Sex Kittens Go To College (1960)

When the new head of the science department arrives at a small college, the administration is shocked to find she's a sexy blonde (Mamie Van Doren) with a dynamite figure. Unfortunately, her looks prevent everyone from taking her seriously. From the man who gave us Welles' TOUCH OF EVIL and Sirk's WRITTEN ON THE WIND, Albert Zugmsith not only produced but wrote the story and directed. It's a dumb and obvious exploitation movie that should be more fun than it is. Still, there are nuggets of amusement here and there like Van Doren speaking German and quoting Freud or John Carradine dancing the Charleston. I saw the European cut which is about nine minutes longer and features copious amounts of nudity which was obviously too raw for U.S. audiences in 1960. In addition to Van Doren, the "sex kittens" include Tuesday Weld and Mijanou Bardot, Brigitte's sister, whose stilted performance is difficult to assess. Is she a bad actress or defeated by her ineptitude in the English language. The large cast includes an odd mixture of Martin Milner, Louis Nye, Vampira, Pamela Mason (James' then wife), Mickey Shaughnessy, former child star Jackie Coogan and rockabilly singer Conway Twitty.