Synopsis:
Kate, an undergraduate at Mesa University, goes undercover as a cheerleader for her college newspaper in order to expose ‘female exploitation in contemporary society’. But instead of oppression she finds love, friendship and a bigger fish to fry: corruption in the football team, headed up by the coach and his pals.
A favorite of Quentin Tarantino, who screened it at the very first Tarantino Film Fest, The Swinging Cheerleaders features a cast of cult favorites including Colleen Camp (Wayne’s World, Game of Death), Rainbeaux Smith (Caged Heat, The Incredible Melting Man) and future Playmate of the Month Rosanne Katon.
What We Thought:
The Swinging Cheerleaders is pretty much soft core porn or something you would have seen on Cinemax back in the day. And you know what? I’m ok with that!
By today’s standards this isn’t a movie. It’s “offensive”, “sexist”, “racist” and every other politically correct word you can think of. But that’s what I like about it the most. It reminds us of when we didn’t take everything so damn seriously. There’s nudity and guys going from girl to girl. There’s jive talking and coaches rigging the system. It’s the 70’s man!
People wanted these movies back then and I wish we still did. There’s nothing wrong with a movie not having a message and just being fun. I mean this movie did sort of have a message, but you really don’t watch it for that reason.
The funniest part might be the football scenes. They clearly used actual football game footage and spliced it in the movie. At times it didn’t even seem like they matched up the colors of the teams. I laughed every time.
The Blu-ray looks good actually. The film didn’t look great in the first place, but the upgraded Blu-ray makes it look a lot better. Audio is top notch and there’s a bunch of bonus features including commentary and interviews.
The Swinging Cheerleaders isn’t for everyone and that’s a good thing. Most people are too quick to be offended, but they shouldn’t count anyways. If you like back in the day movies that were allowed to be movies you’ll like it. If you like nudity and jocks and cheerleaders and students sleeping with teachers and a black woman telling another black woman she’ll cut her, then this is for you. I have a lot of fun watching older exploitation type movies and if you do too, then this is…
RECOMMENDED!
Bonus Features:
- Brand new 2K restoration from original film materials
- High Definition (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD Presentations
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Audio commentary by writer-director Jack Hill, recorded exclusively for this release
- Brand new interview with Jack Hill
- Archive interview with cinematographer Alfred Taylor
- Archive interview with Hill and Johnny Legend
- Q&A with Hill, and actors Colleen Camp and Rosanne Katon recorded at the New Beverly Cinema in 2012
- TV spots
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
Cast & Crew:
- Colleen Camp
- Rosanne Katon
- Rainbeaux Smith
- Cheryl Smith
- John Quade
- Director Jack Hill
Recommended If You Like:
- Exploitation Films
- 1970’s Films
The Nerds Templar 