RIP Russ Meyer

From iwon

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Summary
Russ Meyer, who has been called "King of the Nudies," known for directing films such as "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls," a sequel to the studio's big grossing "Valley of the Dolls.", "The Immoral Mr. Teas," "Erotia," and "Wild Gals of the Naked West," "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!' and "Vixen", seen in this 1969 photo, died Saturday at his home in the Hollywood Hills, according to his company, RM Films International Inc. Spokeswoman Janice Cowart said Meyer had suffered from dementia and died of complications of pneumonia, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004.

Full
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Russ Meyer, producer-director who helped spawn the "skin flick" with such films as "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" and later gained a measure of critical respect, has died. He was 82.

Meyer died Saturday at his home in the Hollywood Hills, according to his company, RM Films International Inc. Spokeswoman Janice Cowart said Meyer had suffered from dementia and died of complications of pneumonia.

Meyer's films were considered pornographic in their time but are less shocking by today's standards, with their focus on violence and large-busted women but little graphic sex.

Altogether he produced, directed, financed, wrote, edited and shot at least 23 films, including his debut, "The Immoral Mr. Teas," in 1959 and the 1968 film "Vixen," whose success earned him notice from major studios.


He went on to direct the major studio release "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls", which was co-written by film critic Roger Ebert.

In a 1996 interview with The Associated Press, Meyer described his films as "passion plays ... beauty against something that's totally evil."

Meyer was unapologetic for his movies, arguing the onscreen female nudity put customers in theater seats. But he maintained that women liked the films.

"The girls kick the hell out of the guys. I've always played well at the Ivy League - Cornell, Dartmouth. I have never encountered a berating woman," he said.

Meyer's work made him rich and earned him acclaim. He was honored at international film festivals and his movies were discussed in college courses. Even critics who disliked his movies often found something positive to note.

New York critic John Simon derided "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" as "awful, stupid and preposterous" but said the film was "also weirdly funny and a real curio, rather like a Grandma Moses illustration for a work by the Marquis de Sade," according to Halliwell's Film and Video Guide.

His 1966 film "Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill!," about three go-go girl club dancers who go on a vengeful murder spree against the men who did them wrong, still makes the art house rounds.

"This film is not derogatory to women," Meyer said. "There were three tough cookies to deal with. Besides, they get what's coming."

"Stag films were the earliest version of pornographic movies, but then they got hard-core, and I didn't," he told the AP. "Mine are put-ons, send-ups, humorous. I think I've got an ability to provoke, be teasing, be provocative.

"It's all a joke."

Born in Oakland, Meyer got his start in film as a young boy when his mother bought him an 8 mm camera. As an adult, he made training films with the Army Signal Corps in World War II and then shot newsreels in France and Germany. He made industrial films for Standard Oil and lumber companies before making his own films.

Meyer was married three times, including to actress Edy Williams. His studio said he left no survivors.

RIP Russ!!! I love those campy films. I think my DVD is very inspired by Russ Meyer.

RIP Russ........don't think I could have made it through my teen years without your films.

They'll be tasting the black sperm of his vengeance wherever he is. RIP

I loved Russ' movies! One more cult icon gone.

Rest in Peace Russ...thank you for the greatest movies ever!

Rest in Peace Russ. Let whatever god you believed in let you make more movies in the afterlife.

Rip Russ...

so long,
and thanks for all the movies.
RIP