Lorna (1964)

Lorna (1964)

“I’m married, sure — but we never REALLY married, like now.”

Synopsis:
The sexually dissatisfied wife (Lorna Maitland) of a kind salt mine worker (James Rucker) is raped by a violent ex-convict (Mark Bradley), who she then desires as a lover and brings home — but when Bradley and his two co-workers (Hal Hopper and Doc Scortt) come home early that day after Rucker has fought Bradley on behalf of Maitland’s honor, they’re in for an unpleasant surprise.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Deep South
  • Ex-Cons
  • Infidelity
  • Russ Meyer Films
  • Sexuality

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary writes that this “Russ Meyer potboiler” — “his first attempt to make a serious film with a plot and theme” — “recalls those independently made, sleazy, sex-filled fake social dramas of the thirties (i.e., Child Bride).” He notes that “Meyer mixed Erskine Caldwell, John Steinbeck, and [a] phony morality tale to pretty good effect”, “impressively creat[ing] the sweaty, puritanical backwoods environment” and establishing “how a young woman could go crazy trying to repress her sexual impulses in such a ‘hot’ environment”. He points out that “Lorna’s character goes through much of what Hedy Lamarr does in Ecstasy; like Lamarr, she must be punished — according to a male filmmaker — for fulfilling her fantasies.” Given that the film opens with a near-rape — Hopper follows a drunk woman (Althea Currier) home and savagely beats her after she refuses his advances — then Lorna later “gets turned on by a rapist”, this film is clearly made from and for a certain perspective, and is really only must-see for Meyer enthusiasts.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Atmospheric b&w cinematography

Must See?
No, though of course Russ Meyer fans will certainly want to check it out.

Links:

One thought on “Lorna (1964)

  1. Not must-see.

    Really weird little flick. No doubt, in 1964, drive-in audiences weren’t all that bothered if the story and dialogue were bad and the acting was bad… as long as they were given the few ‘action’ scenes that Meyer promised them.

    But this is dull stuff.

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