DVD Corner

Beneath The Valley Of The Ultra-Vixens Blu-ray Review

“Beneath The Valley Of The Ultra-Vixens” falls short in the comedy department. 

Written by Roger Ebert and Russ Meyer, 1979’s “Beneath The Valley Of The Ultra-Vixens” is a sexploitation spoof of “Our Town” and American life. Set in Small Town U.S.A.,” the story revolves around various characters that inhabit this town including Junkyard Sal (who owns a junkyard as you might have guessed), Lamar (a junkyard worker obsessed with anal sex) and his wife Lavonia (a nymphomaniac who moonlights as a stripper named Lola) whose marriage is on the rocks, Rhett (a teen boy), Eufaula (a big breasted Evangelical preacher with a radio show), Semper Fidelis (a door to door lingerie salesman), Peterbuilt (a horny garbage man), Nurse Thatch and Dr. Lavender (a dentist/marriage counselor). It’s an interconnected ensemble piece/anthology that primarily focuses on blue collar workers and sex lives. The story is narrated by The Man From Small Town U.S.A.

“Beneath The Valley Of The Ultra-Vixens” was Russ Meyer’s final directorial feature, but it’s not one of his more memorable films. The stories about Americana, sex, perversions, relationships and religion get lost amid countless explicit sex scenes filled with breasts, body parts, cartoon sound effects, slapstick sex gags and puns. As a sexploitation movie it certainly delivers plenty of sexual entertainment, but not much else. While a lot of it is played for laughs, there are some seriously icky sex moments here that aren’t remotely funny ala the rape scenes, Eufaula having sex with Nazi Martin Bormann in a coffin, a wife drugging her husband as well as some homophobic scenes. 

The film is not without its merits. Russ Meyer breaks the fourth wall at the end which feels a fitting farewell, the location shooting is quite picturesque, Kitten Natividad gives a wild and energetic performance as Lavonia, and Stuart Lancaster excels as the eloquent and voyeuristic narrator.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? The 4K restoration by Severin did wonders with this film. Yes, there are some defects and lines, but the colors really pop here.

Audio Track: Mono. How does it sound? Viewers can expect a nice clean Mono track.

Extras:
* Archival commentary by Russ Meyer.
* “Beneath The Valley Of The Ultravixens” trailer.
* “The Latin Brünhilde”- A 17 minute interview with actress Kitten Natividad who talks about her life and film career.
* “Talk It Over”- An honest 23 minute 1979 interview between Russ Meyer and Ellen Adelstein on her Tuscon Talk show.
* “Still Talking It Over”- A new 7 ½ minute interview with Ellen Adelstein who chats about her own career and talk show. 

January 4, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Beneath The Valley Of The Ultra-Vixens Blu-ray Review, Roger Ebert, Russ Meyer, Severin, Sexploitation