The Centerfold Girls (1974)

Andrew Prine is consistently amusing in this notable 1970s exploitation feature, which is divided into three acts. In each act, he stalks a young woman; the intended victim in each case has posed for the same pin-up magazine. You see, our boy Andy, a bespectacled, dorky man with a priceless wardrobe, is one of those self-righteous moral crusader types who thinks that it's his job to rid the world of "filth".In act one, he pursues Jackie (future soap star Jaime Lyn Bauer), who makes a big mistake when she offers to help a seemingly harmless stranger named Linda (Janet Wood, "Foul Play"). Jackie is then hassled and terrorized by Lindas' creepy hippie friends.Act two: Andy targets Charly (Jennifer Ashley, "The Pom Pom Girls"), who's travelled to an isolated island to participate in a risqué photo shoot. He proceeds to decimate Charly's companions on his way to doing away with her.Finally, he aims to eliminate stewardess Vera (Tiffany Bolling, "The Candy Snatchers"), and it's here that he is actually presented with more of a challenge, since she's a tougher cookie than the others.Some viewers may be dismayed at the nasty, hard-edged, mean-spirited approach to this story, as female characters are often put through the ringer. Almost every male character is a disgusting piece of work, and there's no shortage of unappealing women, to boot. Some victims are more sympathetic than others.If you adore cinematic trash, you may be entertained by the story structure, and the graphic violence, but you'll especially be pleased by the abundance of female nudity.An impressive roster of familiar faces helps to lend some gravitas to these sleazy proceedings: Aldo Ray ("We're No Angels" '55), Teda Bracci ("C.C. & Company"), Tallie Cochrane ("The Candy Tangerine Man"), Ray Danton (director of "Psychic Killer" and "The Deathmaster"), Francine York ("The Doll Squad"), Jeremy Slate ("The Hooked Generation"), Mike Mazurki ("Donovan's Reef"), Janus Blythe ("The Hills Have Eyes" '77), Connie Strickland ("Act of Vengeance"), Anneka Di Lorenzo ("Dressed to Kill" '80), and Dan Seymour ("To Have and Have Not"). Prine is a hoot as he chastises his victims over the phone, uses his straight razor to cut pictures out of the magazine, and puts on his favourite record.Scripted by TV veteran Bob Peete ('Good Times'), and directed by John Peyser, whose credits were mostly in TV as well, this offers some twisted fun for any viewer who savours the trashy delights from this decade.Story by Arthur Marks, himself director of such things as "J.D.'s Revenge" and "Friday Foster".Seven out of 10.

After my viewing of the terrible Mary Millington Giallo-Lite British (s)explotation film The Playbirds,which was an "unofficial riff" remake of the proto-Giallo Noirish British film Cover-Girl Killer.So when I heard about this film,my first feeling was one of dread that this would be another disappointing "riff" on the film.When I viewed the film,I instead found an extremely entertaining movie,that does an amazing job at juggling genres.The plots- (note:due to the film being an anthology movie,I am going to write each "story" of the movie separately.Serial killer Clemment Dunne decides that he is going to kill every girl who has featured in a "best of the year centrefolds" adult magazine,due to none of the girls now being "pure" and "innercent"Story 1:A nurse (Jackie) starts to get very threatening phone calls,from a man who is stalking her,who says that he wants to help "clean her of all her sins" by murdering her.After hearing this,Jackie feels that it is best that she gets as far away from the stalker as possible,by going for a new job that is very far away from her current working place.As shes fuels up Jackie,meets a free-spirited hitchhiker (Linda Williams),who says that she is completely on her own.Feeling sorry for her Jackie decides to invite Linda to come along with her.When they at last reach the new place that Jackie hopes to be working at,she is told that the doctor that she was meant to have an interview with for the job is off today.Luckaly Jackies aunt has a villa near by that is currently empty,which she can stay at with Linda for the night.Later in the night,some of Lindas friends decide to pay her and Jackie a visit,which gets Jackie to start thinking that a killer stalker may not be the only thing that she has to fear tonight..Story 2:A group of models,who are hoping to get a big "break" into being major stars for adult magazines,go to a remote island for a photo shoot by a man who claims to have all of the connections that they each need to make it big in the business. (Although they each must do him "favors" if they want him to help them break into the business)When they arrive on the island,they discover that no one else is living on the island,and that the electricity is down.Although,with one of the models (Charlene) having recently been getting some very nasty phone calls from a man (Dunne),they may not actually be the only people that are on the island.Story 3:With having had a constant stream of threatening phone calls,and "funeral" flowers from Clemment Dunne,Air Steward-turned pin-up Vera Porter decides to go into hiding,so that there is no chance of Dunne finding her.Just before she leaves,Porter tells one of her best friends where she will be staying,and that her friend should not tell anyone where she is hiding,unless it is for a family emergency.Inadvetantly,her friend gives Dunne all the details about where Porter is staying,due to him pretending to be her mums doctor.When Clemment finally catches up with Vera,he is astonished to discover that there are other people that are wanting to destroy Porter..View on the film:For the three stories in the film,which are all slightly interlocking,screenwriters Arthur Marks and Bob Peete have impressively been able to make each section of the film tackle different genres very successfully.For the first story in the film Marks and Peetes do an extremely enjoyable mini-Giallo! (with the killer wearing gloves during the murderers)whilst the plot has a similar feel to Umberto Lenzis interesting (though pretty flawed) Giallo Oasis Of Fear,although in this version (which thankfully has made some of the uncountable Manson over tones in Lenzis film,a bit more subtle)the story progresses in a very well paced way,with Jackie warming to Linda,before realising that she may have let her guard down over Linda and her "friends" a bit too soon.One of the main things that really made this part of the film stand out to me,was director John Peysers very artistic final death scene,which is very cleverly done,and is a scene that would put smiles on Lenzi and Dario Argentos faces!.Peysers also chucks the viewer straight into a great slasher movie,which along with an excellent location that really sets the mood for the story,is also helped by a mesmerising performance of Andrew Prine as Clemment Dunne,who really shows the characters calculating and ruthless side,in this section of the film.whilst the last story in the film,is a sadly less gripping road/chase story,it is still a huge amount of fun,with Marks and Peetes letting Dunne see a bit of a different side to one of the girls,and the final chase/battle scene seeming to take place on a stunning forgotten burnt-out planet!.Final view on the film:A cleverly written and directed (and very different) anthology film,that any fans of Giallos or Slashers will really enjoy.

I first read about "The Centerfold Girls" in a wonderful Stephen Thrower's "Nightmare USA" and as a big serial killer enthusiast I wanted to see it as soon as possible.This is seriously grim and sleazy piece of exploitation cinema from California.Andrew Prine plays a serial killer named Clement Dunne who spends much of his time slicing up the centerfolds from erotic magazines.He vents his rage by killing these models with the first seen during the opening credits as a pretty corpse falling out of a car and getting buried near the ocean.The film then splits into three separate stalker tales for each centerfold with the second one being the nastiest and most gruesome.The first razor throat slashing is extremely effective,the acting is solid and there is plenty of nudity.If you are a fan of violent 70's exploitation gems you can't miss "The Centerfold Girls".8 out of 10.

Andrew Prine is Clement Dunne, a fanatic out to "help" the women who posed for some magazine's annual skin calendar. The problem? His brand of help involves stalking and slit throats. Sporting a skinny build, glasses, a bland suit and hideous shoes that don't match the rest of his attire, Dunne doesn't fit the look of your typical psychopath. However, what he lacks as far as physical menace goes, he more than makes up for in dogged determination.The Centerfold Girls is the very definition of a grindhouse film. It is a gritty, mean-spirited romp with a bleak world view and a narrow plot. Most of the men in the film are rapists, sleaze balls or exploiters. Then there is Dunne himself, who seems to flip-flop in his motivation. One minute he is wanting to "help" his victims, and the next he is telling them how they have to be punished for the smut they implant in the minds of those who view their calendar. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the film is the way in which it is structured. We follow Dunne as he hunts down three girls in particular, one segment of the film for each girl. Reminiscent of an anthology, but with the same basic storyline and key character throughout. Only the victims and settings change.The first act deals with Ms. March and her 24 hours of hell. She leaves her hospital job in L.A. to go see a doctor in a small town for a job interview. On the way there, she picks up a hippie girl who lies her way into getting a ride. Eventually, the former centerfold has to deal with the hippie's raucous friends, a rapist motel owner and naturally, the ever watchful Clement Dunne. This is without doubt the sleaziest of the film's three segments. The girl is toyed with and nearly raped twice, and it only gets worse from there. Aldo Ray plays the motel owner who has a thing for her, but only if she doesn't make things too easy for him.The second story has Dunne stalking the young Ms. May. She and a few other models are going to an island photo shoot. Dunne follows them and gets to delve out more help than he originally bargained for. This is the weakest part of the film. It follows a typical slasher film structure, but the characters are uninteresting and some of the action is choppy. There are also some really poorly done day-for-night shots. Despite the flaws, it is enjoyable... just underwhelming compared to the opening and close of the picture.The third and final segment finds Dunne gunning for Vera (the lovely Tiffany Bolling). When she's out one night, a blonde friend uses her bathroom only to fall victim to Dunne in a case of mistaken identity. Vera takes the hint and decides to get out of town. Unfortunately for her, the friend she asks to house-sit is a total moron who gives Dunne the info he needs to track her down. This is the best act of the film, thanks in large part to the strong screen presence of Bolling. I like her quite a bit, and she makes for a worthy adversary to the persistent Dunne. We also get a bit of interaction between the two sans telephone before the attempted murder, something that doesn't happens with the other victims. The final showdown in a patch of leafless trees makes for a strong close to the proceedings.I have to say, as far as exploitation cinema goes, they don't come much better than this. If it were better known, it would likely be a classic of the genre. I have the Media VHS, and the print really compliments the mood of the picture. For exploitation/grindhouse fans, it gets my highest recommendation.