Woodyanders Review of French Quarter

French Quarter (1978)

An offbeat, original and underrated 70's drive-in gem

[8/10 · 25 December 2008]

Naive young lady Christine Delaplane (a solid and sympathetic performance by the luscious Alisha Fontaine) goes to New Orleans to find her future and winds up getting a job as a stripper at a local seedy dive. So far, so familiar. But the story takes a surprising and unexpected departure into more fresh and intriguing cinematic territory after Christine has a drink with some drug in it and flashes back to the past where she was one Gertrude "Trudy" Dix, a sweet virgin who worked at a fancy bordello run by classy and kindly madam Countess Willie Piazza (finely played by Virginia Mayo) in the early turn-of-the-century French Quarter. Although she's set to be auctioned off to any rich pervert who pays the highest price for her, Gertrude nonetheless falls in love with nice guy pianist Kid Ross (the always excellent Bruce Davison). Director/co-writer Dennis Kane and co-writer Barney Cohen concoct a dandy yarn that makes the most out of a limited budget, soaks up plenty of deliciously tangy and colorful Big Easy atmosphere, offers a fascinatingly intricate juxtaposition of the past and present (for example, every last cast member has dual roles in the picture), and even provides a touching (if occasionally too mushy) central love story between the two engaging protagonists. Of course, we also get the usual steamy soft-core sex and tasty female nudity, with a sizzling striptease in a giant wineglass rating as a definite erotic highlight. Adding some extra spice to an already tasty celluloid gumbo is a good dash of voodoo complete with snakes, pounding primitive drums, and frenzied tribal dancers. The supporting cast comes through with a bevy of exquisitely beautiful women: Lindsay Bloom as the bawdy Big Butt Annie, Laura Mischa Owens as the frosty Ice Box Josie, Ann Michelle as kinky, disloyal junkie Coke-Eyed Laura, and Becky Allen as the fiery Bricktop. Lance LeGault positively oozes smarm as evil lecher Tom, William Simms is properly nasty as brutal bar owner Aaron Harris, and Vernel Bagneris contributes an amiable portrayal of cocky legendary jazzman Jelly Roll Morton. The handsome cinematography by Jerry Kalegeratos makes pretty frequent use of dewy soft focus. Dick Hyman's flavorful score likewise hits the swinging soulful spot. Quirky, different and ambitious, this neat little sleeper is well worth a look.