Book Review - "Big Bosoms And Square Jaws: The Biography Of Russ Meyer, King Of The Sex Film" by Jimmy McDonough

This will be the first time I attempt to write a review of anything.  Hopefully, it won't be my last.  So, please bear with me as I stumble through this first attempt.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  So, here we go...

Do you like porn?  Of course you do.  Who doesn't?  Well, one person didn't.  Russ Meyer.  He saw it unexciting, flat (as a lot of the girls were, in his opinion), & just not sexy.  All ya needed was a willing female, a hotel room & a camera.  No art whatsoever.  But, for someone who didn't care for the stuff, few people did more to help bring it to the mainstream.

Born Russell Albion Meyer, on March 21, 1922 in San Leandro CA.  He got his first camera at age 14, when his Mother pawned her wedding ring to get the money.  His mother started a career, that she would never support.  Often referring to the well-endowed starlets he would bring around as "cows."  But in the end, Russ was a momma's boy, carrying a picture of her, with him throughout his life.  He also had a half-sister, that suffered from mental illness, that he would care until she passed.  He served in World War II in the 166th Photo Corps, documenting the action.  Some of his footage can even be in the 1971 movie "Patton."  After the war, he took a job making industrial films.  These later two positions, are what most people credit for his gonzo, yet efficient, style filmmaking.  Also, the connections that he made with his comrades in the 166th, would last for the rest of his life.  He would make sure of that.  Many of them would work as crew members on his fims, & even some of them would appear before the camera.

He would make a total of 25 films between the years 1952-2001.  Ironically, his most well known film "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!", was actually one of his biggest flops at the time of its release.  He fought the MPAA over ratings his films received, & won many of his lawsuits.  Perhaps even blazing the trail for such people as Larry Flynt, to do the same.  But, in the end, he didn't really care what rating his films got.  What went up on that screen was him, through & through.  And, no one was going to quantify it.  His fingerprints were all over every facet of his films.  He ran his sets like military camps, & he was the general.  He would go so far, as to prohibit any copulations between cast & crew.  He wanted them to save all their vital juices for the scenes.  The all-or-nothing devotion he required from those he worked with would have one of two consequences.  A life-long loyal friend, or bitter enemy to the end, if he ever felt you had somehow done him, or his pictures, wrong.

Later in his life, RM would succumb to dementia brought on by Alzheimer's disease.  During this time, his business, & personal, affairs would be taken over by his personal assistant.  Some, would even say, they wrenched away from a man who could no longer see the wolf in sheep's clothing.  Slowly, she would shelter him away, cutting off all contact to him from the outside world.  Some of his closest friends did not see him for years.  Russ Meyer died September 18, 2004, from Pneumonia.

The book itself, is a par for the course biography.  It's not gonna sell anyone who wasn't already interested in this man's life.  The narration is at times too disconnected, & at others, far too biased for someone this man obviously revered.  Parts delve too far into the minutia of behind the scenes affairs.  By the third film, you knew what kind of set he ran, there was no need to go into it again for his 15th.  But, in the end I did find the book enjoyable & informative.  Maybe, just a tad overly long winded.  But, if ya really like long winded ramblings, I suggest you pick up Russ Meyer's own 3 volume(!) autobiography "A Clean Breast."  It'll only run ya about $200 at Amazon.  Or save yourself some time (and some sanity) & pick up this one, to learn more about one of films most fascinating & singular talents.  Go, Russ Go!