Pretty Maids All in a Row

Pretty Maids All in a Row is a 1971 American mystery film that is part black sex comedy, part murder mystery. Starring Rock Hudson alongside Angie Dickinson, it was released on April 28, 1971. Roger Vadim directed the film, which Gene Roddenberry produced, having dramatized a 1968 novel written by Francis Pollini into the screenplay from which Vadim worked. This was Roddenberry's only feature film writing credit.

Pretty Maids All in a Row
theatrical release poster
Directed byRoger Vadim
Produced byGene Roddenberry
Screenplay byGene Roddenberry
Based onPretty Maids All in a Row
by Francis Pollini
StarringRock Hudson
Angie Dickinson
Telly Savalas
Music byLalo Schifrin
CinematographyCharles Rosher, Jr.
Edited byBill Brame
Production
company
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • April 28, 1971 (1971-04-28) (NYC)

week of May 10, 1971 (LA)[1]
Running time
91-92 or 95 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office282,810 admissions (France)[2]

Plot

In Oceanfront High School, a (fictitious) American high school, at the height of the sexual revolution, young female students are being targeted by an unknown serial killer. Meanwhile, a male student called Ponce is experiencing sexual frustration, surrounded by a seemingly unending stream of beautiful and sexually provocative classmates.

Michael "Tiger" McDrew (Hudson) is the high school's football coach and guidance counselor, but there is another aspect of Tiger's character; he has participated in a number of sexual encounters with female students. Tiger tries to befriend Ponce and help him deal with his sexual needs by encouraging him to seek the affections of a sexy substitute teacher, Miss Betty Smith (Dickinson).

Meanwhile, one young girl after another turns up dead. A police detective captain, Sam Surcher (Telly Savalas), investigates the case but never obtains enough evidence to make an arrest. Tiger is suspected, but never caught red-handed. Ponce, however, learns that Tiger is guilty when he discovers evidence hidden in his office. Tiger drives Ponce to a pier and confesses, and apparently commits suicide by driving his car into the ocean with Ponce as his witness. However, Surcher suspects that Tiger has faked his own death, a suspicion that is reinforced when he notices that Tiger's supposed widow has a plane ticket to Brazil.

Cast

Cast notes:

  • This film was John David Carson's feature film debut.[1]
  • Dawn Roddenberry, producer Gene Roddenberry's daughter, has a bit part in the film as "Girl #1".[1]

Production

The novel was published in 1968.[3] Producer Jay Weston and director James B. Harris originally optioned the novel and assigned William Hanley to write the script.[4][5][6] Joe Namath was meant to star as the football coach.[7]Eventually Gene Roddenberry rewrote the script and came on board as producer; the job of directing was given to Roger Vadim – his first movie in two years. "There is no role in the film for Jane Fonda" said the director, who was estranged from his wife at the time.[8]

It was Vadim's first American film, though he said he had received offers before – a contract ten years previously with Paramount for five films, and one with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) three years earlier. He said he had bought himself out of both contracts because he could not get the necessary control. Vadim said he had to be persuaded to return to MGM:

It seemed this time they (MGM) were more interested to give more credit to the director. 'We have changed' they said. But from the moment I get here I fight like hell. They want names but they don't want to pay for them. For the first time I will be at a studio for a major company in Hollywood. In a way I like a challenge. I really think it's necessary to get involved with something new. It's so good to break all your habits. In France I can do anything, here I have to fight. That's a good thing. They respect you if you fight and it keeps you alert.[9]

"I am not trying to make a statement on America", added Vadim. "I tell a story and the story happens to be located in America."[10]Rock Hudson was signed to star, and filming began in August 1970.[11] Brigitte Bardot was offered the female lead but could not get out of a prior commitment; Angie Dickinson played the role instead.[9] The cast included eight young female newcomers, the "pretty maids": Brenda Sykes, Joy Bang, Gretchen Burrell, Joanna Cameron, Aimée Eccles, June Fairchild, Margaret Markov, and Diane Sherry.[12] The film was in production from August 10 to October 25, 1970.[1] It was shot in large part at University High School in West Los Angeles.[13] Some years later, a University High administrator told the Los Angeles Times that the high sexual and violent content of the film should have precluded it from being approved for filming at the school.[14] Other scenes were shot at Santa Monica Pier and Venice Marina., while the football sequence was filmed at Rancho La Cienega Park using a local football team and school band.[1]

Publicity

The April 1971 issue of Playboy magazine published an article about the movie written by Vadim. This includes a nine-page pictorial of actresses Angie Dickinson, Gretchen Burrell, Aimee Eccles, Margaret Markov, Playboy bunny Joyce Williams, and others.

Reception

The film was poorly received by most critics, with Roger Ebert calling it "embarrassing" and Ken Hanke of Mountain Xpress remarking: "In 1971 this was pretty daring and trendy. Unfortunately, it's no longer 1971."[15]

Quentin Tarantino selected this film as one of his choices for Sight & Sound magazine's 2012 edition of Top 10 Greatest Films of All Time.[16]

See also

References

  1. Pretty Maids All in a Row at the American Film Institute Catalog
  2. Box office information for Roger Vadim films at Box Office Story
  3. Sokolov, Raymond (Oct 20, 1968). "Tiger McDrew: PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW". The New York Times. p. Q59.
  4. A. H. WEILER (Nov 24, 1968). "Paging Ethel Waters". The New York Times. p. D18.
  5. Martin, Betty (Nov 26, 1968). "MOVIE CALL SHEET: 'Eye on Sparrow' Film Set". Los Angeles Times. p. g16.
  6. "MGM Will Begin Nine Films in '69". Los Angeles Times. Nov 30, 1968. p. a5.
  7. Haber, Joyce (May 15, 1969). "Burbank Honors Rowan, Martin". Los Angeles Times. p. d21.
  8. A.H. WEILER (May 3, 1970). "Vadim's 'Pretty Maids'". The New York Times. p. 109.
  9. Thomas, Kevin (Aug 23, 1970). "Vadim Reappearing With Promising Film for MGM: Vadim and Promising Film". Los Angeles Times. p. q10.
  10. ALJEAN HARMETZ (Sep 6, 1970). "Movies: In Vadim's Garden 'Pretty Maids All in a Row'". The New York Times. p. 65.
  11. Lundy, Dori (July 24, 1970). "Rock Hudson in Star Role". Los Angeles Times. p. h12.
  12. "THE VADIM GIRLS: First he catapulted Brigitte Bardot to stardom, then Catherine Deneuve ... and now director Roger Vadim sets his sites on these luscious lovelies. Has he done it again?". Chicago Tribune. Sep 27, 1970. p. f7.
  13. "Uni High Footballers to Appear in Film". Los Angeles Times. Sep 7, 1970. p. h22.
  14. Patricia Ward Biederman, "Campuses Make Popular Film Locations: As Stars, Schools Are in Class of Their Own", Los Angeles Times, March 1, 1987.
  15. "Pretty Maids All in a Row". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  16. "Read New All-Time Top 10 Lists From Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, Quentin Tarantino & More | The Playlist". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
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