Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)
Usually, I shirk from 1970s movies, and when forced to watch them, they only reinforce my negative opinions of the filmmaking styles and subjects of the decade. I watched Pretty Maids All in a Row because it was Rock Hudson’s time as Star of the Week, and I’m so glad I did! It’s lively, uninhibited, and hilarious.
The tagline states, “A good football coach can get away with murder,” and anyone who’s lived in a football town knows the truth in it. It doesn’t matter what scandals the players create, affairs, violence, or law problems; if the team wins, the town loves them and their coach. In this funny, flirty 1970s movie, helmed by Roger Vadim and written by Gene Roddenberry, Rock Hudson is the adored football coach and high school guidance counselor. With his thick ’70s mustache and relaxing vibe, it’s no wonder everyone loves him and looks up to him. He’s supportive and in tune with the viewpoints of the era, and most of all, he’s the football coach, so he can get away with anything.
John David Carson is a young student with a specific problem: he’s constantly distracted by his female classmates’ assets and has to excuse himself to go to the restroom so he’s not embarrassed. Even the new substitute teacher, Angie Dickinson, makes his hormones go wild, so John turns to the guidance counsellor for advice. At the same time, John has another difficulty: he discovered a dead cheerleader on campus, and the scandal has brought the police force to their small town.
With extremely frank language, tons of nudity, and steamy scenes, it makes you wonder what stars like Rock Hudson must have thought of the destruction of the Hays Code. At one time, he made black-and-white movies that measured the length of a kiss; in this movie, he has naked women climbing on top of him. In a very funny, racy scene, Angie Dickinson tells him her hormones are making it difficult for her to sleep. Rock suggests a couple of remedies, then crosses the room, lifts up her blouse, and helps himself.
This is a very funny movie, although from the synopsis you might not think so. It’s funny because of the free-spirit way it announces to the audience, “It’s 1971, and we can say and do whatever we want!” but it’s also funny because of the underlying theme of the movie. A young student was murdered, but the only person really interested in solving the mystery is out-of-town cop Telly Savalas. No one else really cares. Sex runs rampant at the school, and it’s much more of a priority to everyone. Teachers and students alike are far more concerned with their sex lives than the murder of a young child. Even the principal, Roddy McDowell, continually refers to the girl as “a great little cheerleader” and nothing more, and his main concern is whether or not the football game will be cancelled due to the police investigation.
This isn’t really a murder mystery, and the violence takes an obvious backseat to the real point of the story: sex is the ultimate distraction. Teenage girls merely giggle and flirt with the detective rather than answer pertinent questions about their dead classmate. A teacher sleeps with multiple students, but no one even slaps his wrist. A boy who found another student dead can forget all his troubles when staring at his teacher’s behind. It’s funny because it’s true. If you want to forget about your troubles for an afternoon, check out this fluffy 1971 comedy.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to nudity and sexual content, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Rock Hudson movies here!
The tagline states, “A good football coach can get away with murder,” and anyone who’s lived in a football town knows the truth in it. It doesn’t matter what scandals the players create, affairs, violence, or law problems; if the team wins, the town loves them and their coach. In this funny, flirty 1970s movie, helmed by Roger Vadim and written by Gene Roddenberry, Rock Hudson is the adored football coach and high school guidance counselor. With his thick ’70s mustache and relaxing vibe, it’s no wonder everyone loves him and looks up to him. He’s supportive and in tune with the viewpoints of the era, and most of all, he’s the football coach, so he can get away with anything.
John David Carson is a young student with a specific problem: he’s constantly distracted by his female classmates’ assets and has to excuse himself to go to the restroom so he’s not embarrassed. Even the new substitute teacher, Angie Dickinson, makes his hormones go wild, so John turns to the guidance counsellor for advice. At the same time, John has another difficulty: he discovered a dead cheerleader on campus, and the scandal has brought the police force to their small town.
With extremely frank language, tons of nudity, and steamy scenes, it makes you wonder what stars like Rock Hudson must have thought of the destruction of the Hays Code. At one time, he made black-and-white movies that measured the length of a kiss; in this movie, he has naked women climbing on top of him. In a very funny, racy scene, Angie Dickinson tells him her hormones are making it difficult for her to sleep. Rock suggests a couple of remedies, then crosses the room, lifts up her blouse, and helps himself.
This is a very funny movie, although from the synopsis you might not think so. It’s funny because of the free-spirit way it announces to the audience, “It’s 1971, and we can say and do whatever we want!” but it’s also funny because of the underlying theme of the movie. A young student was murdered, but the only person really interested in solving the mystery is out-of-town cop Telly Savalas. No one else really cares. Sex runs rampant at the school, and it’s much more of a priority to everyone. Teachers and students alike are far more concerned with their sex lives than the murder of a young child. Even the principal, Roddy McDowell, continually refers to the girl as “a great little cheerleader” and nothing more, and his main concern is whether or not the football game will be cancelled due to the police investigation.
This isn’t really a murder mystery, and the violence takes an obvious backseat to the real point of the story: sex is the ultimate distraction. Teenage girls merely giggle and flirt with the detective rather than answer pertinent questions about their dead classmate. A teacher sleeps with multiple students, but no one even slaps his wrist. A boy who found another student dead can forget all his troubles when staring at his teacher’s behind. It’s funny because it’s true. If you want to forget about your troubles for an afternoon, check out this fluffy 1971 comedy.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to nudity and sexual content, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Rock Hudson movies here!