Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling

I have never seen a wrestling match with women. I don't know how common it was in the early seventies when I used to see some wrestling on TV when sitting at the bar on Sunday morning, but there was never any on. I have never seen the cuties that wrestle for the WWE now. So, I have nothing to compare, but I was just simply fascinated listening to these women and seeing clips from their matches in the 40s and 50s.

These women were the real thing. They were out there putting their bodies on the line and giving it all they had. Some complained that they were financially abused, but then I see them talk about all the things they could now buy that they couldn't before, so I don't know.

These were athletes in every sense of the word; not bimbo's that are doing it just to titillate.

This is one of the most highly entertaining and intriguing independent films I have seen in a long time. The subject matter is fascinating, it's about women wrestlers. In particular, it's about women wrestlers of the 40's and 50's. More specifically this film's main characters are 6 women who worked for the notorious promoter Billy Wolfe. These ladies are the very best in the business...no one can touch them as far as pure athletic talent, feminism and good old fashioned guts and glory is concerned. I was pleasantly surprised that the Fabulous Moolah was in this film as she is quite simply the best female wrestler ever to set foot inside the squared circle. This film puts to shame the scandalous "Bra and Panties" and "Evening Gown" matches that the sexist bookers of modern day currently showcase. These women were WRESTLERS in every sense of the word and the women who are wrestling today (and I use that term VERY loosely) could not hold a candle to them. Even to this day, the 80 plus year old Moolah and her wrestling partner "The Great" Mae Young are still in the ring kicking butt and taking names! What makes this film even more intriguing is the fact that each of these women persevered difficult upbringings, messy marriages, and various forms of violence throughout their rugged upbringings before they had ever even heard of a wrestling ring. The stories behind these ladies are the stuff of legends. These were not your plastic, Playboy-playmate, Barbie knock offs of today...these women were true athletes and pioneers of their time...you MUST watch this film!

For the most part, I enjoyed the movie. It provided more information on the backgrounds and careers of the lady wrestlers than you find on most fan wrestling sites, books and magazines. I am surprised, and a little disappointed, that African American lady wrestlers were not included in this movie. I would think for every roadblock the featured wrestlers encountered, the African Americans would have encountered twice as many- one for sex and another for race. One needs only take a look at the book "Black Stars of Professional Wrestling," by Julian L.D. Shabazz, for names like Dinah Beamon, Mary Horton, Ethel Johnson and so many others. A couple of the ladies in movie did mention wrestling African American ladies. Maybe Ruth Leitman is saving that for her next movie.

I enjoyed this film by itself, but kept thinking that I'd love to take kids to it, too. Everyone with a child (son or daughter) aged about 10 or above should put up with the sprinkling of profanity and see this film with their progeny. The film reveals a set of REAL women with opinions, personalities, good sides and ... well, not-so-nice sides. It goes without saying that the women are physically impressive in their prime. Beyond that, they maintain their fighting spirit in their old-age.

While it was not a major flaw, the primary failing in this documentary is its lack of form. Early on, the film reveals that it will culminate with a reunion of female wrestlers, there is no particular flow of events in the days leading up to the reunion. It felt a bit haphazard. Still, this can be expected from any film that lets its content be told by interviews with a group of individual subjects -- and there were definite strives taken to introduce various aspects/people with interviews that gave viewers some background before cutting to a segment that would have left the audience confused.

This is a film that can spark much post-viewing conversation, and leaves you feeling somewhat amazed that its participants found such a unique niche for themselves in a time when women were 'supposed' to be dainty and refined. What a wonderful contrast!

Here's a story we haven't been told repeatedly, a story of the way it really was "way back when."

"Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling" interviews the rather plain spoken, straightforward women who were the pioneers of women's wrestling, back when it was know as "the girl wrestlers." Anyone who wonders just how far the women's rights movement has actually come needs to watch this, and then be thankful that these 'tough broads' paved the way for women to be what they want, just like men-- and just like men, no matter how stupid the goal, it gets to be their choice.

I want this doc on DVD. Tough, brutal, plain, and worth every moment. .