Customer Reviews

Russ Meyer's Cherry ... and Harry and Raquel [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of Russ Meyer's finer films, a late 60's collage of psychedelia, sex and violence occasionally overdubbed with psuedo-scholarly narration about class struggle(?) A bizarre and thoroughly entertaining mix. Charles Napier shines, as usual.

The DVD, on the other hand, is a bit of dissapointment. While it sports the "MINT QUALITY--From Original Negative" tag on the cover, don't be fooled..the picture (full frame) and sound (mono) are pretty much indistinguishable from the VHS edition of the same film. You get an animated menu, chapter stops, and a few trailers from other RM films, but that's about it.

If you already own the VHS, you may want to skip the DVD. Otherwise, go for it.

This Russ Meyer classic opens with a disclaimer heralding the importance of free speech- a movie that David Lame and cobbers will abhore. Which is GOOD for us "jackbooted liberals" "lacking in moralistic backbone". (YOU'RE reading this, so you must be. Right? ha ha ha)
As expected, Russ has filled every possible frame with shots of tight female buns and big bouncy jubblies. One wouldn't expect any less from the "titular" Grandmaster of sexploitation.
CHERRY, HARRY AND RAQUEL's threadbare plot is supposed to center around marijuana smuggling in a small town in the Arizona desert. It's good to see Meyer is clearly anti-drug, which will annoy my other fave people, The NZ Green Party.
Scripted by Meyer and author Tom "Bonfire Of The Vanities" Wolfe from Meyer's story, the movie stars Charles Napier ( later better known as Murdock from RAMBO 2) as Harry, Larissa Ely as Raquel and Linda Ashton as Cherry the nurse; who early on gives a dirty old man a bed bath. Lucky Gramps. As you'd guess from the title, this is a love triangle with lots of hetero and lesbian sex scenes. Meyer also tosses in a scattering of gore; though personally what I found most disturbing was the brief full-frontal of Napier running along a beach with his wobbly bits bouncing left, right and centre. Crikey Russ, people don't pay to see your movies to be subjected to gratuitious salami shots!
That's my sole complaint, but that will give women a reason for watching this. Anything to help spread the disease,so to speak (How un P.C of me). As with his earlier movie BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS Meyer concludes the film with a philosophical, moralistic narrative, which is more sensible than anything the SPCS can attempt to force down the NZ public's throats (This movie was made in 1969. Just goes to show how out of date NZ is). But don't worry guys, Russ has generously insterspersed his moral reasoning with a montage of T&A shots from the movie, just to help jog your memory. This is the most fun you can pack into 70 minutes. Eat your black heart out, David Lame.

I gave it 3 stars for all the sexy brief nudity but it was too edited on the sex scenes,was lead to believe that it was more graphic of the Russ Meyer films,I liked the women but it was not as good as advertised,too candid on the hot scenes.too cut!

The story takes place in the Nevada desert... Frank Bolger is a conspicuous man in the community who also happens to run a drug-smuggling ring on the side... The local sheriff is in on it, acting as his hit man.

After a hot scene with one of the local women, Bolger orders the sheriff to eliminate the Apache (John Milo), an Indian who has been cutting into their marijuana sales... The sheriff reluctantly agrees, takes the boss's woman home, and relieves his frustrations on her before trying to carry the Indian away...

Meyer does indeed have a fascination for very richly gifted women, and this film is no exception... The scene where Bolger talks the nurse into giving him a body massage is a classic erotic tease... Also, Meyer has very cleverly juxtaposed a sensual lesbian scene against a bloody battle between the sheriff and the Indian... But much of the sex is unmotivated... Meyer cuts so quickly, however, that it is more of a lack of respect tease than an exploitive treatment of sex...

Larissa Ely (Raquel) is wonderful as the steamy, sweaty, desert young woman... Linda Ashton (Cherry) is delightful as the sexy nurse, but Charles Napier steals the show as the violent, explosive, cruel of a sheriff...

This is not so much a review of the movie (it is a good, but not great Meyer film) as it is a note that the disc should play in US DVD players. Even though this disc is listed as non-USA format, I have played it on 3 cheapie DVD players (all $50 or less)from 3 different manufacturers. All of the players were region 1 DVD players.
Anyhow, I just thought I would mention this in case any US customers were thinking about picking this film up.

Wanted to see if it would play on my DVD - USA reg.1? - it does.

The best thing about Russ Meyer's movies is the [...] He always chooses women with big sexy buxoms. And what I like the most in this movie is the positions of sex, for me always prefer the classic passion (woman in the bottom) which you will see a lot in this film