The Flesh Merchant

Fascinating story about prostitution in the 1950's. Joy Reynolds is sweet and really sexy. Lisa Rack gives a performance that would have won her an academy award if this had been a big studio film.

What is funny is the antiquated morality. Joy Reynolds really seems to be enjoying herself as she enters the "dirty" world, quickly graduating from nude art school model to high priced escort in less than a day. Sure a client actually attempts to kiss her (horrors!) but after two minutes of soul searching, she decides that the diamonds and mink coats are worth it.

Except for a brief scene of a man beating a woman for about 20 seconds, the film has no sex or violence. It would probably be rated PG13 today.

Watch it for some great acting by Joy Reynolds and Lisa Rack and some cute witty dialogue.

This is a vastly entertaining antique from l952 that probably did great business in the grind houses on 42nd Street. But what really amazed me was the performance of the long forgotten actress, Lisa Rack! She portrays the older sister whose younger sibling, a very vivacious and attractive, Joy Reynolds, who comes to Hollywood to make it big. Although the production values are typical of these exploitation movies, the acting was way above average for this no-name cast.

As I've mentioned, Lisa Rack delivers a powerhouse speech at the end of this tale, shouting and denouncing all the sleaze-balls who've ensnared women to become prostitutes under the guise of nude modeling. Lisa Rack really let's them have it in a passionate, gusty denunciation. As far as I can tell, Rack made no other pictures, which is a shame. If this had been a big studio effort, she would have won all kinds of accolades. Just watch this one, though, with your eye on Lisa Rack and be amazed at what she did with her part in this long forgotten exploitation gem.

The Flesh Merchant (1956)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Above average sexploiation film about 21-year-old Nancy (Joy Reynolds) who travels to Los Angeles to visit her sister and with dreams of getting into modeling. She meets a modeling agent but he's actually just a pimp and soon Nancy finds herself at a resort selling herself to older men. Director W. Merle Connell was no stranger to the exploitation genre and a quick look at his filmmography will show titles like TEST TUBE BABIES, THE DEVIL'S SLEEP and UNTAMED WOMEN. He certainly knows how to fill his film's with interesting characters and that there is what helps THE FLESH MERCHANT from being boring. Running just under a hour there's certainly no time that's wasted as we're pretty much introduced to the girl, see that she's willing to make a few bucks and it's off to the whorehouse she goes. The film runs at a very quick pace thanks to the director but the screenplay also deserves a lot of credit for the rather fun characters. The Nancy character is just as naive as you'd expect and the warning, soap-box preaching sister is a real hoot as well and especially at the end. There's the wiser hooker who is getting too old for the game and of course all of the pimps are downright fun in their own way. If you're looking for a serious drama about the horrors of street walking then you're not going to find it here. This is an exploitation picture that wants to "warn" of things but at the same time highlight the fun of being at one of these clubs. There's even a quick bit of nudity, which was clearly a wink at the mostly men who would be watching this. The performances are actually a lot better than you'd expect as well. THE FLESH MERCHANT isn't a lost masterpiece but for fans of the genre it's certainly worth watching.

A naïve young woman follows her older sister into what turns out to be a prostitution ring.

The wild and wicked. Heck, the only thing wild and wicked about this 60-minutes is a fleeting glimpse of a bare butt. Otherwise it amounts to a fashion parade at what looks like a mountain dude ranch, where everyone sits around like a nightclub. There's not even a passionate clinch to suggest what might be going on in the rooms. Oh sure, there's plenty of polite innuendo about what's being served up here, bordello style. But nothing that might offend 1950 norms, even the exploitative kind. Then there's the most poorly staged shootout on record, I guess to inject a little action, since we're not getting any other kind.

Have to agree with Mark D-2, however. Lisa Rack delivers an A-grade performance as Paula, while the pert Joy Reynolds manages a pretty good Debbie Reynolds. And what a burst of inspiration getting that wizened old hooker to put in a sudden jolting appearance. But what's with the ending. It's like someone tripped over the tripod and decided to call it a wrap. Did they run out of film. Anyhow, the movie does prove how tightly the 1950's lid was clamped down, even on supposedly disreputable flicks like this one.

Naive Nancy comes to Hollywood from her dull small town to visit her glamorous sister in hopes of becoming a model. Her sister tells her its no life for her, but Nancy is determined. In less than 48 hours Nancy ends up working at a high priced house of prostitution! In an incredible coincidence, she works at the same house of ill repute as her older sister. Nancy decides selling herself for money is not for her but the mobsters who run the place won't let her go.

THE FLESH MERCHANT is a no budget "exploitation" picture with bad acting, silly dialogue, and a script loaded with coincidences. There is also some very brief nudity. There is one really weird character called "Joker", who plays the mobsters all around "go for." He has a Brooklyneese accent and delivers malaprops ala Leo Gorcey, but physically resembles latter day Bowery Boy Eddie Leroy. There is one funny line when one of the "older" girls starts giving trouble. The boss says he going to send her to work at the "hotel" in the city. When she protests, he says "Hey! Even winos need a few thrills."

Joy Reynolds, who plays Nancy, is quite an eyeful if may say so myself.