Olga's Girls (1964)

We follow the everyday life of a drug dealer and white slaver who works for the syndicates of New York. We see how she deals with dishonesty, rebellion and death in this 42nd St. exploitation film.

This has got to be the closest I've been to 42nd St sleaze. Produced by George Weiss and directed by Joseph Mawra, two popular Poverty Row personalities, this movie is somewhat a stand out of the exploitation genre. While the budget was so bargain basement, they had to shoot with no sound, they make up for it with brilliant cinematography. The camera is almost surgical in it's composure. The play on light and shadows is put to good use and makes the picture really unique. With help from almost constant narration from lead actress Audrey Campbell and Joe Holt, this film comes of as a cross between the short films of Irving Klaw and those 1950's high school films about proper hygiene and how to ask a girl out to a formal date. this movie can also be seen as the "forefather" of the Wicked Dominatrix sub genre of exploitation.

Now, if you're expecting this to be a serious film, then I'd have to laugh at you. This movie was shot over the span of a couple of days, so don't expect all the acting to be high caliber. It's a bunch of vignettes in a somewhat Grand Ginol tradition being held together with some good narration. Add some tits and ass, some "supposed" lesbianism, and torture scenes that are somewhat laughable and you got yourself a tidy popcorn movie for it's time. Sit back, enjoy the ride. It was never ment to be taken seriously in the first place.

I must say, DVD wise, I was virtually creaming my pants when I saw how clear and cleaned up Synapse's copy of the movie was. very clear and pristine it is. The audio is great as well. No hissed and pops. The soundtrack stands on it's own with the narration. The features are ok as well. You've got a trailer and a commentary track featuring Andre Salas, film journo and critic and Audrey Campbell, the woman who played Olga. The commentary is nothing to write home about, and sometimes we are left with lulls of silence. I do hope Synapse picks up the other Olga films, but for now, we'll just have to count on Something Weird's one disc collection. A definite own for the psychotronic fan and a possible conversation piece for the movie fan in general.

I give it....two and a half stars. A healthy two and a half.