Goldilocks and The Three Bares
Encyclopedia
Goldilocks and The Three Bares (1963
) is the thought-to-be-lost second to last nudie-cutie from the legendary exploitation team of Herschell Gordon Lewis
and David F. Friedman
. The title can be misleading; the plotline has absolutely nothing to do with the famous fable which inspired the title. Appropriately billed as the "first nudist musical" (not to be confused with The First Nudie Musical
, 1976), it has considerably more depth than their prior attempts at this genre.
(1961) and Daughter of The Sun (1962), a series of artistically photographed musical sequences and somewhat more "star power", Goldilocks stands out from the other five entries of this phase of Lewis and Friedman's partnership. It also showcases the more clownish side of Lewis regular William Kerwin, who otherwise typically takes on the straight-edge, leading man role. His character's name, Tommy Sweetwood, is also the name under which he was billed, once again to avoid SAG
regulations.
Another Lewis mainstay is Allison Louise Downe, appearing under her usual pseudonym Vicki Miles. The main star of the film, would-be crooner and nine-fingered Rex Marlow, was reportedly an employee of producer Thomas Dowd, who insisted (among many other things) that the film be a vehicle to springboard Marlow into stardom. Unfortunately for Marlow, his only other silver screen appearance would be in the Arch Hall, Jr. western vanity project Deadwood 76. Ironically, in that film, Marlow does no singing at all.
The film was thought to be lost for over 36 years until Something Weird Video
released it on VHS for the first time. Before its discovery, the writer of A Taste of Blood: The Films of Herschell Gordon Lewis, Christopher Wayne Curry, said in an interview with Lewis that he hoped the film would be found one day, to which Lewis replied, "Oh my, I hope not."
One day, Tommy follows Alison on one of her clandestine weekend getaways and discovers her dirty little secret, promptly passing the information along to Eddie. Unable to cope with such a libertine concept in the conservatism of the early 60's, Eddie flips out on Alison during a radio broadcast. But Tommy has been enlightened by his visit to the nudist camp, and plays Cupid for the star-crossed lovers, and the three soon decide to spend the next weekend at the camp. As with almost any non-nudists in these films upon first trying nudism, Eddie embraces the healthy purity of such an Edenic way of life, and becomes a firm believer. This, of course, is parlayed through a lengthy set of sequences showing our heroes enjoying a smattering of activities wearing only the wind such as horseback riding (bareback, nonetheless), yachting, swimming and water skiing (all at the insistence of producer Dowd).
The "star power" of Goldilocks extends to the appearance of former light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim
as the owner of his eponymous nightclub where Eddie and Tommy perform. Maxim was so unprepared for his role as himself that he would read his lines off his shirt cuff.
In nearly every online review/synopsis of this film, the movie is described as "set in the 1920's". It is unclear from where this conclusion is drawn, as the cars seen in the film are clearly early-60's models, the yachts appear quite contemporary, and no other period indicators of such can be found in the film. The closest thing to a reference of time is the name of the nightclub, "Joey Maxim's Roaring 20's".
1963 in film
The year 1963 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* June 12 - Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City....
) is the thought-to-be-lost second to last nudie-cutie from the legendary exploitation team of Herschell Gordon Lewis
Herschell Gordon Lewis
Herschell Gordon Lewis is an American filmmaker, best known for creating the "splatter film" subgenre of horror...
and David F. Friedman
David F. Friedman
David Frank Friedman was an American filmmaker and film producer.-Life and career:Friedman first became interested in entertainment after spending part of his childhood in Birmingham and Anniston, Alabama, traveling carnival sites. He met exploitation film pioneer Kroger Babb during his stay in...
. The title can be misleading; the plotline has absolutely nothing to do with the famous fable which inspired the title. Appropriately billed as the "first nudist musical" (not to be confused with The First Nudie Musical
The First Nudie Musical
The First Nudie Musical is a 1976 American motion picture directed by Mark Haggard and Bruce Kimmel.-Overview:The movie is a comedy starring Cindy Williams and Stephen Nathan. Nathan plays Harry Schechter, heir to a Hollywood studio forced to make a musical comedy porno in order to stave off...
, 1976), it has considerably more depth than their prior attempts at this genre.
History
With slightly higher production values than The Adventures of Lucky PierreThe Adventures of Lucky Pierre
The Adventures of Lucky Pierre is a 1961 nudie cutie sexploitation film created by exploitation filmmakers Herschell Gordon Lewis and David F. Friedman. The first of its kind to be filmed in color, the film starred comedian Billy Falbo...
(1961) and Daughter of The Sun (1962), a series of artistically photographed musical sequences and somewhat more "star power", Goldilocks stands out from the other five entries of this phase of Lewis and Friedman's partnership. It also showcases the more clownish side of Lewis regular William Kerwin, who otherwise typically takes on the straight-edge, leading man role. His character's name, Tommy Sweetwood, is also the name under which he was billed, once again to avoid SAG
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
regulations.
Another Lewis mainstay is Allison Louise Downe, appearing under her usual pseudonym Vicki Miles. The main star of the film, would-be crooner and nine-fingered Rex Marlow, was reportedly an employee of producer Thomas Dowd, who insisted (among many other things) that the film be a vehicle to springboard Marlow into stardom. Unfortunately for Marlow, his only other silver screen appearance would be in the Arch Hall, Jr. western vanity project Deadwood 76. Ironically, in that film, Marlow does no singing at all.
The film was thought to be lost for over 36 years until Something Weird Video
Something Weird Video
Something Weird Video is an American publisher of video tapes and DVDs, based in Seattle, Washington. They specialize in exploitation film, particularly the works of Harry Novak, Doris Wishman, David F. Friedman, and Herschell Gordon Lewis. SWV videos are available on demand to Comcast subscribers...
released it on VHS for the first time. Before its discovery, the writer of A Taste of Blood: The Films of Herschell Gordon Lewis, Christopher Wayne Curry, said in an interview with Lewis that he hoped the film would be found one day, to which Lewis replied, "Oh my, I hope not."
Plot
The film follows the perils of nightclub singer Eddie Livingston (Marlow), as he pursues press agent Alison Edwards (Downe). Livingston's comic foil Tommy Sweetwood is an unsuccessful comedian who manages to offend his entire audience in one way or another with his brash, insensitive humor. Alison likes Eddie enough, but she hides a dark secret; she is (GASP) a nudist! The two go back and forth playing cat and mouse as Eddie sings a series of Bobby Vinton-ish ballads like "Good Things Happen When I'm With You".One day, Tommy follows Alison on one of her clandestine weekend getaways and discovers her dirty little secret, promptly passing the information along to Eddie. Unable to cope with such a libertine concept in the conservatism of the early 60's, Eddie flips out on Alison during a radio broadcast. But Tommy has been enlightened by his visit to the nudist camp, and plays Cupid for the star-crossed lovers, and the three soon decide to spend the next weekend at the camp. As with almost any non-nudists in these films upon first trying nudism, Eddie embraces the healthy purity of such an Edenic way of life, and becomes a firm believer. This, of course, is parlayed through a lengthy set of sequences showing our heroes enjoying a smattering of activities wearing only the wind such as horseback riding (bareback, nonetheless), yachting, swimming and water skiing (all at the insistence of producer Dowd).
The "star power" of Goldilocks extends to the appearance of former light heavyweight champion Joey Maxim
Joey Maxim
Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli was an American boxer. He was a light heavyweight champion of the world. He took the ring-name Joey Maxim from the Maxim gun, the world's first self-acting machine gun, based on his ability to rapidly throw a large number of left jabs.-Early career:Maxim was born in...
as the owner of his eponymous nightclub where Eddie and Tommy perform. Maxim was so unprepared for his role as himself that he would read his lines off his shirt cuff.
In nearly every online review/synopsis of this film, the movie is described as "set in the 1920's". It is unclear from where this conclusion is drawn, as the cars seen in the film are clearly early-60's models, the yachts appear quite contemporary, and no other period indicators of such can be found in the film. The closest thing to a reference of time is the name of the nightclub, "Joey Maxim's Roaring 20's".