Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)

California State Police Captain Sam Surcher investigates a string of teenage girl murders at Oceanfront High School.

Director:

Roger Vadim

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (screenplay), Francis Pollini (novel)

Stars:

Rock Hudson, Angie Dickinson, Telly Savalas

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rock Hudson	...	Tiger
Angie Dickinson	...	Miss Smith
Telly Savalas	...	Surcher
John David Carson	...	Ponce
Roddy McDowall	...	Proffer
Keenan Wynn	...	Poldaski
James Doohan	...	Follo
William Campbell	...	Grady
Susan Tolsky	...	Miss Craymire
Barbara Leigh	...	Jean
Gretchen Carpenter	...	Marjorie (as Gretchen Burrell)
Aimee Eccles	...	Hilda
JoAnna Cameron	...	Yvonne
Margaret Markov	...	Polly
June Fairchild	...	Sonny

Storyline

There's murder at a California high school, where female students are being targeted by an unknown serial killer, a married teacher hides his flings with nubile students, and an awkward male is frustrated by the plethora of uninhibited freewheeling young girls.

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | erotica | high school | teacher | california | 

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Taglines:

Roger Vadim, the director who uncovered Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve and Jane Fonda, now brings you the American high school girl...and Rock Hudson.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 September 1971 (France)

Also Known As:

Si tu crois fillette

Filming Locations:

Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Three veterans of Star Trek (1966-69) worked in or on this film: Screenwriter Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek television series creator); James Doohan ("Chief Engineer / Commander Montgomery Scott," Star Trek series regular); and William Campbell (guest-starring in two Star Trek episodes, first as "Trelaine," an omnipotent but immature being who compels Captain Kirk & co. to act out fantasy situations for his own childish amusement; and as "Koloth," a Klingon foil of Kirk's who, like Kirk, is overcome by the problems created by the eponymous creatures of the episode titled "The Trouble With Tribbles.")

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Goofs

As Jill Fairbutt falls off the commode in the overhead shot, her right hand slides almost to the edge of the lid. Later, in a low-level shot, her hand is positioned more than halfway across the lid.

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Quotes

Michael 'Tiger' McDrew: [Deciding to go ahead with the scheduled football game] We play on Friday. Once you start retreating, life will drag you down.

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Connections

Featured in 42nd Street Forever, Volume 5: The Alamo Drafthouse Edition (2009)

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Soundtracks

Chilly Winds
Music by Lalo Schifrin
Lyrics by Mike Curb
Performed by The Osmonds

User Reviews

A killer time capsule

This was one of the most influential movies of my high school years.

And it's all thanks to French director Roger Vadim. Magnifique!

What a life Vadim must have led during the '60s & '70s. Yes, this is envy speaking.

Okay, some of the credit for this most enjoyably sly & funny little gem goes to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who, for this film went where he'd never gone before, bringing along James Doohan, aka, Scotty with him on this marvelous adolescent comedy sex fantasy/murder mystery.

The cast has a lot of fun, including Rock Hudson and the most heterosexual high school counselor in the universe (believe it); and Angie Dickenson as the sexiest teacher this side of my sophomore English teacher, Miss Lynn Segal at San Gabriel High (Angie has a stiffie-inducing seduction scene that'll ring most guy's bells like Quasimodo sure as hell never could).

In a wonderfully clueless comic role is Keenan Wynn. He's great. And a pre-Kojak Telly Savalas is the coolest police homicide detective in the history of cinema. High school chicks dig him.

John David Carson is ideal as Ponce, the shy, quiet, timid, virgin student who doesn't necessarily end up that way. Every girl he sees drives him crazy - and it's easy to see why. These babes are total! Joanna Cameron, Aimee Eccles, June Fairchild, Barbara Leigh as Rock's jaw-dropping wife, and the other "Pretty Maids" will bring eyesight to the blind. Wow!

I could go on, but why? If you like it, you like it. If not, try Von Stroheim or Bergman. I prefer Vadim. Pretty Maids All In A Row entrertained me then, and it entertained me one night in August 2006.