The Mini-Skirt
Mob/Chrome & Hot Leather (MGM
Midnite Movie)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+/C Extras: C- Films: C/C+
MGM’s Midnite Movies double feature DVDs seem to have a
tendency to either have two good B-movies or the second film will usually be better
than the first. Rare sets with sequels
not withstanding, that is the way The Mini-Skirt Mob (1968) and Chrome
& Hot Leather (1971) break down.
Skirt is a silly romp with Jeremy Slate, Diane McBain and Patty
McCormack about “chopper chicks” that are not as challenging or edgy as one
would hope, but there are plenty of catfights ion between a kidnapping and
possible love triangle. It also has a
dumb title song and is somewhat campy throughout.
Chrome is a bit more serious, with a bunch of soldiers determined
to get a bunch of counterculture hippie bikers and round them up. The impetus occurs when the bikers of around
and kill two young ladies in a car. Too
bad one of them is the girlfriend of a Green Beret. As a bonus, one of them is Cheryl Ladd under a pseudonym. The cast is of the usual B-movie actors, but
one of them is actually singing legend Marvin Gaye as one of the Berets. Though he does not sing, he gives the best
performance in the film, so much so that you’ll wish he were in more.
Both films make a fun time killer, but Chrome is a
bit better and a sort of time capsule.
It pits the “new” generation against itself, which is somewhat unusual
for such films of the time, especially those acknowledging Vietnam even
happened. At the time, the actual war
was not discussed, as just the “soldier coming home” cycle was occurring. This is one of the more interesting examples
of that.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image on both films
are a bit softer than expected, both in color.
Mob has color by Perfect, while Chrome has color by the
better-known Movielab. Color in both
cases is consistent enough, if not perfect, while detail is lacking in both
cases. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono on
both is typical, but the relatively newer Chrome is somehow softer and
lower. A trailer for each is included,
but that is it for the extras. Too bad,
because more on Gaye on set would have been nice, while maybe someone could
have been found to explain that Mob theme song. An interesting set still.
- Nicholas Sheffo
