Major studios often get timid when it comes to deviating from the male action formula. Roger Corman had no problem producing films about women that kickass and mean it. He’s the man who projected Pam Grier onto drive-in screens across America. He knew the action audience didn’t mind a feminine touch serving up knuckles and pain. Roger Corman’s Cult Collection Lethal Ladies Volume 2 features of trio of female films made in Italy and the Philippines with additional footage shot in America. The boxset arrives January 24. The Arena brings the ladies in to the gladiator realm. Pam Grier and Margaret Markov reunite after the success of Black Mama, White Mama. They’re taken back to ancient Rome to give the sexiest battles in the arena. Fly Me features kung fu fighting stewardess. What’s interesting is that a few months ago an Asian airline began training their stewardesses in the marital arts. The Cover Girl Models mixes high fashion with international intrigue. Here’s a quick summary from Shout! Factory:
LETHAL LADIES COLLECTION, VOLUME 2
OWN THIS 2-DVD SET ON JANUARY 24, 2012 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY
NEW WORLD PICTURES presents MARGARET MARKOV PAM GRIER THE ARENA
LUCRETIA LOVE – PAUL MULLER – DANIEL VARGAS – MARIE LOUISE – MARY COUNT – SARA BAY
Director of Photography ARISTIDE MASSACCESI – Editor JOE DANTE
Music Composed & Conducted by FRANCESCO DE MASI – Written by JOHN WILLIAM CORRINGTON
and JOYCE HOOPER CORRINGTON – Produced by MARK DAMON – Directed by STEVE CARVER
Kidnapped by Roman soldiers, four beautiful women must battle for their lives in The Arena . . . while attempting to beat the Romans at their own game. Starring Pam Grier and Margaret Markov. Directed by Steve Carver. (80 minutes/ 1974)
NEW WORLD PICTURES presents COVER GIRL MODELS
Starring PAT ANDERSON – LINDSAY BLOOM – TARA STROHMEIER – JOHN KRAMER – MARY WORONOV
Written by HOWARD R. COHEN Produced and Directed by CIRIO H. SANTIAGO
They’re fast. They’re beautiful. They’re deadly . . . they have to be. A fashion photography assignment teams three American models and inadvertently plunges them into the mystery and danger of international espionage in Cover Girl Models. When an invaluable roll of microfilm is sewed into one of the girls’ fashion gowns, they are drawn into the violence and intrigue of a spy-vs.-counterspy conspiracy. Starring Tara Strohmeier (The Great Texas Dynamite Chase), Pat Anderson (TNT Jackson), Lindsay Bloom (H.O.T.S.) and Vic Diaz. (72 minutes/ 1973)
NEW WORLD PICTURES presents FLY ME
Starring PAT ANDERSON – LENORE KASDORF – LYLLAH TORENA – NAOMI STEVENS
Kung Fu Sequences by DAVID CHOW – Produced and Directed by CIRIO H. SANTIAGO
In Fly Me, a group of martial arts assassins board a passenger plane. Once in the air, the group terrorizes the passengers and insists that the plane be rerouted to another destination. But they picked the wrong plane to hijack, as these stewardesses don’t just serve meals and beverages — their hands and feet are lethal weapons! Starring Pat Anderson (Cover Girl Models), Lenore Kasdorf (Missing In Action) and Vic Diaz. (73 minutes/ 1975)
Special Features:
* Audio Commentary With Director Steve Carver (The Arena)
* Interviews with Roger Corman, director Steve Carver, producer Mark Damon and actress Margaret Markov (The Arena)
* Trailers And TV Spots
Shout! Factory will continue to present Roger Corman’s Cult Classics home entertainment releases in 2012. Upcoming highlights include The Nurses Collection and many others.
