Whore *** (1991, Theresa Russell, Benjamin Mouton, Antonio Fargas) – Classic Movie Review 9582

‘The oldest swinger in town’, Ken Russell, is back to shock us again with his 1991 film Whore, an adaptation of a play by David Hines about a day in the life of a hooker.

Theresa Russell plays the Los Angeles street prostitute Liz as a sad survivor in an extraordinary virtuoso performance, and Ken Russell uses a lively, incisive style to outrage, inform and even entertain. It is supposedly Ken Russell’s response to the fantasy, sugar-coated prostitute story in Pretty Woman (1990). If so, the two films could hardly be less similar.

Also in the cast are Benjamin Moulton, Antonio Fargas, Sanjay Chandani, Elizabeth Morehead, Daniel Quinn, Jason Saucier, Jack Nance, John Diehl, Danny Trejo and Michael Crabtree. Ken Russell has a cameo as Waiter.

Whore is directed by Ken Russell, runs 81, 85 or 92 minutes, is made by Cheap Date and Trimark Pictures, is released by Trimark Pictures (1991) (US) and Palace Pictures (1991) (UK), is written by Ken Russell (screenplay), Deborah Dalton (screenplay) and David Hines (play), is shot by Amir Mokri, is produced by Dan Ireland and Ronaldo Vasconcellos, is scored by Michael Gibbs, and is designed by Richard B Lewis.

There are three versions: an 85-minute NC17-rated version released in US cinemas; an 81-minute R-rated video version with cuts and the uncut 92-minute European version.

David Hines was a cab driver and based his play on the stories he heard from prostitutes working in King’s Cross, London, though the film is set in Los Angeles.

Nancy McPherson stars in Whore 2 (1994), written and directed by Amos Kollek.

Theresa Russell was born Theresa Lynn Paup in San Diego, California, on 20 March 1957 and is best known for her films directed by her ex-husband Nicolas Roeg, including Bad Timing (1980), Eureka (1983), Insignificance (1985), Track 29 (1988), and Cold Heaven (1991).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9582

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