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Hideout In The Sun
[Retro Seduction Cinema]
1960; color
Directed by Doris Wishman
Starring: Earl Bauer, Dolores Carlos & Greg Conrad
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At this point I am going to assume anyone reading this is already familiar with the works of Doris Wishman so I won't bother to detail "who she was". (Check out the rest of the column or google her name if you want more info.) Hideout In The Sun is Doris' first film, and definitely falls into the nudie cutie category. We haven't reviewed a ton of these films at the Buffet, mainly because there aren't that many worth reviewing, but every time we do I feel like I need to explain the genre. Even though it's pretty much self-explanatory. So, this time, I am going to refrain from doing that. The plot will kind of explain it for you anyway, so don't worry if you have no idea what I'm talking about. The film opens with some spectacular scenes of old North Miami Beach Florida; after, of course, the kitschy theme song - written by Doris' niece no less - paired with a few random acts of innocent, non-sexual nudity. (See, I told you the nudie cutie genre would be easy to figure out.) Then we are treated to some establishing off-camera dialogue that regular viewers of her work know as one of Doris' many trademarks. Although I suppose at this time she was just honing her skills in that department. Eventually we figure out that these two gentleman are brothers, in the literal sense, and they're about to capitalize on their sibling disharmony by knocking off a bank together. The older one, Duke, is typically the leader of this gang of two while Steve plays the standard worry-wort role. Everything seems to be going as planned for our felonious fellas until they get to their second getaway car and find it's battery DOA. Fortunately the two quickly spy a pretty red head headed to her roomy convertible. The two muscle their way into her front seat by holding her at gun point, at which point we are treated to more spectacular scenes of old North Miami Beach. Before long we find ourselves arriving at a marina of some sort, where the men are set to meet up with an appropriately slimy and corrupt sea captain. The original plan, see, was to drive the second getaway car to their getaway boat which would then take them to Cuba. (Where they hoped to spend their fortune on mojitos and cigars, no doubt.) But since that didn't pan out, they have no choice but to menace their captive cutie some more by driving aimlessly and peeking inside her adorable white pleather mod purse. Turns out the dame is either a member or employee of The Hibiscus Country Club, whatever that is, so they decide to hole up there until their aquatic getaway car is ready to disembark. Oh but won't the two bank robbing brothers be surprised to find that this exclusive country club is not the kind of waspy, upper class place you'd see in other films of the era. Because the Hibiscus Country Club is - wait for it - a nudist resort! But by that time it will be too late, and Steve will be not exactly forced to join the other members in uncovering his member in the safe comfort of the country club walls and pretend to be the Dorothy's newly wedded husband, while Duke will remain in her cabin, growing ever surlier as the moments pass. Believe it or not by the end of the film all of this all leads to Duke's death by snake bite and Steve and Dorothy heading off, clothed, into the sunset together. Although if you have seen other Wishman offerings maybe you would believe it, as anything is possible in the zoomy close-up of her zoom lens. Needless to say, I loved this movie, but generally speaking both the Kommandant and myself are marked out for anything dealing with old Miami Beach. (If only the Miami Serpentarium was still standing today!) Still, even non-fans of Doris or vintage Floridiana very well may find something to enjoy here.
—Bunny
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