"Behold The Buxotics"

Guilty Pleasures #1

I've just watched Russ Meyer's Mondo Topless for the first time in what must be close to 20 years.

After making a series of story driven films culminating with Faster Pussycat Kill Kill, Russ knocked out this quickie 1966 expose of the new 'Topless' craze that was 'sweeping the country'. It made a ton of money. Although little more than shots of large breasted Go-Go Girls gyrating madly whilst doing the Watusi, it was hilarious and over the years it has become a cult hit.


Strangely, what I find most appealing about the film today is quite different to what I caught my attention as a younger man. The narration is a laugh riot. In the introductory San Francisco travelogue sequence, cable cars are described as being "death defying and rampaging up hill and vale, digesting and disgorging humanity at will"!

There are lots of neat transistor radios and tape machines playing throughout the 61 minute run time. They blast out the cool 60's rock and roll surf guitar music that the girls groove to. Add to this some sweet comments from the dancers and the kitsch factor heads for the stratosphere.

I remember that my younger self was entranced by the hypnotic effect of the wobbly chests on show. So what has happened over the years? Have I grown out of it or have I just become too old?