18 — North Shore News — Friday, May 26, 2000 | Vixen gave Neye Robert Aiken Contributing Writer “RUSS Meyer rides again!” boomed his delighted inimitableness, Orson Welles. He was directing Oja Kodar and me to play the scene “sexier” on the set of _ The Other Side of the Wind (made ir. the early °70s but vet to be released). _ “Steam... steam... more... I'm not detecting enough steam,” he moaned. We all, cast and crew, Jaughed heartily at his surprise reference to the “skin-flick” ; ‘king. I wasn’t sure he knew, at that point, that I had worked with the outrageous Meyer. . I was reluctant to tell. [ had previously men- tioned to him that he reminded me, sometimes, Of Jackie Gleason “That won't get you any- ~. where with me, Mr. Aiken.” he glowered as he feigned disgust and flicked his enormous cigar threateningly in my direction. ... What began this series of anecdotal Hollywood memoirs was when I was asked by the North Shore News to write an article about what it was like working with the leg- “ endary Orson Welles. That two-part feature was mun in early February °99. I have since written ~- “about my association with Elia Kazan, Stewart '. Stern; Paul Newman, Marion Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Rock Hudson, Elvis Presley, Gearge “ » Cukor, Warren Bearty, Diane Varsi, Dennis “A t, Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Jon ' . Voight, Angelina Jolie and Curtis Harrington. Interestingly, upon being told, on set, that I had played'a leading role in Russ Meyer’s Vixen . (1969), Orson took me aside and asked, with intense curiosity, “What was it like working with Russ Meyer?” I-was amazed. Russ had a cult following, but Orson interested in Meyer's - SOft porn exploitation movies? “> Well very much like working with you, really — small budget, skeleton crew, on the sly (non-union), low, wide camera angles, very ~- He responded, “I saw Vixen and I remem- ber you now... you were quite good.” And as : > an afterthought, “Not nuts about.the girl, though,” he muttered. I told him that my friend, Sanford Meisner, had taught me how to .. “live truthfully under imaginary circumstances,” -and much else but, that what eventually helped ‘Specializing in: Facial ' Rejuvenation Which includes: ~~" Face Lift "© Bye Lids © Silk Touch Laser * Artecoll peer cna cpenattnn tne aay “PLASTIC AND es RUSS Meyer (left) directs Robert Aiken and Erica Gavin in a scene on the set of Vixen. The 1963 c in $5 miition on an investment of $75,000 and got the attention cf 20th Century Fox. me (as an actor) more than any method [ had learned from Sandy was a simple technique called the “owning your space” exercise. i tied it out during the audition for Vixen (for fun), got the part, and was eventually com- plimented repeatedly, by Meyer, for “always giving me what I want on the first take.” Orson fooked me in the eye with mock sus- picion, “You must have been employing some such magic when you first approached me at the Beverly Hills Hotel.” “That took courage, Orson,” I said. “I’m sure I forgot. I was just there. You were ‘in charge’. Nobody owns as much space as you do. I felt ‘owned’ by you! You embraced the entire Polo Lounge and beyond.” “Well,” he retorted, “I felt something. You sold me on you first take.” “Would you have hired me had you known I had worked with Russ Meyer?” I asked. Somehow, I never got a clear answer, but he certainly was not judgemental of him. 1 was surprised at how much he knew about Meyer: that he had been a World War II cameraman and former Playboy photographer, and how he had made millions ftom drive-in product like, Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and Mud Honey. Meyer was known as quite happily vulgar and was ridiculed by the Hollywood establish- ment as a bustter of perverse schlock but the success of Vixen had taken $5 million in rentals an an investment of $75,009 which got the attention of 20th Century Fox who hired him on as producer/director of Bevond The Valley of the Dolls which was co-written with none other than Roger Ebert. Welles, it rurned out, appreciated Meyer's surreal playfulness —~ the fact that anything can Lrifitiuesy Tr acces: happen in a Russ Meyer movie and usually does. He didn’t mind the kitsch and liked the low-budget style. He appreciated him as an audacious American auteur director who con- jured up stories, produced and directed and did his own excellent cinematography and editing. This “King of the Nudies” eventually self- published, A Clean Breast — The Life and Loves of Russ Meyer (another story). Inspired by cartoonist, Al Capp (of Daisy Mae and Li! Abner fame), he made 8mm movies as a boy. He liked the way Capp drew Sealy Mattresses & Box Springs » 40% OFF starting °399 double from *499 queen 5 Piece Solid Pine Kitchen Set $899°9 Photo Garth Pillsbury ult classic took Beyond on BRAVO Tonight at Midnight on BRAVO, channel 28: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) — Roger Ebert penned this tale of an all-girl rock band clawing their way from obscu- rity to fame. Directed by Russ Meyer With an appearance by Strawberry Alarm Clock. women — voluptuous. In fact, as I recall, so did I. In 1959, Mever made The Immoral Mr Teas (about a peeping Tom). It was a week- end shoot and cost only $24,000. It looked very pro- fessional and was funny. It had a story, unlike previous main sources of screen nudity (naked people playing volley- ball). The picture became a big hit. Then came, Ere And The Handyman (staring his second wife, Eve) and Wild Gals Of The Naked Wese (wild, indeed!). By the mid-’60s, there were too many AM: Tres imita- tions. The nudie market dried up. Then, Meyer got inspired by certain Italian movies with half- naked sex-hungry women and made Lerna, then, other bawdy melodramas (too numerous and flagrantly excessive to mention). Evenitually, Russ Meyer decided to make “the sexiest movie ever” Vixen. Roger Ebert . has given it three stars and “thumbs up” (and whatever else might have gone up). In his review (included in Rager Ebert’s Movie Home Sce Vixen Page 20 “QiNG oe S| Large 7 Piece . Dining Room Set. $4999 Select from 6 colours - Oval or Rectangular Gside chairs, ftale Bodrooin Suite Select from 6 colours