Kipling's Women

60m 1960

Brief Synopsis

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One of the first of the Nudies to gain wide-spread showing in the U.S., although still relagated mostly to the grind houses or, in some situations,long-time schlock distributor Kroger Babb "four-walled" it, by renting the theatre for a flat fee and taking all of the proceeds including, according to one exhibitor, the theatre rental fees. Produced by brothers Harry Smith (III), long-time Hollywood sound man, and Larry Smith (VI), Hollywood still photographer, it purports to be "A Picturization of Rudyard Kipling's Immortal Poem---The Ladies." It starts with retired soldier and world-traveler Tommy Atkins (Felix De Cola)in a pine lodge enjoying his pipe and 4-fingers of Scotch, and there to provide other creature comforts is the voluptous Cameo Girl (Virginia Rogers), while Tommy opens a Kipling volume that he allows is an account of his own expierence with women around the world. The selling point in the ads is that all the women shown "are wearing the wind" and nothing else. Very true. Very naked. In addition to showing some nude shots in the pressbook, co-producer Harry Smith has inserted a plea to the projectionists to please don't snipe the film frames. Instead, just write him at 6310 Willoughby in Hollywood and he will send them them a complete set of color slides on all six gals...Free. (The offer is no longer valid, so save your stamp. None of your business how we know.) "Sweet Thing of 16" (Margie Fisco) is publicised as actually being a 16-year-old high school junior from New Mexico. The odds are at least 100-1 that she could have produced a drivers license showing she was at least 21 if anybody from Hollywood's Juvenile Division of the police department had come poking around the set. Those who only buy "Playboy" for the stories can watch this and enjoy it for Kipling lines such as..."the Colonel's Lady and Judy O'Grady are sisters under the skin." The Smith Brothers (not Mark and Trade) prove it here.

Cast & Crew

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Fred Hudson

Director

Felix De Cola

Tommy Atkins

Virginia Rogers

The Cameo Girl

Margie Sutton

Aggie De Castrer

Malia Olandog

Doll in a Tea Cup

Lisa Gordon

The Shiny She Devil

Film Details

Release Date
Jan 1960
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 14 Nov 1960
Production Company
Harry Smith Productions
Distribution Company
State Rights
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Adapted from the poem "The Ladies" by Rudyard Kipling in Barrack-room Ballads and Other Verses (London, 1892).

Technical Specs

Duration
60m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Eastmancolor), Color (Ektachrome)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1

Synopsis

Elderly former adventurer Tommy Atkins describes how he once met Rudyard Kipling and, after telling the legendary writer about his exploits with women, saw his tales transformed into Kipling's poem "The Ladies." He then recalls the scenes that were immortalized in the poem: Tommy travels to India, where prostitutes try to tempt him, and one older woman teaches him the ways of love. He then comes across an Asian "Doll in a Teacup" in the woods, and clothes her in an English dress. In the jungle, a "Shiny She Devil" native woman loves him, but when she finds a picture of one of his former lovers, she stabs him and runs off with her wildcat. A sixteen-year-old girl catches his fancy, but after fantasizing about seeing her naked, he flees in fear. Finally, Tommy takes up with a "Colonel's Lady," who appears proper but underneath is as lusty as any other woman. Back in the present, Tommy pictures his comely nurse naked.

Directors

Fred Hudson

Director

Harry Smith

Director

Cast

Felix De Cola

Tommy Atkins

Virginia Rogers

The Cameo Girl

Margie Sutton

Aggie De Castrer

Malia Olandog

Doll in a Tea Cup

Lisa Gordon

The Shiny She Devil

Margie Fisco

Girl of Sixteen

Robin Bliss

The Colonel's Lady

Fred Hudson

The colonel

Crew

Felix De Cola

Composer

Al Glasser

Original Music score

Joe Hooker

Grip

Fred Hudson

Composer

Fred Hudson

Adaptation

Rudyard Kipling

Composer

Gary Lindsay

Prod Coordinator

Bruce Locke

Composer

Bruce Locke

Original Music score

Lee Mandt

Script Supervisor

Neil Mcguire

Art Director

Larry Raimond

Photography

Harry Smith

Producer

Harry Smith

Adaptation

Larry Smith

Producer

Film Details

Release Date
Jan 1960
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 14 Nov 1960
Production Company
Harry Smith Productions
Distribution Company
State Rights
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Adapted from the poem "The Ladies" by Rudyard Kipling in Barrack-room Ballads and Other Verses (London, 1892).

Technical Specs

Duration
60m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Eastmancolor), Color (Ektachrome)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

An opening title card reads: "Very, very loosely! adapted by Harry Smith and Fred Hudson from Rudyard Kipling's poem 'The Ladies.'" Another credit reads: "Part of this film photographed in the U.S.A." According to press materials, Kipling's Women was shot in 16mm Ektachrome, then blown up to 35mm; two scenes were cut from the final version at the request of church officials. As reported in a July 1961 Variety article, upon the film's release in one town in Ohio, the Ministerial Association and current mayor petitioned to prevent the film's exhibition. Although reluctant, as none of the plaintiffs had seen the film, the judge in the case agreed.

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