Whore (1991)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers (WGA):

David Hines (play)
Ken Russell (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 October 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

This is no bedtime story

Plot:

This choppy melodrama investigates the life of a prostitute in a pseudo-documentary style. The bottom...

Plot Keywords:

Hooker | Prostitute | Sex In Car | Street | Gang Rape

Cast

Theresa Russell	...	Liz
Michael Crabtree	...	Man in Car
John Diehl	...	Derelict
Antonio Fargas	...	Rasta
Robert O'Reilly	...	Younger Man in Car
Charles Macaulay	...	Older Man in Car
Jason Kristofer	...	Shy Kid in Van
Jack Nance	...	Man Who Helps Liz
Sanjay Chandani	...	Indian (as Sanjay)
Frank Smith	...	Charlie
Gail McMullen	...	Nurse in Convalescent Home
Benjamin Mouton	...	Blake
Bob Prupas	...	Maitre'D
Bobby Bruce	...	Violinist
Danny Trejo	...	Tattoo Artist

Also Known As:

If You're Afraid to Say It... Just See It (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual situations and dialogue, and for some violence. (edited version)

Runtime:

85 min | USA:80 min (R Rated)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Italy:VM14 (cut) | Italy:VM18 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Ireland:(Banned) | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Cheap Date

Trivia:

Theatre marquees for two other Ken Russell films, Crimes of Passion (1984) and The Lair of the White Worm (1988), are seen in the film.

Quotes:

Liz: I must be some use to somebody. I mean, there must be a reason for me, right?

Movie Connections:

Followed by Whore 2 (1994)

Soundtrack:

TELL ME ALL YOUR SECRETS

A Fine Line between Failure and Success

"Whore" is , appropriately, a cartoonish response to "Pretty Woman". The cartoonish, satirical bent the film has (in the face of its horrific situations) is exactly what makes it so brilliant. What was so awful about "Pretty Woman" was the commodification of prostitution as something glamorous, fulfilling and rewarding; pablum to be swallowed by American masses. "Whore"'s success depends less on the performances and direction and more on the viewer's willingness to think. The ideology that Ken Russell has placed on the material is unmistakable and renders everything else about the film meaningless. It really comes down to the viewer--If you are intelligent enough as a viewer to read the subtext, you either agree with it or you don't. Personally, I love everything about it, from Teresa Russell's sarcastic, bombastic, career-wrecking performance to the simple joy of seeing Antonio Fargas on screen again, "Whore" is a great, intelligent film worth repeated viewings. The real tragedy is that this will be Ken Russell's last great film. He has lived long enough to see his wonderful style get railroaded into soft-core porn and made-for-cable sci-fi. The world would be a better place if he had been bestowed with the same luck as Paul Verhoeven.