Chastity

Rating:
Summary: CHASTITY-the film
Review: I have seen this film lots of times on Showtime.I've read where Sonny Bono copped out on his own screenplay.Yet he put everything about Cher or what she had experienced into the film.It may not be at its very best,but yet it showcases Cher as to what was to come.

Rating:
Summary: She was born in a wagon of a travelin' show...
Review: She was born in a wagon of a travelin' show, her mama used to dance for the money they'd throw... Yes, it's pre-nose-job Cher in her absolutely wretched dramatic debut, as a sullen and surly hitchhiking runaway with a heart of pressed tin. With her grating voice and punk-ass demeanor, she can often be misconstrued as acting, but do not be fooled - she is simply a marionette in the hands of producer Sonny "Svengali" Bono (whom one can also presume was also the never-heard-of-before and never-heard-from-again director de Paola). Chastity is a disturbed young woman who hits the road to escape her dreary, unhappy life, and finds more dreariness and unhappiness. In this turgid and lugubrious script, she takes her anger out on men by picking them up, leading them on and then "not letting them get anything." She works as a prostitute without ever having to give up "the goods," and winds up in a Mexican whorehouse for a lesbian madam who would like Chastity to be something more than an employee. With a creepy introspective/philosophical voiceover narrative by Cher, it is hippie-age BS and you can definitely see her *Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves* period looming on the horizon. Chastity is perplexing in a way that is peculiarly unintriguing, and despite all her woes, she is supremely unsympathetic. Her eventual confession of being abused as a child may have been shocking in 1969, but in retrospect, it is entirely predictable. There are some who will dig deeply to find some merit to this film, but it should strictly be taken as what it is: pure camp - meaning, of course, that's it's hysterically funny while it tries desperately to be serious. Would *you* name *your* child after this? "Chastity...pick her up if you dare." Indeed.

Rating:
Summary: A great acting performance by Cher
Review: The film itself isn't so great, but it is much more compelling than the Sonny & Cher film from the same era, "Good Times." Perhaps that's because Sonny stays behind the camera in this one, allowing Cher to be the camera's focal point throughout the entire film. Cher shows her greatness here: Despite a fairly weak script, her performance is compelling and holds up to repeat viewings.

I'm very excited that this is coming to dvd soon.

Rating:
Summary: Chastity - She's Not A Girl - She's An Experience
Review: This is an amazing piece of work solely for the opening piece which goes on and on and is a fascinating psychadelic shoot of a 22-year old Cher running on the beach.....there is still a bit of who she "was" before she became "Cher" - and it is touching and jarring. The quick dish on this film as most fans know is that it was Sonny's attempt (he wrote, produced and directed and scored - quite beautifully) to make Cher an actress. This is also where their daughter got her name - not a great legacy but the film has it's merits. The film flopped they lost the $ they invested and...thank god...because they were forced to go on the nightclub circuit and become the 70's "Sonny & Cher". Disturbing, however, to myself and those who have seen my copy - is how crass and shallow the character Cher plays reveals herself to be, scene after scene. Cher has said in many interviews how she developed "SBT" - smart mouthed bitch - to protect her as she grew up. This film takes that to a high. For Cher fans - this is next to Moonstruck as a purchase - because you can see her vulnerability and her "Cherness" at such an early strage - in some scenes it is staggering. The film never really goes anywhere which in some points is the idea Sonny was trying to convey; however it is in an odd way - eye candy - like a sour ball you can't stop sucking on. The soundtrack = seriously folks - is brilliant. Rhino Records released Sonny's unlistenable solo LP - THIS soundtrack should be released. The single "Chastity's Song (Band Of Thieves)" didn't chart - but it is magnificent - as is Cher's vocal treatment. There are 2 versions of this film - one that has Cher indulging in a lesbian one nighter and the "G" that cuts that out - oh they also cut out when she smokes a joint. I hope this is the uncut version. This is very amazing and for this price anyone who loves Cher for an iota should check this out. Besides anything - it is a hoot! Cher Bless You All!

Rating:
Summary: Curious peak at early Cher
Review: This is Cher's PURPLE RAIN - sort of a semibiography that lets Cher play herself struggling through some hard times. She plays the lead character who runs the whole movie from one situation to the next until we finally get to see what she is running from in a pretty effective final breakdown sequence. It was a flop on its release, and it's still pretty much a midnight worthy cult film without too much you could call great cinema. But it is a peak at pre-plastic surgery Cher, and surprisingly you get the idea that yes there is a star in there.

I was disappointed that all you get is a widescreen transfer of the film and a trailer. Mono soundtrack too. But the curious will be vindicated, and yes this is at least the R-rated version since there are a couple of fleeting scenes of Cher in the buff. But no sex scenes to be found.

CHASTITY will not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is an interesting film. Not as bad as some would lead you to believe. It's about a troubled girl who runs away, and just keeps going. The music is very strong. There are some really funny lines as well. And it's a total trip! The price is pretty low as well.