Ruby (1977 film)
Encyclopedia
Ruby is a 1977 horror drama film directed by Curtis Harrington
, which was one of his last horror films. The film centres around a woman named Ruby Claire (played by Piper Laurie
) who is the mother of a deaf-mute girl. She runs a drive-in theatre where bizarre things begin to happen to her employees and the spirit of her dead husband possesses her daughter.
Soon strange and bizarre accidents claim the lives of Ruby's employees, then Leslie begins to show strange behaviour, and then begins to speak... in her dead father's voice. Nikki Rocco possesses his daughter's body and terrorizes Ruby with levitations, telekinesis, maniacal laughing and bizarre sexual aggression.
by Dimension Pictures in AUGUST 1977.
Ruby was long available on video in the U.S., only in a butchered version that was re-edited (and apparently re-shot by director Stephanie Rothman
) for television , deleting the R rated violence and adding new dialogue scenes.
VCI's DVD was released on June 26, 2001 and is presented in its original theatrical version; however, this is not a director's cut: it contains Krantz's abrupt, horror ending rather than Harrington's intended romantic one. It is presented in widescreen but not anamorphic. The special features include: the original theatrical trailer, motion menu, scene selection, commentary with Curtis Harrington
and Piper Laurie
, interview with Curtis Harrington, photo gallery, and Director's Theatrical Cut. This version is currently out of print
.
Curtis Harrington
Curtis Harrington was an American film and television director whose work included experimental films, horror films, and episodic television.-Biography:...
, which was one of his last horror films. The film centres around a woman named Ruby Claire (played by Piper Laurie
Piper Laurie
Piper Laurie is an American actress of stage and screen known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks and the films The Hustler, Carrie, and Children of a Lesser God, all of which brought her Academy Award nominations...
) who is the mother of a deaf-mute girl. She runs a drive-in theatre where bizarre things begin to happen to her employees and the spirit of her dead husband possesses her daughter.
Plot
In 1935, a lowlife mobster, Nikki Rocco, is betrayed and executed in the swampy backwoods as his pregnant gun-moll, Ruby Claire watches. He swears vengeance with his dying breath, and then she suddenly goes into labour. Sixteen years later in 1951, Ruby is now running a drive-in theatre in the backwoods near her home and employs some ex-mobsters. Her 16-year-old daughter, Leslie Claire, is mute and has been since birth.Soon strange and bizarre accidents claim the lives of Ruby's employees, then Leslie begins to show strange behaviour, and then begins to speak... in her dead father's voice. Nikki Rocco possesses his daughter's body and terrorizes Ruby with levitations, telekinesis, maniacal laughing and bizarre sexual aggression.
Cast
- Piper LauriePiper LauriePiper Laurie is an American actress of stage and screen known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks and the films The Hustler, Carrie, and Children of a Lesser God, all of which brought her Academy Award nominations...
as Ruby Claire - Stuart WhitmanStuart WhitmanStuart Maxwell Whitman is an American actor.Stuart Whitman is arguably best-known for playing Marshal Jim Crown in the western television series Cimarron Strip in 1967...
as Vince Kemper - Roger Davis as Dr. Paul Keller
- Janit Baldwin as Leslie Claire
- Sal Vecchio as Nicky Rocco
- Paul Kent as Louie
- Len LesserLen LesserLeonard King "Len" Lesser was an American actor. He was known for a key role in the Clint Eastwood movie Kelly's Heroes and his recurring role as Uncle Leo in Seinfeld, which began during the show's second season in "The Pony Remark" episode.-Early life:Lesser was born in The Bronx in 1922...
as Barney - Crystin Sinclaire as Lila June
- Jack Perkins as Avery
- Eddy Donno as Jess
- Fred Kohler Jr. as Jake Miller
- Rory Stevens as Donny
- Raymond Kark as 1st Man
- Jan Burrell as 1st Woman
- Kip Gillespie as Herbie
- Tamar Cooper as S Woman
- Patricia Allison as Pickup Man's Wife
- Stu Olson as A Man
- Mary Margaret Robinson as Maybelline, Sherrif's Wife
- Michael AlldredgeMichael AlldredgeMichael Alldredge was an American film and television actor. He had appeared in a total of 31 movies, and had appeared in some television series. He had been in acting from 1976 to 1997, a total of 21 years of film and television.-External links:...
as Sherrif's Wife's Date
Release
The film was released theatrically in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Dimension Pictures in AUGUST 1977.
Ruby was long available on video in the U.S., only in a butchered version that was re-edited (and apparently re-shot by director Stephanie Rothman
Stephanie Rothman
Stephanie Rothman is a film director, producer and screenwriter, known for her low-budget independent exploitation films made in the 1960s and 1970s. She was the first female to be awarded the Directors Guild of America fellowship...
) for television , deleting the R rated violence and adding new dialogue scenes.
VCI's DVD was released on June 26, 2001 and is presented in its original theatrical version; however, this is not a director's cut: it contains Krantz's abrupt, horror ending rather than Harrington's intended romantic one. It is presented in widescreen but not anamorphic. The special features include: the original theatrical trailer, motion menu, scene selection, commentary with Curtis Harrington
Curtis Harrington
Curtis Harrington was an American film and television director whose work included experimental films, horror films, and episodic television.-Biography:...
and Piper Laurie
Piper Laurie
Piper Laurie is an American actress of stage and screen known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks and the films The Hustler, Carrie, and Children of a Lesser God, all of which brought her Academy Award nominations...
, interview with Curtis Harrington, photo gallery, and Director's Theatrical Cut. This version is currently out of print
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
.