I admit that I’m a cheapskate. When you grow up poor, that comes naturally. For some of us the myth of scarcity is less of a fable than it is for others. Perhaps that’s why I like Roger Corman movies. Or usually do. And it’s also the reason that I bought the Classic Features Horror Classics DVD set years ago. 50 movies! And cheap! Now, in my defense, I bought this collection before streaming was a thing. I’d become somewhat addicted to horror movies and renting was pricey and hey, fifty movies! Of course, they’re public domain. Some of them are pretty bad. You can stream most of them for free, but with commercials. I was in the mood for my fellow cheapskate Roger, so I decided to try Swamp Women (it’s in the collection). Now, why it was considered horror I don’t know. It must be pretty difficult to find that many public domain movies in any category. It was just over an hour and I thought of it as homework.
Three tough-talking cons break out of prison with the help of an undercover cop. They’re all women, of course. The cop is there to make sure the stolen diamonds they hid are found. And to get out alive. This was a very cheap movie. The writing is puerile and there are plot holes large enough to row a boat through. Still, it’s a Corman film. The only real horror comes from an alligator and a snake—it seems that couldn’t afford more than one of each—and it ends up pretty much as you’ve pegged it will once the endless stock footage of Mardi Gras is over. What I found interesting, after reading a history of American International Pictures, is that even though co-founder James Nicholson was helping Corman raise money for the film AIP didn’t serve as the production company. After seeing it, it’s pretty clear why not.
The critics gave this a pretty tough time back in 1956, sometimes noting that it did at least attempt some female psychology. Really the only psychology on display was who might end up with the one guy they decide to keep as a hostage. When his girlfriend drowns after trying to steal the only boat, he barely frowns. I was hoping (I try not to read about movies before watching them) that there might be a swamp monster or something. I mean, swamps and monsters naturally go together, don’t they? I guess even those putting together public domain movie collections might be a bit cheap from time to time. All of us skinflints understand each other, I guess.