There's histrionics galore in this stark, trashy melodrama that should do the trick for hicksploitation aficionados. Annabelle Weenick stars as Linda, the live-in girlfriend for miserly old coot Shugfoot Rainey (George Edgley), who's made his fortune in oil. Shug is about to kick the over the hill Linda to the curb in favor of his own niece Baby Doll (Lacey Kelly), a stripper from New Orleans. Linda isn't about to go quietly - Hell, she isn't about to go at all, once she learns that according to Texas law, she is Shugs' common law wife. But the nasty, conniving, trampy Baby Doll is equally determined to lay claim to Shugs' money.
"Common Law Wife" was begun as a color feature by Texas based schlock purveyor Larry Buchanan (of "Mars Needs Women" fame) in 1960, under the title "Swamp Rose". Eventually, it got recut, and supplemented by new footage shot by director Eric Sayers, with the final film completely shown in black & white. It's basically fun, but the unaware should know that for a movie running just over 76 minutes, it IS padded to a degree. (Lots of cutaways to ducks in this thing!) It also isn't quite as interesting when it starts exclusively focusing on Baby Doll, and the way that she plays up to a moonshiner named Bull, while also making time with Jody the Sheriff. (And he's already married.) Still, Kelly, a stripper in real life as well, is compulsively watchable, especially when she does a steamy dance routine.
This may be a somewhat rough slog for some viewers, seeing that the principal trio of characters are not exactly nice people, but this will only add to the experience for others. The performances suit the material, with Weenick - to eventually gain her greatest fame in S.F. Brownriggs' "Don't Look in the Basement" - making the most of her starring film debut.
Worth a look for those that dig regional exploitation features from decades past.
Seven out of 10.
"Common Law Wife" was begun as a color feature by Texas based schlock purveyor Larry Buchanan (of "Mars Needs Women" fame) in 1960, under the title "Swamp Rose". Eventually, it got recut, and supplemented by new footage shot by director Eric Sayers, with the final film completely shown in black & white. It's basically fun, but the unaware should know that for a movie running just over 76 minutes, it IS padded to a degree. (Lots of cutaways to ducks in this thing!) It also isn't quite as interesting when it starts exclusively focusing on Baby Doll, and the way that she plays up to a moonshiner named Bull, while also making time with Jody the Sheriff. (And he's already married.) Still, Kelly, a stripper in real life as well, is compulsively watchable, especially when she does a steamy dance routine.
This may be a somewhat rough slog for some viewers, seeing that the principal trio of characters are not exactly nice people, but this will only add to the experience for others. The performances suit the material, with Weenick - to eventually gain her greatest fame in S.F. Brownriggs' "Don't Look in the Basement" - making the most of her starring film debut.
Worth a look for those that dig regional exploitation features from decades past.
Seven out of 10.