Russ Meyer

Russell Albion "Russ" Meyer (March 21, 1922 (Oakland, California) – September 18, 2004) was an American motion picture director.

Related Topics:
March 21 - 1922 - Oakland, California - September 18 - 2004 - American - Motion picture - Director

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He made a number of amateur films at the age of 15, and worked during World War II as a newsreel cameraman. Upon returning to civilian life, he became a glamour photographer, and found himself working for Hugh Hefner's newly launched Playboy magazine.

Related Topics:
World War II - Newsreel - Hugh Hefner - Playboy

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From here, he became a director of nudie films. His films are more ribaldry than pornography, and seem unusually focused on women with large breasts. His later films are almost entirely devoted to this vision; his discoveries include Kitten Natividad and Uschi Digard. He co-wrote Beyond the Valley of the Dolls with film critic Roger Ebert. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! is usually considered to be his greatest, or at least his most idiosyncratic, picture. Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens, his final film proper (1979), is considered his funniest.

Related Topics:
Nudie films - Ribaldry - Pornography - Kitten Natividad - Uschi Digard - Beyond the Valley of the Dolls - Roger Ebert - Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

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Meyer was known for his quick wit. While participating with Roger Ebert in a panel discussion at Yale University, he was confronted by an angry woman who accused him of being "nothing but a breast man." His immediate reply: "That's only the half of it."

Related Topics:
Roger Ebert - Yale University - Breast man

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Meyer died at his home in the Hollywood Hills, of complications of pneumonia and dementia, on September 18, 2004.

Related Topics:
Pneumonia - Dementia - September 18 - 2004

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Meyer was married to:

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• Bety Valdovinos (?-?)
• Eve Meyer (April 2, 1952-1969)(divorced)
• Edy Williams (June 27, 1970 - November 7, 1977)(divorced)

Contrary to some accounts, Meyer was never married to his frequent star, Kitten Natividad.

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Russ Meyer: Selected filmography ►