Rainbeaux Smith

Rainbeaux is and will be the kick-off cover girl for the first issue of filmfancy. There will, also, be an in-depth article on this seventies-era drive-in queen. She is no longer with us - and, soon, you'll be missing her as much as we do. You may never have heard of her - but, you'll quickly never forget her. Born 'Cheryl Smith', she got her nickname 'Rainbeaux' from the employees of the old L.A. rock haunt, The Rainbow Room, by being a well-known nightly denizen of said club. She put in time as post-Runaways-pre-Blackhearts-Joan Jett's drummer (see "Du-beat-e-o"). She (practically) steals "Caged Heat" and "Swinging Cheerleaders" from their respective leads. She's radiant in "Lemora". The list goes on and will be explored thoroughly forthwith....
every month we'll be hi-lighting a different Rainbeaux Smith movie that we want you to sit down and watch (if you haven't already)..

Rainbeaux MOTM #1:"Caged Heat"


We'll start with her most accessible - both availably accessible and entertainingly accessible. It's hard to believe how many people still haven't seen this movie! It's insane - there's no reason for it: it's solid entertainment and a shining example of Rainbeaux's style. She mumbles and kicks walls like an adolescent sent to her room for being bad - she's got a real very un-acty style here that seems like she's just gotten picked up off of Sunset Boulevard and dumped in the cell. Jonathan Demme writes and directs - a great soundtrack by John Cale and a great cast featuring the likes of Barbara Steele (Bava's "Black Sunday") as the wheelchair-bound warden and Erica Gavin (from Russ Meyer's "Vixen" and "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls") and another filmfancy fave Roberta Collins! As an exploitation film - it gives much more then expected - what it really exploits is the sense of camaraderie between the actresses, the spirit of rebellion and "breaking out" of any kind of oppressive society. Here the women are the action stars - without the help or need of men. The characters are remarkably sympathetic and humorous - you can't help but care what happens to them. And the film really pays off - it's a thrilling and almost joyous end - we practically jump up cheering every time we see it. Let us know what you think...