Director
Frank Vitale
Writer
Allan Moyle, Frank Vitale
Cast
Miguel Fernandes, Allan Moyle, Andrée Pelletier, Anne-Marie Provencher
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Canadian International Pictures
SHE’S CARRYING A GUN AND IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO TREATED HER LIKE DIRT!
Cindy, a call girl, leaves her lover and pimp Dan, whom she considers too cruel. She then sets about rescuing her former colleagues from his clutches. With the help of a new recruit, Marianne, and her new boyfriend, Peter, the group take refuge in an abandoned warehouse. But Dan eventually discovers the refuge and forces the girls to return with him. Cindy then decides to take revenge on the immoral and violent pimp.
After collaborating on MONTREAL MAIN (1974), Frank Vitale and Allan Bozo Moyle followed up with an exploitation film worthy of 42nd Street. More than a grindhouse production, the film focuses on an engaging community of prostitutes who band together to revolt against their abusive pimps. Today, the film serves as a time capsule of an era rife with legendary Montreal landmarks such as the Orange Julep, the Hotel Nelson, the Square-Victoria metro station and centre, the Balmoral, and the now-defunct Seaway Motor Inn. Miguel Fernandes plays a pimp who is as calm, mannered, and disturbing as you could wish for. Andrée Pelletier (Cindy) and Anne-Marie Provencher (Marianne) add a touch of realism to this sordid drama. We should also mention the presence of Bernie Gurberg, Mr. Dollar Cinema himself. For a long time, EAST END HUSTLE was available on VHS and then DVD in a mediocre, dark print with faded colours, truncated image and muffled sound. Thank goodness for this new restoration, courtesy of Canadian International Pictures (CIP), which at last makes it possible to rediscover this essential film in our filmography, since it is a 100% independent production shot by English-speaking Montrealers. It is fascinating to compare it to Denys Arcand's exploitation film GINA (1975), distributed on Blu-ray by CIP. – Translation: Rupert Bottenberg
Showings
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