Fleshpot on 42nd Street

Fleshpot on 42nd Street (1973)

*** (out of 4)

Dusty Cole (Laura Cannon) is a woman living in New York City where she finds herself broke and in a bad place. She agrees to move in wide drag queen and prostitute Cherry Lane (Neil Flanagan) but soon she too is turning tricks for cash. Before long Dusty meets Bob (Harry Reems) and the two quickly fall in love but Cherry puts pressure on Dusty to do one more trick.

I've seen a little over a dozen Andy Milligan movies and I must admit that I rarely give them more than a half a star. The majority of his movies are BOMB rated so obviously I don't think too much of him as a director. At the same time, I understand the cult following that has built around him over the past decade. With that said, I was completely shocked at how good FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET was. The story itself isn't anything overly original but I thought the film has a certain rawness that worked in its favor and the film also benefited from a terrific performance by Cannon.

Cannon's filmography is mostly porn titles but I must say that she was excellent in the role of this woman who just wants happiness but finds one bad situation after another. I thought Cannon was extremely believable in the part and she brought a certain tenderness that made you care for the character. Flanagan, a Milligan favorite, is also quite good in the role of the drag queen. The line delivery and the way Flanagan can go from good to bad was performed very well. Reems is also good in his supporting part and look fast for Fred Lincoln of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT fame.

Milligan does a fine job building up the story and this is certainly the best movie I've seen from him. I thought he did a very good job at making the film seem very realistic as if you were watching real people. There are some great shots of 42nd Street during its exploitation glory days that fans will enjoy. There's a lot of nudity in the film as well as some sexual violence but it just helps the drama of the story.

As low budget and crass as this movie maybe, I was highly impressed by it's realism and efforts made by all. A cross between early Paul Morrisey and John Water films, for better or for worse. But I'd say Andy Milligan and the actors knew the New York and the times they were in. Laura Cannon, Neil Flanagan, and even comical Harry Reems all exude a hope and optimism that there is aspirations to live for, and life can improve. Yet doesn't pull any punches that a hard life on the streets can't be easily shaken off for Prince Charming either. As low budget and awkward as this movie maybe, there's a dedication and determination in it all that is endearing. The seedier side of Looking for Mr. Goodbar. But an entertaining tale for only the most mature of movie goers. A valiant effort!

Gritty in substance and style, "Fleshpot" looks at the seedy side of urban existence, specifically in New York City. Dusty (Laura Cannon/Diana Lewis) is disgusted with her life as a hustler and a criminal. She feels trapped in a cycle of survival that does not allow her to look beyond the current day.

This adult film is cinema verite and it does a fair job of capturing life in and around the streets. The acting is credible. Sometimes the framing is poor. Surprisingly, there are humorous moments, and some philosophizing by the characters.

Although the film was released in 1973 it plays more like a film that was released much earlier in the 1950's and feels more like you are watching a documentary than a soft core dramatic film. The main star of the film is a prostitute named Dusty Cole (played by Laura Cannon) who we witness having sex with a variety of men from different economic classes and their varying wants. Dusty Cole comes off as a poor man's version of the much more main stream 1990 Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts.

There certainly is no romance involved in Fleshpot on 42nd Street but a lot of grit, a platonic relationship with a transvestite named Cherry Lane (Neil Flanagan) and the lesson that money talks and bull crap walks.

I give this low budget film high marks for making the most with so little to work with and it comes off as a reality film with the hard knocks of a young prostitute's life. I give it a 7 out of 10 IMDB rating. Not so much for its cinema quality (which it lacks) but more for it's true grittiness.

I sat down to watch this expecting the worst. However, I found it quite surprising. Looking at those living on the fringes of society, director and writer Andy Milligan (who had a rather tragic life) wrote decent dialogue, and utilized actors from New York's off Broadway scene, so the performances are actually not bad (including, of all people, Harry Reems). Shooting with a 16 mm camera and utilizing extreme close ups, it's obvious Milligan actually had some talent. One wonders what he might have done in the main stream.