Some Like It Violent (1968) User Reviews

Comparatively, an Exploitation "Rougie" Masterpiece

[mgtbltp · 7/10 · 16 July 2017]

When the "B's" went out of production low budget guerrilla Exploitation Grindhouse "C through Z's" took over. I can count probably just using the fingers of both hands how many of them are worth a look. Some Like It Violent is one of them.

The film stars Bob O'Connell as Johnny Scaro, Sharon Kent (who looks a bit like Kathryn Leigh Scott in a blonde wig) as Dolores, and Natara as prostitute Zelda. Scaro's blonde hooker uncredited starred as the lead in producer Barry Mahon's (Hot Skin, Cold Cash (1965)). That's it, the rest of the cast is lost to history and they probably didn't use their real names anyway.

O'Connell is a blast to watch, bug-eyed, and channeling Cagney in his crazed monologues about making on his own it in the streets. The opening sequence of Scaro chopping up the mannequins is reminiscent of Sam Fuller's intense opening sequence for The Naked Kiss. As with most all of these cheap productions, the whole range of acting ability and lack of it is apparent and, of course, the requisite T&A is displayed.

These bottom of the barrel exploitation films bridge some of the the gaps between B production Noirs and the Hollywood output of Neo Noirs that picked up again in the 70's. Needs a good restoration, worth seeking out, more than just a "skin flick" 6-7/10.

Undiscovered soft porn jewel, awaiting first-class reissue

[lor_ · 7 March 2011]

Among the hundreds of '60s porn films that have flooded the market in recent years, Kemal Horulu's SOME LIKE IT VIOLENT stands head & shoulders above the pack in quality. Hopefully some video distributor with taste (an oxymoron??) will put it into circulation.

I had seen many of Horulu's XXX outings, plus a dumb nudie called FORBIDDEN FLESH, but VIOLENT is the real deal. It features a well-written script (whoa!) and would qualify as a genuine B movie (co-feature, B meaning supporting feature in the traditional sense) had it been made for a major company instead of movies-as-sausage producer Barry Mahon.

Print I watched had no one credited at all, but the leading actor Bob O'Connell gives a tour de force as hardened gangster Johnny Scaro who likes to philosophize, and has clearly seen the James Cagney classic WHITE HEAT a few too many times for his own good.

His personality is demonstrated early on (and emphasized in the film's trailer) by a penchant for violently chopping up store manikins with a machete. An unusually twisted hobby, even for a mobster.

His misogyny is near-complete, as demonstrated by the way he treats his girls. One is played by the busty Mahon blonde (name unknown) who was so impressive in the lead role of HOT SKIN, COLD CASH and also appears in the familiar short NAKED MOONSHINE. Heroine is played by Sharon Kent, who is sent by police Lt. Scott Lehman to infiltrate Scaro's gang.

This being a roughie, when she is raped (one of the hazards of her assignment), boy friend/supervisor Lehman is oblivious to her problem. Film's weakest element is the horrible actor in this cop role -he can't act worth a damn.

Most of the fun is provided by O'Connell, who is simply fabulous in his various monologues which generally betray a contempt for "book learning", as in his right hand man Dapper Dan who had the temerity to go to college.

Key subplot is identical to another Mahon quickie SEX CLUB INTERNATIONAL. An expensive social club run by little old lady Mrs. Cookson uses computers to match up compatible couples. (Basically she has a card-sorter posing as a Univac, so cheap it's hilarious.) Scaro muscles in, replacing her stable of nice girls with his prostitutes. It makes a lot of sense, and I guess Eliot Spitzer's career arc shows the Internet merely codified this plot device.

Highly recommended, especially for O'Connell's memorable thesping.