The First Nudie Musical

This was a refreshingly bad movie about an industry that was simply bad without the refreshing part added. Like "Flesh Gordon" it tried to tackle several genres (business, porn, and low budget motion picture, in this case) and managed to skewer them all at once.

Okay, sometimes a movie is just for fun. Naughty fun, maybe, but fun. No deep meanings, no discussions in the lobby about how "the leafless black tree in the snow was symbolic of the director's inner child seeking the approval of" type of BS, just entertainment-- a chance to make us look at ourselves and laugh.

Now if we could do it without the porn. . . .

I first saw The First Nudie Musical when it first came out and thought it was very funny and extremely outragous. Now I have to say it still holds up. It's a wonderful little film. It's about a porn producer who in order to save his little studio decides to make the worlds first porno musical. The songs are outragous especially the one called "Dancing Dildos", which has to be seen to be believed. This was all the brainchild of one man, Bruce Kimmel, who now is a record producer. He's the one responsible to putting some of the best old albums on CD. For this film he got all his friends involved, including a cameo from one of his stars, Cindy Williams good friends. I won't spoil this cameo though it does come early in the film. Get the new DVD which I just watched. The print has never looked too good plus the DVD has two wonderful commentary tracks, a 54 minute documentary which is outragous in itself, and two deleted scenes. This film is a treat for not only those who love cult films, to the lovers of old time musicals, because this film really does send up the old Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland let's put on a show films. Do yourself a favor and add this to your DVD collection.

I found a copy of this film used for only $6, and since I'm into weird crap, I figured this should be good for a few laughs - and it was!!! The idea of a producer making a porno musical to save his studio is funny enough, but the songs are what make this film worth watching. "Dancing Dildos" "Orgasm" "Lesbian Butch Dyke" "Perversion" "Let Me Eat You" - you'll laugh your ass off! And sing a 'scale' or two also

Pornographic filmmaker Stephen Nathan (as Harry Schechter) is seeing red instead of pink. You didn't come to see his "Stewardesses in Cages" and "Teenage Sex Mutants". Consequently, Mr. Nathan's low-budget sex films aren't making money, and the movie studio he manages for his father is about to go down. Telling his investors, "genitalia is boring" at the box office, Nathan is inspired by steadfast secretary Cindy Williams (as Rosie) to change direction, and proposes "The First Nudie Musical". One investor (Hy Pyke) insists wet-behind-the-ears nephew Bruce Kimmel (as John Smithee) be hired as director; and Nathan is given two weeks to create... "Come… Come, Now".

This astounding, and frequently hilarious, film patterns its pornographic plot after Mel Brooks' similar stab at a Nazi musical in "The Producers" (1968); additionally, "The First Nudie Musical" captures the spirit and energy of old Hollywood musicals both directed by Busby Berkeley, and starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. That fresh, irreverent energy is why this film works so well. Full-frontal nudity (female and male) and bad language abound - an "edited-for-television" version would have been short 'n silent in the seventies - but, the vulgarity never seems dirty. Lesser comedies use nudity and language offensively and humorlessly - for examples, see present day comedies.

Paramount Pictures had a "midnight movie" classic on its hands, but had to give the film a cold shower after both Cindy Williams and the studio's "Laverne & Shirley" TV series became immediate hits. To Paramount's credit, they employed fellow "Nudie" travelers Bruce Kimmel (writer, composer, co-director, star) and Stephen Nathan ("Jesus" from Broadway's "Godspell") as guest stars on their program(s). And, it's easy to see why, as the threesome are obviously natural (and underrated) comics. Of the supporting cast-mates, Diana Canova (as Juanita) obviously stands out, due to a combination of heritage, "Perversion", and "Soap" - but, they are all cult classic characters.

********* The First Nudie Musical (3/76) Mark Haggard, Bruce Kimmel ~ Stephen Nathan, Cindy Williams, Bruce Kimmel, Diana Canova

I've been waiting twenty years for this thing to come to some free streaming service. And now it's on tubi. Cindy williams (shirley!) and stephen nathan. When they are out of ideas, harry decides to make a porn based musical. Silly but true. Funny opening theme song. Lots of full female frontal and rear nudity. The director they have to use has no idea what he's doing. And they only have two weeks to make it. The show already has two strikes against it. It's just started, and it's already a disaster. But some really funny bits. And filthy filthy songs. Very adult subject matter, so put the kiddies to bed! Diana canova doing some of the dirtiest material you've ever seen her do! It's all silly, but so much fun. Keep those expectations at rock bottom, but have an open mind and get ready to laugh. Story by bruce kimmel, who also plays john smithee in the show. Directed by mark haggard.