst performed piece of dialog ever committed to film. I won't give it away here, but look for it just as Dominic is about to walk out on the pregnant Lace. Whatever you think about Quentin Tarentino, you've got to concede that he recognizes good cheese when he sees it. His short-lived Rolling Thunder Productions re-released Switchblade Sisters a few years back so that others could appreciate this little-known gem. Trust Quentin, trust me, and settle down with your own gang of rowdy upstarts and watch Switchblade Sisters. It's hell on wheels!

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: Only for those with a warped sense of humor and an open mind, not for the art snobs. Order some pizza, grab some cold suds, gather your friends and laugh it up. They don't make 'em like this anymore. Kitsch-y!