The Naked Kiss (1964)

An ex-prostitute (Constance Towers) relocates to a small town where she hopes to live down her past and start a new life. Written, produced and directed by Samuel Fuller. Films about small town hypocrisy and the moral rot hiding under the surface of a wholesome community have been done before, KINGS ROW and PEYTON PLACE being two notable examples. But Fuller's take is less polished and more raw than those two movies. It's pulp to be sure but there's more Art in this piece of pulp than most "prestigious" Oscar bait movies. It's an odd little film in many ways, tough minded in its tabloid approach yet incredibly mawkish in spots. For example, one minute the film stops in its tracks while Towers and a room full of crippled children sing a sentimental ballad then Towers barges into a brothel and shoves a bunch of money down the madam's (Virginia Grey) throat! But the film is pure Sam Fuller! He draws a marvelous performance from Towers that no other director was able to do, not even John Ford. With Anthony Eisley, Patsy Kelly, Michael Dante and Betty Bronson.