Monday, October 14, 2024

Common Law Wife (1961)

A cheap, sleazy and exploitative film which is surprisingly good.

A rather unpleasant rich man called Shug (George Edgley) has told his live-in lover Linda (Annabelle Weenick) he is kicking her out. Instead, Shug has invited his young niece back instead to take her place (yes you read that right!) 

Baby Doll (Lacey Kelly), the niece, arrives in town and immediately causes a stir. Baby Doll is after Shug's money but has a plan to get it a bit quicker than Shug would like...

This film really shouldn't work at all, it is trashy and shoddily made and has some rather dubious themes. It also shamelessly exploits Kelly's body in various dancing and semi-nude scenes. Somehow the film is rather compelling, and not because its so bad it's good. It is bad but doesn't try to be something it isn't.