Lolly-Madonna XXX

Story about two hillbilly families. One is run by Rod Steiger, the other by Robert Ryan. Two of Steiger's sons rape Ryans' daughter. Things quickly escalate and it all ends tragically.

This has a great cast--aside from Steiger and Ryan we have Jeff Bridges, Ed Lauter, Randy Quaid, Gary Busey and Season Hubley (a great actress who starred in many B movies well into the 1990s). However despite all the good acting this movie never really works. Nothing seems to have the impact it should have. The ending also is incredibly brutal and negative. So it's OK but just doesn't work. Despite the PG rating there's a lot swearing and a VERY bloody beating.

I saw this movie when I was a boy and it had an indelible effect on me. I am 41 years old and I still remember how its simple folk and their seemingly insurmountable problem touched me. Like another reviewer I also recall the score as being perfect. See this movie if you can. I am only sorry it is not available on VHS or DVD. I would surely buy it.

Like a number of movies from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that were made in the first half of the 1970s, "Lolly-Madonna XXX" was hard to see for many years until quite recently. I'd always been curious about it, so when it popped up on Turner Classic Movies one night, I was sure to record it and subsequently watch it. After seeing it, I think I can understand why the movie was held back for so long. As I said in my summary line, the movie is not awful. It is well acted, both by established stars Steiger and Ryan, as well as by the members of the cast who hadn't become stars yet. The movie feels authentic; you really get a taste of what run down and poverty-stricken life the characters live. However, there is one big flaw that sinks the movie, and that is that it's extremely slow. Scene after scene goes by with no real consequence - even the ending feels incomplete. If there had been more real plot, we might have had something here. But as it is, the movie will probably only appeal to film buffs with interest in the cast as well as with major studio movies that are obscure.

I saw this movie on TCM late at night (must be around 2 AM) when I was channel surfing. I was actually intrigued by its title and decided to watch it assuming it was a campy 70's sex romp. But once you see established names like Rod Steiger, Robert Ryan, Jeff Bridges, Randy Quaid, Scott Wilson, Ed Lauter and Gary Busey, you know you are wrong.

Though not everybody's cup of tea, Lolly Madonna XXX is a surprise treat - one of those movies that surprise you just when you think you know whats going to happen next or assume nothings going to happen at all. With terrific performances especially by Ed Lauter, a(very thin looking)Randy Quaid and a very young Jeff Bridges besides a beautiful score thats just right,this is a movie you shouldn't miss.

This is not a great film, by any means, but they make an honest effort to build up the ridiculous notion of territorial ownership of people, fences, and honor. Robert Ryan (wonderful actor since the 40's) and Rod Steiger (more restrained than usual) are the patriarchs of two rural hillbilly families with an innocent girl standing between them.

Jeff Bridges, Scott Wilson, Gary Busey, and Randy Quaid are some of their brood that puts this slightly above the usual drive-in fare. Kiel Martin is very good. Nice cinematography and none of the cast is coasting, it just never really catches fire. Worth a watch, though. Best performance = Scott Wilson. A 6 out of 10.