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Whore, 1991

  A late gem by Ken Russell. Ken experiments with actress Theresa Russell talking directly to the camera.

Ken Russell Whore

She is sick of passing her money to her pimp, and the film develops through flashbacks. There are strong links to Crimes of Passion, and some scenes are repeats of the earlier film, but whereas Crimes of Passion looked at sexuality, Whore is another rite of passage film as the whore develops her independence. This coupled with Theresa speaking straight to the camera make it almost a one-woman film. The mixture of whore and mother is also more convincing than China Blue's dual life.

Theresa Russell in Ken Russell Whore   Theresa Russell in Ken Russell Whore   Theresa Russell in Ken Russell Whore

Ken Russell Whore   Ken Russell Whore

Although the film is Russell's third American film (Altered States and Crimes of Passion went before) it was originally firmly set in Britain, based on a play by David Hines.  The play, about a prostitute around the London King Cross area, was a monologue which led to Ken Russell's direct-to-camera approach.

Ken Russell Whore

The censored title is If You Can't Say It, Just See It.

Ken Russell Whore

This was a censored version to be sold in malls and supermarkets. The new title is crudely placed over the original.  It grossed over $1m in America.

people
Ken Russell Whore

Theresa Russell is especially good as the whore.  She is no relation to Ken.

Ken Russell has a minor role playing the head waiter. He also does camerawork, credited as Alf Russell.

Ken Russell

Huggy Bear from Starsky and Hutch appears.

Huggy Bear in Ken Russell Whore

Brian Tagg from Crimes of Passion (as well as Bruckner and Prisoners of Honor) edits.

best image

Theresa Russell lying on a bench with her long hair falling down, but filmed sideways so it looks as if she is upright and her hair is straight out.

Theresa Russell in Ken Russell Whore

The phallic food.

Ken Russell Whore     Ken Russell Whore

best scene The pimp trying to impress everyone and being put down by the waiter and the violinist.

The two girls talking together or reading or watching a film with one falling asleep.

Ken Russell Whore

themes

Ken Russell Whore

There is a film within the film.

Ken Russell Whore

One scene takes place in a cinema showing The Lair of the White Worm.

Whore by Ken Russell

There is promiscuous sexuality (compare Crimes of Passion), latent lesbianism and violent rape (compare The Music Lovers).

 

films Other films released in the same year include Silence of the Lambs, JFK and Boyz N the Hood.

 

 

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