The Swinging Barmaids

The Swinging Barmaids
Theatrical release poster by John Solie
Directed byGus Trikonis
Written byCharles B. Griffith
Produced byEd Carlin
Starring
CinematographyIrv Goodnoff
Edited byJerry Cohen
Music byDon Bagley
Production
company
Carlin Company Productions
Distributed byPremiere Releasing Org.
Release date
  • July 1975 (1975-07)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1,250,000 (1980 release)[1]

The Swinging Barmaids is a 1975 American exploitation film about a serial killer who targets cocktail waitresses. The film was directed by Gus Trikonis, and stars Bruce Watson, Laura Hippe, William Smith, and Dyanne Thorne. It was re-released in 1980 as Eager Beavers.

William Smith later recalled "Jesus Christ, that was a wild fuckin’ movie! (Laughing) Yeah, that was kind of fun."[2]

Plot

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After murdering Boo-Boo, a cocktail waitress at the Swing-A-Ling Club, Tom, a psychotic killer, disguises himself and gains employment as a bouncer at the same club where he continues his killing spree. While police lieutenant Harry White attempts to stop him, Tom sets his sights on 'pure' waitress Jenny.

Cast

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Cult status

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Quentin Tarantino screened the film at his festival in 2007. A critic at the screening wrote:

This flick is kind of bizarre. It’s a serial killer flick that’s not really high on the gore or suspense. It’s a sexploitation flick without much titillation. It’s a William Smith movie where he’s kind of unthreatening (until the end when he’s as badass as you want him to be). None of that means it’s a lame movie. Not at all.[3]

Shock magazine wrote "By normal critical standards, this is the dregs. But as no-budget 70s exploitation goes, this crap succeeds on every necessary level (I particularly enjoyed the crude, handheld camerawork during the murder scenes). Laced with fitfully sleazy kicks and a surprisingly energetic, corpse-laden finale, this inept flick is a wonderful example of the bad-/s-good nature of drive-in cinema. "[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 297. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
  2. ^ Poggiali, Chris (1998). "Shock Cinema Talks with the Legendary William Smith". Shock Cinema. No. 12. p. 6.
  3. ^ Review of 2007 screening at Aint-It-Cool-News
  4. ^ "The Swinging Barmaids". Shock Cinema. No. 13. 1998. p. 19.
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