Hussy (1980)

Beaty is a prostitute working out of a high-class London cabaret where Emory is a technician. They begin an affair encumbered by her job, his lack of money, and their pasts: Beaty has a ... See full summary »

Director:

Matthew Chapman

Writer:

Matthew Chapman

Stars:

Helen Mirren, John Shea, Paul Angelis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Helen Mirren	...	Beaty Simons
John Shea	...	Emory Cole
Paul Angelis	...	Alex Denham
Murray Salem	...	Max
Jenny Runacre	...	Vere
Daniel Chasin	...	Billy
Patty Boulaye	...	Tama - Cabaret Singer (as Patti Boulaye)
Charles Yates	...	Charles
Marika Rivera	...	French Singer
Hal Galili	...	Big Shot
William Hootkins	...	1st. Punter
Rupert Frazer	...	2nd. Punter
April Olrich	...	Rene
Sandy Ratcliff	...	Olympia
Jill Melford	...	Chief Hostess

Storyline

Beaty is a prostitute working out of a high-class London cabaret where Emory is a technician. They begin an affair encumbered by her job, his lack of money, and their pasts: Beaty has a ten-year-old son who lives with her ex, and she has a dangerous former boyfriend; Emory has a wife who died in questionable circumstances and a shady friend who shows up with a scheme for making lots of money. Beaty and Emory want to sort things out, but the odds are against them. Life is no cabaret.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | male nudity | criminal | bisexual | female frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

How Much Sex Is Enough...

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1980 (UK)

Also Known As:

Yöperho

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Berwick Street Productions, Boyd's Company, No. 5 Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

User Reviews

Even "Queen" Mirren had to start somewhere

I read with interest the other reviews on IMDb. With all respect, all from the other side of the pond, so to speak.

Helen is a National Treasure to many of us Brits; the oft (and justified) referral to her Oscar winning portrayal of Her Majesty being the Crown on a long and varied career.

As such, many actresses could get very squeamish and guarded about their earlier films, disassociating themselves totally and making excuses. Whilst Ms Mirren is unlikely to list 'Hussy' as one her key performances, her conviction and strength of character means that no doubt it has helped shape her career and made her a better all-round actor.

Yes, 'Hussy' sells itself as soft porn, like the very clubs she is an escort for, to entice you in. The DVD cover is tawdry-looking and mentions Mirren as the now Oscar winner. This is not about bitching and petty jealousies as was in Paul Verhoeven's "Showgirls"; the story does move on and away to being a credible thriller that were a mainstay in UK cinema and TV. Series such as The Professionals; hard nosed, in your face crime, gritty and unrelenting. Not particularly good but generally quite watchable.

True, only Mirren shines on the acting front, and that hardly taxes her. But this is over thirty years ago. No-one else in the cast is actually bad to the point of being awful. To me, though, becoming of adult age about then, it is the London, the snapshot of a misspent youth of my own and making it slightly more human that is the best bit of this practically forgotten film. I do not regret having bought this DVD; true it won't get played very often, if at all, any more but as I said before 'Queen' Mirren did have to start out somewhere!