Vixen (4 Stars)

"Vixen" is set in the great country of Canada, to be more precise in British Columbia. It was Russ Meyer's 12th film, made in 1968. His previous films had been moderately successful, but this was his big breakthrough. In the commentary Russ says it was the film that put him on Easy Street. It was filmed with a budget of $20,000, but it earned $26 million at the box office. I have to ask how he could make it so cheap. Didn't he pay the actors anything?

This is Vixen herself, as played by the beautiful Erica Gavin. Was she the reason for the film's success? Maybe in part, but there had been beautiful women in all of Russ Meyer's films. Maybe it was the politics. Maybe it was the scandalous subject matter. Whatever it was, Russ ticked all the right boxes, and the film was a massive hit.

This is Vixen's husband, Tom Palmer. He has a small cabin that he rents to tourists who want to get away from civilisation. He picks them up from a nearby airport with his private plane. It's mentioned at the beginning that he spends a lot of time away from home, but it's not stated what he's doing. A fellow pilot asks him if he's not worried that Vixen will be unfaithful in his absence. Tom isn't worried. He's convinced that Vixen is always faithful. Silly man. At the very moment he's speaking these words she's with a Canadian Mountie.

It's a remote community, and there aren't many men. One of them is Vixen's brother Judd. He declares his rebellion against the world by wearing a swastika and other Nazi regalia. Is that really necessary? There must be other ways to tell people you're a rebel. He's not a pleasant person. There are a lot of unpleasant characters in Russ Meyer's films. But Vixen herself is the most unpleasant person.

When there are no Mounties available, Vixen opens her shirt to tempt her little brother. He resists her, but it's all he can do to keep his hand steady on the throttle.

Vixen doesn't give up so easily. She always gets what she wants. She climbs into the shower with him when he's naked. That's more than any man can resist, sister or not. Within minutes they're on the bed performing acts that are illegal in Canada.

At this point you must be thinking that Vixen will sleep with any man. No, she has her limits. She despises black men, so she refuses to sleep with Judd's friend Niles. He wants her, but she doesn't want him. He's an American who's fled to Canada to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam war. He wears his peace sign with pride, although his peaceful nature isn't his only motivation. He also says that he refuses to fight for a country that treats him as a second class citizen.

But what about the politics? Tom has a guest called Mr. O'Bannion, a stereotypical Communist. He promises Niles a better future in Cuba, where his skin colour won't matter. O'Bannion hijacks Tom's plane and forces him to fly to Cuba, where Niles can enjoy a life of freedom. On the way, Niles wakes up to reality and sees that O'Bannion is just another sort of oppressor.

There's something I never noticed in Russ Meyer's films until I listened to the film commentaries: the women don't blink. They always stare straight at the men they're talking to. This is a subtle touch, that most viewers (including me) will miss, but it makes the women more intimidating.

Success Rate:  + 1298.0