The Naked Zoo

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Movie
Original title The Naked Zoo
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1971
length 78 minutes
Rod
Director William Grefe
script William Grefe
production William Grefe
occupation

The Naked Zoo is an American drama movie starring Rita Hayworth from 1971, based on a story by Ray Preston .

action

Mrs. Golden lives in sunny Miami and is the frustrated wife of a millionaire who is in a wheelchair. She begins an affair with Terry Shaw, a young writer and member of the local art scene. He shamelessly uses her generosity to celebrate lavish drug parties with her money and to regularly have fun with young girls. When Mrs. Golden has had enough of his antics, she ends the relationship and with it the financial support.

When Terry returns to their mansion to make up with her, they are surprised by Harry, their husband. The horned husband does not hesitate and takes up a weapon. Terry manages to overwhelm him and eventually kills him. While the police believe Harry's death was due to a tragic accident, Mrs. Golden now tries to blackmail her former lover. But Terry manages to wrap her around her finger again and then overdoses her on intoxicants. Not suspected by the police, he soon became a successful writer. When the daughter of the Goldens returns to Miami one day and meets Terry, the latter seduces the girl like the mother once did. However, she learns of his guilt for the death of her parents and kills him at the earliest opportunity.

background

The Naked Zoo , also known as The Grove and The Hallucinators , was filmed in Fort Lauderdale , Florida in 1966 . At the time, critics and fans were surprised that Rita Hayworth appeared in this cheaply produced film. However, her film career came to an end in the late 1960s. No longer the young screen beauty of yore, the role offers for her became rare. In addition, word got around in Hollywood that she was no longer able to memorize dialogues, what was attributed to her alcohol consumption and what the press reacted with malice. It was not until 1981 that it became known that Hayworth had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for many years .

The film, in which the former boxer Willie Pastrano can also be seen in a supporting role, was only shown in a few American cinemas five years after its creation. Like many others, even Rita Hayworth never saw this film.

Reviews

"This Rita Hayworth film might be of interest to quirky curio collectors who want to see former screen goddesses age," wrote Donald J. Mayerson in Cue Magazine at the time . The whole story is "just horrific". Sandra Brennan of the All Movie Guide also judged in retrospect: "Rita Hayworth's former bright star sank deep when she appeared in this shabby crime drama."

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Joe Morella, Edward Z. Epstein: Rita. The Life of Rita Hayworth . Delacorte Press, New York 1983, p. 231.
  2. ↑ Gerald Peary: Rita Hayworth - her films, her life . Heyne, Munich 1981, p. 177.
  3. ↑ “Perverse curiosity-seekers who want to see how former screen goddesses age may find this Rita Hayworth film of some minimal interest. [...] The entire affair is abysmal. " Donald J. Mayerson, cited in Cue Magazine . after Gene Ringgold: The Films of Rita Hayworth . Citadel Press, Secaucus 1974, p. 245.
  4. ↑ "Rita Hayworth's once bright star fell a little closer to Earth after she appeared in this sleazy exploitation crime drama." Sandra Brennan, cf. omovie.com