Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)

Director:

Russ Meyer

Writers:

Jack Moran (screenplay)
Russ Meyer (from an original story by)

Release Date:

6 August 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Russ Meyer's ode to the violence in women

Plot:

Three strippers seeking thrills encounter a young couple in the desert. After dispatching the boyfriend...

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Murder | Grindhouse | Repetition In Title | Buxom

Cast

Tura Satana	...	Varla
Haji	...	Rosie
Lori Williams	...	Billie
Ray Barlow	...	Tommy
Sue Bernard	...	Linda (as Susan Bernard)
Michael Finn	...	Gas Station Attendant (as Mickey Foxx)
Dennis Busch	...	The Vegetable
Stuart Lancaster	...	The Old Man
Paul Trinka	...	Kirk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Furlong	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Russ Meyer

Writing credits
Jack Moran		(screenplay)
Russ Meyer		(from an original story by)

Produced by
George Costello	....	associate producer
Eve Meyer	....	producer
Russ Meyer	....	producer (as Russ)
Fred Owens	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Walter Schenk		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Russ Meyer

Production Management
Fred Owens	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Costello	....	assistant director
William E. Tomko	....	second unit director

Sound Department
Richard S. Brummer	....	sound editor (as Richard Serly Brummer)
Charles G. Schelling	....	sound recordist (as Charles Schelling)

Visual Effects by
Orville Hallberg	....	optical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Gilbert Haimson	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Music Department
Igo Kantor	....	music director
Paul Sawtell	....	composer: music themes
Bert Shefter	....	composer: music themes
Sidney Cutner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Howard Jackson	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
Richard S. Brummer	....	production assistant
Lee Green	....	coordinator
Gilbert Haimson	....	production assistant (as Gil Haimson)
Vicki Isaacs	....	consultant: sports car racing
Vicki Juday	....	consultant: sports car racing
Harvey Lippert	....	consultant: sports car racing
Oliver F. Pesch	....	coordinator
Nancy White	....	consultant: sports car racing

Production Companies

• Eve Productions (presents) (as EVE Productions)

Distributors

• Constantin Film (????) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Eve Productions (1965) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sinfonia Films (1985) (France) (theatrical)
• Creswin Distribution (1971) (Canada)
• DVDY Films (????) (France) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Manga Films (2007) (Spain) (DVD)
• Oy Nordisk Film (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• RM Films (video)
• Turner Classic Movies (TCM) (2009) (USA) (TV)

Also Known As:

Faster Pussycat! Wham! Bang! (USA) (bowdlerized title)
Faster, Pussycat! Go! Go! (USA) (bowdlerized title)
Pussycat
The Leather Girls
The Mankillers

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | France:-12 (DVD rating) | France:-18 (1985 release) | Finland:K-15 (2006) | West Germany:18 | USA:TV-14 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | France:-16 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated (unrated version)

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Eve Productions

Trivia:

The film did not receive a UK certificate until 1980.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the movie, when Billie detours to go to the lake, the front driver's side wheel cover is missing, and looks like some minor front end damage in the same area, which can be seen when she pulls up and stops next to the bush at the lake. Later on in the film, the wheel cover is present and there is no damage to the car.

Quotes:

The Old Man: You girls a bunch of nudists or are you just short of clothes?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shooting War (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Faster Pussycat

Absolutely captivating. Who knew?

Please, take it from one who, until tonight, foolishly and ignorantly pigeonholed Russ Meyer as a Grade-B Soft-Core cult hero. What did I know? He's so much more than that. Think really good John Waters crossed with really bad Fellini (which is good, of course, in its own way) and you have just a hint of the inspired wickedness here.

Three mean chicks in sports cars, on a road trip from hell, back in a blistering hot, black-plate California desert. The script is undisguised genius and the performances (particularly, of course, the sadistic, sneering Tura Satana) cross most known bounds. But you know what? Even with that firebrand in the lead, the others hold up incredibly well. Meanwhile, the cinematography is spot-on for the theme here, tilted and trenchant. The overall effect: bracing--blinding, almost--and more than a little surreal.

FASTER, PUSSYCAT KILL! KILL! It's hideous and hip. Nightmarish, and nasty. Scathing and scabrous. Insane, but inventive. It's not a film for everyone. Some will call it sick, some will dismiss it as camp. It's all that and more. Hardly a wrong note, and with *so* many opportunities too... I was glued to the screen from beginning to end. Wicked fun. Captivating. Can you tell I liked it?

PS: Also recommended for fans of NHB, male/female bare-knuckle boxing. You know who you are ;)