The cinematic oeuvre of Bo Derek is brief yet potent. She became the last sex symbol of the ‘70s when she stole Dudley Moore’s libido in 10. Her iconic beaded cornrows comforted the nation in 1979 as the Iran hostage crisis dominated the news. Her previous movie experience had been as Richard Harris’ girlfriend whose leg was nibbled off by a killer whale in Orca. The smooth and shapely California-born blonde was hotter than any of the Charlie’s Angels at that time. Naturally she’d be making more movies, but she wouldn’t make them by herself. Her husband John Derek (Joshua in The Ten Commandments) used her to finally secure a career as a director and Hollywood player. This led to Bo and John making Tarzan, the Ape Man with Richard Harris. The film was a box office success and caused a buzz when Edgar Rice Burroughs’ estate went nuts. But Warner Brothers didn’t want to stay in the Bo Derek business. Luckily indie darlings Cannon Films and Triumph Films were ready to allow John and Bo to express their creative urges. Bolero & Ghosts Can’t Do It represents the final two collaborations between the husband and wife team.
Bolero (1984 – 105 minutes) can be summed up with one image: Bo Derek getting honey poured on her bare chest. Can you think of anything more tasty to make 1984 an appealing year? There is a plot to the film and more scenes. The movie is set in the 1920s with Bo playing a rich English girl just out of finishing school. She has decided she wants to finish her journey into womanhood by getting laid by a real man. She wants to experience ecstasy except with a unique spelling. Seeing how Valentino is all the rage, she is determined to blossom with the sensual ways of a real Arab sheik. Luckily she has George Kennedy (Cool Hand Luke) to protect her in the world of wild men.She doesn’t get fulfilled by the sheik so she goes on the prowl for the next best manly man – a matador in Spain. Bo basically wants to get gored by the bull fighter. Although when her potential lover has a health issue, Bo has to heal him so he can deliver the moment of truth to her. Her character has this strange mix of naive notions and naughty aspirations that’s addicting. Along for the ride is Olivia d’Abo (The Wonder Years). Director John Derek brings a Cinemax After Dark feel to the movie. There’s an arty edge to the action with Bo being lit just right. She knows that the audience wants to see her strip down and frolic. There’s no teasing the audience as to why the film got an R rating. Bolero does play off the musical piece that made her a star in 10 when Dudley Moore insisted on playing it when he has his chance to lure Bo into bed. Bolero keeps up a comic feel for the bedroom action without completely sacrificing the sensuality promised on the poster.
Ghosts Can’t Do It (1990 -105 minutes) is a hilarious unintentional comedy with an unexpected acting performance from a presidential candidate. Bo Derek is the somewhat naive wife of Anthony Quinn (Zorba the Greek). They are madly in love, but his failing health is making things bad. She doesn’t think she can live without him. He can’t stand the idea of her watching him go downhill so he blows his brains out. Instead of going to heaven, Anthony Quinn is stuck in Purgatory with Julie Newmar (Catwoman on Batman) as his guide. He continues to talk and see Bo from beyond the grave. People think she’s a bit nutty since she can talk to her dead husband. He’s now her guardian angel. He does his best to help her protect his massive empire. He has her outwit Donald Trump at a business meeting in Hong Kong. He even guides her in a battle with a mobster hitman. Being a ghost is fun, but Quinn wants to return to the land of the living to make sweet love to his young wife. He concocts a plan to possess a body when a person is near death. Being a ghost means he can’t put it in motion. He must talk Bo into killing a young stud so he can come back to life. Is she willing to sacrifice a young dumb guy to be with her husband again?
The film is amazingly bizarre on so many levels. First, wouldn’t being stuck with Julie Newmar really be heaven? It’s Julie Newmar!!! Sure you were married to Bo Derek, but now you’ve got Catwoman in the afterlife. That’s an upgrade in my world. Instead of having Anthony Quinn be turned into a ghost lurking on the locations, they merely stuck him in front of a black screen with a few visual effects to create an otherworldly look. Bo gets to stare off into space and act as if Quinn is nearby. it’s a great way to save on the budget. But adds to the cheesiness. The entire plot of wanting her to kill the local studs is absurd. This is a great way to question the sanity of her character and lose sympathy in a dying heartbeat. One second Bo is fighting mobsters in a pool and then she’s contemplating killing an unsuspecting guy with poison so Quinn can hump her.
The most laughable part of the film belongs to Donald Trump’s acting. For a man so focused on coating objects in gold, his delivery is pure wood. He’s no Ronald Reagan on any level. Thankfully the Donald’s scenes have him at a table hashing out a deal with Bo. There’s no attempt at having him emote merely spew out a few lines. He seems to have scored acting tips for Anna Nicole Smith. SPOILER: Donald keeps his clothes and hair on.
If Ghosts Can’t Do It was made with French speaking cast, the critics of 1990 would have been praising this as a demented marriage farce masterpiece. Instead Bo and John Derek’s final film was savagely attacked until it hid in the video department. The same was true of Bolero. Yet these are two amazing guilty pleasure flicks remained a hot rental title at video stores for those who are still enamoured by the last sex symbol of the ‘70s. Bolero & Ghosts Can’t Do It is a double dose of Bo Derek at her prime.
The video is 1.78:1 anamorphic. There’s a joy to seeing Bo in 1080p. The audio is DTS-HD MA mono. Bo has such a comforting voice in the mix. Easy to see why she’s be the object of so much affection. The movies are subtitled.
Trailers for both films remind the audience that Bo Derek will be au natural in the films.
Bolero & Ghosts Can’t Do It prove Bo had could go beyond 10 on these two goofy guilty pleasures.
Shout! Factory presents Bolero & Ghosts Can’t Do It. Directed by: John Derek. Screenplays by: John Derek. Starring: Bo Derek, George Kennedy, Anthony Quinn and Donald Trump. Rated: R. Boxset contents: 2 films on 1 Blu-ray disc. Released: January 12, 2016.
