21 recensioni
I caught this little biscuit over winter break from school. I've been a huge fan of 70's exploitation fare, and decided that my film diet needed a good injection of cheese, so I sat down to watch it. The plot is pretty basic, three very different women (an Asian revolutionary, a black bad-ass, and a rich white girl) team up to track down a desperado (an over the top performance by Sid Haig) who has one million dollars stolen from a corrupt third world dictatorship. The Asian girl and white girl are involved in a revolution (for very different reasons) and the black girl was a torture expert used by the government, but she switched sides to get the cash. Along the way, they meet up with a scumbag wheeler-dealer (John Ashley) who wants the cash for himself and are chased by an incompetent army captain trying to make a name for himself.
The plot is pretty standard cookie cutter exploitation fare, and it obviously was made on a budget, but it isn't without its charm. The jokes that they pull off, although extremely campy, actually are kind of amusing. The girls give solid performances and John Ashley seems to be having a good time playing the used car salesman type, but the real winner here is Sid Haig. I wouldn't say Sid is the only thing this picture has going for it, but he's obviously enjoying his role and gives a fantastic performance.
Recommended for anyone who likes the women in prison genre (even though there is no nudity in this one).
The plot is pretty standard cookie cutter exploitation fare, and it obviously was made on a budget, but it isn't without its charm. The jokes that they pull off, although extremely campy, actually are kind of amusing. The girls give solid performances and John Ashley seems to be having a good time playing the used car salesman type, but the real winner here is Sid Haig. I wouldn't say Sid is the only thing this picture has going for it, but he's obviously enjoying his role and gives a fantastic performance.
Recommended for anyone who likes the women in prison genre (even though there is no nudity in this one).
- bergma15@msu.edu
- 2 gen 2006
- Permalink
- rosscinema
- 14 feb 2005
- Permalink
'Savage Sisters' comes from the same period as the Jack Hill led Filipino "chicks in chains" flicks of the early 70s ( see 'The Big Doll House' and 'The Big Bird Cage' for the best of the genre). Hill wasn't involved in this one mind you, the director is Eddie Romero, also responsible for the classic 'Black Mama, White Mama', who also appears in a supporting role as Captain Morales. The three aforementioned movies all co-starred blaxploitation icon Pam Grier. Grier isn't along for the ride in 'Savage Sisters', the Grier role is taken by Gloria Hendry ('Live And Let Die', 'Black Belt Jones'), and while the prison side of things isn't as important as the others in the series, fans of them will really dig this one. As always, while filmed in the Philippines, the movie is set in some unnamed Banana Republic. General Balthasar (Leopoldo Salcedo) plans on smuggling one million dollars US out of the country. A group of local revolutionaries plan on stealing the money and form an uneasy alliance with some bandits, led by the wily Malavael (the legendary Sid Haig, a regular in these kinds of movies), and his bumbling sidekick One-Eye (Vic Diaz, another familiar face). Malavael not surprisingly double crosses the revolutionaries and makes of with the cash. Meanwhile Jo Turner (Cheri Caffaro) and Mai Ling (Rosanna Ortiz), each with varying commitment to the Revolution, are captured before they can rendezvous with their comrades, who include Turner's lover. While in prison they are interrogated by tough hooker turned cop Lynn Jackson (Hendry). She is later convinced by the shady W.P. Billingsley (John Ashley, who also co-produced) to break the two women out of prison and help them track down Malavael, with the secret intention of getting hold of the cool million for themselves. However, Billingsley's plan of betrayal may not go exactly as planned as Jackson begins to bond with her "savage sisters" on the jungle journey. Newcomers to these kinds of movies may not enjoy this as those more familiar with their style and approach, but I enjoyed 'Savage Sisters' a great deal, and think it deserves to be much better known than it currently is. A tough and cool movie with plenty of fun and thrills.
I was warned that this would not be a typical women-in prison film. Cheri Caffaro may have tempted us with clothing that she was about to burst out of, but the key words are "about to." Even the shower scene with Caffaro and Rosanna Ortiz was a bust. Even Gloria Hendry in a bathtub was covered in soap. Even the matron (Rita Gomez), who jumps into bed with all the officers, hides herself well.
It's all about some crazy General, who has 10 stars and wears medals on his T shirt, who is after a million dollars the rebels stole. He enlists Capt. Morales (Eddie Garcia) with the promise of a star. Hendry takes Caffaro and Ortiz and they make a plan of their own with a shifty John Ashley, who plans to double-cross them.
Funny, but a big disappointment for WIP fans.
It's all about some crazy General, who has 10 stars and wears medals on his T shirt, who is after a million dollars the rebels stole. He enlists Capt. Morales (Eddie Garcia) with the promise of a star. Hendry takes Caffaro and Ortiz and they make a plan of their own with a shifty John Ashley, who plans to double-cross them.
Funny, but a big disappointment for WIP fans.
- lastliberal
- 8 mag 2009
- Permalink
This movie features several different factions of a third-world country who are all trying to acquire a box containing $1 million American dollars. The first faction involves a group of revolutionaries led by a man named "Ernesto" (Dindo Fernando) who needs this money to support his cause. The second faction consists of some armed bandits led by a very unscrupulous man named "Malavasi" (Sid Haig). Initially, they side with the revolutionaries but things have a way of changing in the heat of battle. The third group is headed by a corrupt military officer by the name of "General Balthazar" (Leopoldo Salcedo) who represents the government and has specifically ordered a junior officer named "Captain Morales" (Eddie Garcia) to kill or apprehend all rebels and to obtain the money at all costs. Needless to say, with so much at stake only one side will win. Now, as far as the film is concerned, I liked the steady mixture of action and comedy which kept things entertaining from start-to-finish. Likewise, having two attractive actresses like Cheri Caffaro (as "Jo Turner") and Gloria Hendry ("Sergeant Lynn Jackson") certainly didn't hurt either. On the other hand, this was clearly a low-budget, B-movie which definitely suffered from its limitations. No use denying it. Be that as it may, however, it had enough good points to essentially make up for the obvious defects and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
In the early to mid-1970s, a lot of films were made by American film companies working in the Philippines. Why? Because it was CHEAP! President Marcos gave these cheapo filmmakers lots of incentives to come to his country--even if most of the movies they made were pure schlock! So, when I saw this film was made in the Philippines and was directed by Eddie Romero (famous for schlocky Filipino productions), I thought I needed to see it. After all, the films are usually pretty funny--albeit unintentionally so! One thing you should know about the movie, however, is that despite the DVD title "Ebony, Ivory and Jade", it isn't exactly a blacksploitation film. The title "Savage Sisters" seems much more appropriate.
A group of female American athletes are taken prisoner and held for ransom. Some of his associates are idealistic rebels--but they don't know that their leader has no intention of honoring any of him promises. He plans on taking the random money and either killing the ladies or selling them into slavery.
Now you'd think this would be a great recipe for schlock film, but you would be wrong. Because it's a PG-rated film* and appears to be less sensationalistic than most films of this genre, it has to rely more on acting--and that's a problem since no one in the film appears to be able to act. In addition, the music is among the worst I've ever heard in a film--so very repetitive that you are about ready to plunge an ice pick into your ears to make it stop! Overall, a rather stupid and poorly made film without even exploitation value. So, essentially, you are left with nothing.
*Although IMDb lists this as rated R, the DVD says PG and it has no nudity or extreme violence.
A group of female American athletes are taken prisoner and held for ransom. Some of his associates are idealistic rebels--but they don't know that their leader has no intention of honoring any of him promises. He plans on taking the random money and either killing the ladies or selling them into slavery.
Now you'd think this would be a great recipe for schlock film, but you would be wrong. Because it's a PG-rated film* and appears to be less sensationalistic than most films of this genre, it has to rely more on acting--and that's a problem since no one in the film appears to be able to act. In addition, the music is among the worst I've ever heard in a film--so very repetitive that you are about ready to plunge an ice pick into your ears to make it stop! Overall, a rather stupid and poorly made film without even exploitation value. So, essentially, you are left with nothing.
*Although IMDb lists this as rated R, the DVD says PG and it has no nudity or extreme violence.
- planktonrules
- 31 mar 2013
- Permalink
An exciting not totally serious film. Gloria Hendry is excellent as Lynn Jackson. She is a totally underrated actress and should have received the fame and acclaim of Pam Grier.
'Savage Sisters' is a valuable addition to the blaxploitation/women in prison genre, and is a must for all those into this stuff. It is actually, in my opinion, one of the better examples of the genre.
I saw it when it came out in 1974. It was then available on VHS for a while.
However, as far as I know, it is NOT available on DVD, although there is a boxed set with the same title it doesn't include the movie!
The boxed set of DVDs available entitled 'Savage Sisters'consists of blaxploitation/women in prison movies but DOESN'T include the movie 'Savage Sisters'! Very strange.
'Savage Sisters' is a valuable addition to the blaxploitation/women in prison genre, and is a must for all those into this stuff. It is actually, in my opinion, one of the better examples of the genre.
I saw it when it came out in 1974. It was then available on VHS for a while.
However, as far as I know, it is NOT available on DVD, although there is a boxed set with the same title it doesn't include the movie!
The boxed set of DVDs available entitled 'Savage Sisters'consists of blaxploitation/women in prison movies but DOESN'T include the movie 'Savage Sisters'! Very strange.
- fidomusic-1
- 4 mag 2008
- Permalink
Savage Sisters (1974) is a movie I recently watched on Amazon Prime. The storyline focuses on some females that form a plan with a local bandit to steal $1 million US dollars. They need to team-up to execute the heist but can they trust their bandit friends and his group of outlaws? This movie is directed by Eddie Romero (The Passionate Strangers) and stars Sid Haig (House of 1,000 Corpses), Gloria Hendry (Black Belt Jones), Cheri Caffaro (Girls are for Loving), John Ashley (The A-Team) and Rosanna Ortiz. How can you not love this movie? The script is absolutely awesome. The dialogue keeps you cracking up from beginning to end. You also have to love the old school gun shooting and bodies hitting the ground noises. There's also great torture, shower, sex, shootout and fight scenes. And how can you not enjoy the slang from this era - jive turkey, cabbage and pork chop. Lol The soundtrack is also awesome. While this isn't an epic masterpiece, it is non-stop entertainment that I'd easily score a solid 7/10 and strongly recommend.
- kevin_robbins
- 3 giu 2021
- Permalink
Well, I can't really say that I was expecting a whole lot from this 1974 exploitation movie titled "Savage Sisters" from writers Harry Corner and H. Franco Moon. But still, I stumbled upon the movie here in 2022, and opted to watch it as it was a movie that I hadn't already seen.
And I will say that director Eddie Romero didn't exactly manage to bring together a particularly exciting or entertaining exploitation movie here with "Savage Sisters", as there are far better movies out there in the same genre and from around the same time. But hey, "Savage Sisters" will probably provide adequate entertainment for fans of the exploitation genre. However, I am but a mere casual viewer, so "Savage Sisters" didn't really cut it for me.
The storyline written by Harry Corner and H. Franco Moon was a bit too simplistic and never really found any footing with me.
Sure, I was initially thrilled to see that the movie had Sid Haig on the cast list, but his talent wasn't put anywhere near to full use here, so it was a somewhat wasted opportunity. The acting performances in the movie were as to be expected from a movie such as this, for better or worse.
Now, I wasn't particularly entertained by "Savage Sisters", but you might just enjoy it.
My rating of "Savage Sisters" lands on a generous four out of ten stars.
And I will say that director Eddie Romero didn't exactly manage to bring together a particularly exciting or entertaining exploitation movie here with "Savage Sisters", as there are far better movies out there in the same genre and from around the same time. But hey, "Savage Sisters" will probably provide adequate entertainment for fans of the exploitation genre. However, I am but a mere casual viewer, so "Savage Sisters" didn't really cut it for me.
The storyline written by Harry Corner and H. Franco Moon was a bit too simplistic and never really found any footing with me.
Sure, I was initially thrilled to see that the movie had Sid Haig on the cast list, but his talent wasn't put anywhere near to full use here, so it was a somewhat wasted opportunity. The acting performances in the movie were as to be expected from a movie such as this, for better or worse.
Now, I wasn't particularly entertained by "Savage Sisters", but you might just enjoy it.
My rating of "Savage Sisters" lands on a generous four out of ten stars.
- paul_m_haakonsen
- 15 giu 2022
- Permalink
- Woodyanders
- 17 lug 2014
- Permalink
I'm surprised this isn't more well known among exploitation fan circles. As far as women in prison movies go, this one is pretty amusing and works better than most of its ilk. Sure, it's not without flaws with some lame action scenes and a surprising lack of sleaze for the genre but the directing and acting do well with the zany script.
The lead women, which are a white, black, and Asian respectively, skip on the nudity but deliver some amusing dialogue and acting which the movie would have been pretty dull without. Performances are over the top lending to a cartoony vibe with John Ashley and Sid Haig being standouts. No ground is being broken here, but after watching countless exploitation movies, this one provides a fun lighthearted atmosphere missing from most.
The lead women, which are a white, black, and Asian respectively, skip on the nudity but deliver some amusing dialogue and acting which the movie would have been pretty dull without. Performances are over the top lending to a cartoony vibe with John Ashley and Sid Haig being standouts. No ground is being broken here, but after watching countless exploitation movies, this one provides a fun lighthearted atmosphere missing from most.
Right up to the very end! It was like, enough already.
I bought this movie based on a few things: The trailer (which conveys one thing, when in actuality it's something else entirely), the seemingly promised ass-kicking ladies (see: trailer, synopsis, cover art, title, etc.), and, I watched this documentary all about these crazy exploitation movies produced by Americans, and made in the Philippines in the 1970's, and it was one wild ride. I think this trailer was an extra on that very DVD.
I don't know what to rate a movie that doesn't meet any of my expectations. Is there a good movie in here somewhere? I don't know, I was kind of distracted. First of all, this is not an expoitation picture, or even a women-in-prison flick, where part of it takes place. No, it's a... FARCE. You heard me. Everybody's after a suitcase that contains $1 million American dollars. Hell, even Sid Haig plays some wacky bandito.
It's played pretty light (though the Savage Sisters revolution dwindles to 2 by the 15-minute mark at the hands of an ambush and firing squad), I think it's meant to be a comedy. Only the one and only time I laughed out loud (literally) was at the very end, where they show the movie was rated R. I'm like, Wh-what?! Maybe I missed a few F-bombs. I have no other explanation. This was about the tamest "exploitation" movie I've ever seen.
First of all, Savage Sisters spends 86 minutes skirting the skin. We've got WiP, a group shower scene, a bath, sexual encounters (one guy, three ladies, three encounters), some, uh, loose-fitting clothing, they dress up like hookers (and draw men into rooms) and one of them does a striptease. There was one blink-and-you-miss-it reveal, there may have been one or two others, but I'd have to break out the rewind and pause buttons, and frankly, I'm too lazy. The violence is tame. Actually, almost exclusively limited to gun fights, which are a BORE, according to ME. I want to see the girls kick some ass. There are a few to a handful of brief hand-to-hand battles with the ladies, but simply not nearly enough. What we have is good, it just takes a back seat to everything else I've mentioned.
I suppose if you know what you're getting into, maybe you can find an enjoyable aspect to it (or are easily amused). I found this beared only a slight resemblance to the bulk of the movies from that era, coming out of the Philippines.
I bought this movie based on a few things: The trailer (which conveys one thing, when in actuality it's something else entirely), the seemingly promised ass-kicking ladies (see: trailer, synopsis, cover art, title, etc.), and, I watched this documentary all about these crazy exploitation movies produced by Americans, and made in the Philippines in the 1970's, and it was one wild ride. I think this trailer was an extra on that very DVD.
I don't know what to rate a movie that doesn't meet any of my expectations. Is there a good movie in here somewhere? I don't know, I was kind of distracted. First of all, this is not an expoitation picture, or even a women-in-prison flick, where part of it takes place. No, it's a... FARCE. You heard me. Everybody's after a suitcase that contains $1 million American dollars. Hell, even Sid Haig plays some wacky bandito.
It's played pretty light (though the Savage Sisters revolution dwindles to 2 by the 15-minute mark at the hands of an ambush and firing squad), I think it's meant to be a comedy. Only the one and only time I laughed out loud (literally) was at the very end, where they show the movie was rated R. I'm like, Wh-what?! Maybe I missed a few F-bombs. I have no other explanation. This was about the tamest "exploitation" movie I've ever seen.
First of all, Savage Sisters spends 86 minutes skirting the skin. We've got WiP, a group shower scene, a bath, sexual encounters (one guy, three ladies, three encounters), some, uh, loose-fitting clothing, they dress up like hookers (and draw men into rooms) and one of them does a striptease. There was one blink-and-you-miss-it reveal, there may have been one or two others, but I'd have to break out the rewind and pause buttons, and frankly, I'm too lazy. The violence is tame. Actually, almost exclusively limited to gun fights, which are a BORE, according to ME. I want to see the girls kick some ass. There are a few to a handful of brief hand-to-hand battles with the ladies, but simply not nearly enough. What we have is good, it just takes a back seat to everything else I've mentioned.
I suppose if you know what you're getting into, maybe you can find an enjoyable aspect to it (or are easily amused). I found this beared only a slight resemblance to the bulk of the movies from that era, coming out of the Philippines.
- selfdestructo
- 13 giu 2022
- Permalink
SAVAGE SISTERS is the brainchild of Director Eddie Romero. It stars Cheri Caffaro as the tough-talking Jo Turner, and Gloria Hendry as the sadistic prison guard, Lynn Jackson.
The story has something to do with a stolen case containing a million dollars. The plot is of minor importance, since Romero is concerned only with presenting a Women-In-Prison movie full of blood, torture, and sexual perversion.
Astoundingly, Romero does this without utilizing any actual nudity. Not even during the shower or bath scenes!
We are presented with the requisite shootouts, explosions, and double-crosses, as well as a big jailbreak.
Cult film mega-god, Sid Haig plays criminal mastermind, Malavasi. Throw in Romero regular, John Ashley as the slimy W. P. Billingsley, and we should be guaranteed a bona fide Filipino classic!
Unfortunately, this movie really tends to drag on. Romero just isn't a Roger Corman, who would have made this into a crackerjack fiesta!
Watch this one only after having seen every other such film...
The story has something to do with a stolen case containing a million dollars. The plot is of minor importance, since Romero is concerned only with presenting a Women-In-Prison movie full of blood, torture, and sexual perversion.
Astoundingly, Romero does this without utilizing any actual nudity. Not even during the shower or bath scenes!
We are presented with the requisite shootouts, explosions, and double-crosses, as well as a big jailbreak.
Cult film mega-god, Sid Haig plays criminal mastermind, Malavasi. Throw in Romero regular, John Ashley as the slimy W. P. Billingsley, and we should be guaranteed a bona fide Filipino classic!
Unfortunately, this movie really tends to drag on. Romero just isn't a Roger Corman, who would have made this into a crackerjack fiesta!
Watch this one only after having seen every other such film...
Filipino production for AIP about three lethal ladies who are imprisoned for stealing from the government to support the revolution. The film starts out as a standard women-in-prison flick, but when they escape, it becomes an outlaws-on-the-run storyline. From prolific director Eddie Romero, who specialized in filming low-budget genre films for schlocky American production companies, making everything from these sorts of women-in-prison films to horror to science fiction to even war films and westerns. He did it all. Although he has a cult following, his movies are merely competent and have little flair to them, as compared to fellow genre Filipino director Cirio H. Santiago (who made my favorite low-budget Mad Max knockoff, WHEELS OF FIRE), which is also the case with this film. SAVAGE SISTERS has a great title, a great poster, and for a movie of this sort, it was more entertaining than most, even if it was not all that original. Sid Haig (THE DEVIL'S REJECTS, SPIDER BABY) also appears as the rebel leader in the film.
I have been a fan of the Eddie Romero-John Ashely potboilers since they first aired on WNEW-TV and Wor-TV in NEW York during the late 70's. I was akid then, and far less descriminating. But now I can appreciate their films for the hip,knowing, winking humor, and technical expertise. One of the last in the cycle, SAVAGE SISTERS is an easy-going entry with all involved having a pretty good time playing dress-up. The always reliable Sid Haig is fun as a middle-eastern terrorist - in the south Pacific!!!
- Leofwine_draca
- 9 dic 2016
- Permalink
This film, isn't by any means, remarkable amidst the blaxploitation film list. Yeah it has a bit of nice T and A. Other plusses, Sid Haig, and Ashley, the film's stealer. He's a charismatic hoot, his voice reverberates, long after the mildly entertaining watch. These 3 female, 'not to be screwed with' prisoners/revolutionaries hatch this plan to break out, and steal this US money, a million in fact, only they have to get around, a few obstacles, including Ashley. On most part, the film is quite ordinary. Haig is good for some entertainment value, but I darn wish I saw more of Ashley in this. He's like the glue to keeps it together. The three scenes, each one singularly featuring Ashley with one of our sisters, testing his honestly is classic. This film isn't, but worth a watch. Striking VHS movie poster, painting it off, as much more exciting. A deceptive sell.
- videorama-759-859391
- 13 dic 2024
- Permalink
You have to give credit to this Filipino actioner for at least trying something different, and that's with making the movie more or less a comedy. However, the comedy is so lazy, so uninspired, and so utterly unfunny that sitting through the movie is more painful than had it kept the comedy out! (Also, the comedy sometimes has a mean-streak in it, giving some scenes a bitter taste.)
It's not that the movie is just bad with its comedy, it's also badly made. The "action" is poorly choreographed, and the mayhem has the intensity of seeing a group of people running by you. As well, there is some unbelievably slipshod editing; characters suddenly appear (or disappear) with no explanation as to how they got there or where they went. Added with a prologue that suspiciously looks like it was filmed and added in at the last minute, there seems to have been some problems during the shooting, or that they were frantically trying to save the movie in the editing room.
Oh yeah, don't let the "R" rating fool you. The rating seems to be more for several utterances of the "ultimate" four-letter words. The action isn't graphic, the sex happens off-screen or just out of camera range, and I don't think there's one instance of actual nudity by the ladies. You have to ask yourself why if they were headed for an "R" rating with the language, why they didn't use the opportunity to spice things up.
It's not that the movie is just bad with its comedy, it's also badly made. The "action" is poorly choreographed, and the mayhem has the intensity of seeing a group of people running by you. As well, there is some unbelievably slipshod editing; characters suddenly appear (or disappear) with no explanation as to how they got there or where they went. Added with a prologue that suspiciously looks like it was filmed and added in at the last minute, there seems to have been some problems during the shooting, or that they were frantically trying to save the movie in the editing room.
Oh yeah, don't let the "R" rating fool you. The rating seems to be more for several utterances of the "ultimate" four-letter words. The action isn't graphic, the sex happens off-screen or just out of camera range, and I don't think there's one instance of actual nudity by the ladies. You have to ask yourself why if they were headed for an "R" rating with the language, why they didn't use the opportunity to spice things up.
The kind of movie you quickly forget you saw, forget about what it was about, forget the names and faces of all the actors, forget everything. John Ashley tries hard to be funny but he fails. Cheri Caffaro she is blonde, sexy, looks good, but it doesn't help. Rosanna Ortiz (very hard working actress if you check her IMDb profile), she looks good too, sensual brunette, but also, it doesn't help anything.
The movie is an unfortunate mix of action, sex, drama and a bit of forced comedy.
- RodrigAndrisan
- 4 gen 2020
- Permalink