FORMAT: DVD
The opening title card (which misspells “comedians” as “commedians”) invites us to the front row of the New Follies Theatre in Los Angeles for a Burlesque show. The chorus girls (affectionately known as “The Nudy Cuties”) come out on stage in bathing suits armed with beach balls and do a synchronized dance routine that resembles a Busby Berkeley version of a low budget beach movie. Then we get a sketch about two yutzes trying to join a nudist camp. Next up, a dancer named Frenchy does a suggestive jitterbug routine, followed by a blonde bombshell named Nona who strips out of some elegant formal wear, and a sketch about a guy telling the story of how his parents met. (The print gets awfully jumpy during this scene.) “The South American Cyclone” Chilli Pepper follows that up with a Carmen Miranda inspired striptease. Afterwards is a comedy routine about a cowboy trick shot artist. Ginger, “The Atomic Blonde” takes the stage next and performs a sultry routine that begins with her wearing a spangly black dress until she gets down to a pair of bejeweled pasties. That’s followed by a chorus line routine accompanied by a songstress doing a so-so number. Then, blonde Crystal Starr (who was also in French Follies) does a nice little strip where she starts slow and steady and gradually incorporates more grinding and jiggling as she goes on. Next is a sketch about Russian soldiers taking over a home during wartime. Finally, the star of the show, Lily performs “The Dance of the B Girl”.
Directed by Lillian (Everybody’s Girl) Hunt and shot by Ed Wood’s regular cinematographer William C. Thompson, “B” Girl Rhapsody is a better than average Burlesque flick. The dance numbers are unique, and the stripteases have a lot of energy. Chilli Pepper’s dance is appropriately spicy. Once she takes off her bananas, she shows that she can really shake her melons. Ginger’s routine is quite lively too as she shakes everything her mother gave her and then some. Lily’s number is a real doozie as well. She bumps and grinds all over a saloon set as she smokes and drinks and writhes around on top of a piano. She may be a “B” Girl, but I give her act an “A”.
The comedy sequences are surprisingly solid and feature some mildly risqué material, although it is strictly PG-13 stuff by today’s standards. (The Russian solider is named “Sonavitch”.) All in all, this is one of the best Burlesque films I’ve ever seen.
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