K. Gordon Murray, the American distributor best known for importing Mexican horror flicks stateside (not to mention the WTF children’s classic, Santa Claus) produced this sleazy southern fried sexploitation shocker. If you love your smut with overexaggerated southern accents, beat-up film stock, ADHD camerawork, AND pointed anti-racist social commentary, then Shanty Tramp is for you! Still not convinced? Then the kick-ass theme song (which will live rent-free for days after you see it) will definitely change your mind.
Eleanor Vaill stars as Emily, the titular tramp with a reputation. She even openly flirts with the holy rolling preacher (Bill Rogers) after his sermon. When her biker client gets too rough with her, a young black man (Lewis Galen) steps in and saves her. Naturally, Emily thanks him the only way she knows how… with her body. Predictably, her drunkard father (Otto Schlessinger) finds them in the throes of passion, and to save what little reputation she has, Emily claims she was raped. Soon, the whole town is in an uproar.
Shanty Tramp is sleazy, skeevy, and stupid, but the fact that it managed to tell its message so brazenly within the confines of a sexploitation movie makes it kind of special. I mean, no one will mistake it for In the Heat of the Night or anything. You just have to admire the way it wears its social consciousness on its sleeve. While much of the technical merits are dubious at best, the editing is often dynamic and effective.
Vaill is a hoot and a holler while delivering her sassy monologues. She chews the scenery admirably and has several nude scenes too. The real reason to see Shany Tramp though is for the theme song. It is, as the kids say nowadays, a banger. Too bad they play an annoying rendition of “When the Saints Come Marching In” three times as much.
Future Porky’s director Bob Clark was the assistant director, and Vaill and Rogers also starred in Herschell Gordon Lewis’ A Taste of Blood the same year.
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