The Velvet Trap (1966)

Director:

Ken Kennedy

Writer:

Ken Kennedy

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Rape | Nudity | Waitress | Brothel | Prostitute

Cast

Jamie Karson	...	Julie
Alan Jeffory	...	Brad Collins
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Betty Coryell
Irene Graham
June Harlow
Michael Harvey
James F. Hurley
Jerome Parentae
Bob Pollard
John Scovern
Laurie Stark
Bret Steel
Robert Terry
Ray Vegas
Stirling Welker
Royce Weyers

Directed by
Ken Kennedy

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ken Kennedy

Produced by
Daniel P. Foley	....	co-producer
Ken Kennedy	....	producer

Cinematography by
Elmer Hohnber
Don McIntosh
Ray Dennis Steckler		(as Sherwood Strickler)

Sound Department
Floyd Newton	....	sound
Vince Orrel	....	sound

Production Companies

• Gillman Film Corporation
• Kenway Pictures

Distributors

• Craddock Films (1966) (USA) (theatrical)
• Code Red DVD (2009) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Company:

Gillman Film Corporation

Annoyingly contrived and misogynistic porn from a hack named Kennedy

I was almost lulled by the mere competence of photography and sound recording in this desultory porn film, but the cumulative impact of more than an hour of virulent misogyny wore me out. This is softcore garbage of the lowest order.

Filmmaker Ken Kennedy, who made several subpar action films, clearly was in a bad mood when he cranked out this filler, limning in near-"Perils of Pauline" fashion the downward spiral of busty waitress Julie (played by Jamie Karson), who seems to be a target for every mean-spirited male in Christendom. Or rather, in Kennedy's pornworld, where all men are despicable. Now the adult movie audience for which this was made was supposed to enjoy watching the heroine get abused (e.g., a Lee Frost or GWENDOLYNE approach), but I suspect the fans of 40-plus years ago were probably offended. That's why theaters always display a "NO REFUNDS" policy sign prominently.

Very slowly paced and listlessly directed, we are treated to the waitress raped after hours by her sleazy boss at the diner; a cheesecake photographer boyfriend arriving soon after to take her to Vegas on a whirlwind marriage/honeymoon/dumping all within 24-hours, stealing her money and even not paying the hotel bill.

Wandering the Vegas streets she is mauled when she goes for a job interview, not even escaping with her dress, then a victim of white slavers (!) after she pawns her ring for a paltry $7.50, even losing the bus ticket-outta-there she spends that meager bankroll on. The slavers stick her in a brothel on the outskirts of Vegas and I won't "spoil" this storyline by indicating the even lower depths that ensue en route to a miserable, nihilistic ending.

Star Karson was hired for her figure -she does bare her breasts for the fans after many a reel of waiting, but her face is truly unattractive. Imagine Allison Hayes after being hit by a truck. For a film in which the other femme roles are minor, that is a no-no in casting, especially when one considers the scores of beauties and all-time pin-up faves in films made during this period. Maybe Kennedy was not merely untalented but blind to boot.