Two directors, a script completely rewritten while filming, location work in Haiti that nearly got the cast and crew killed, way over budget, and never actually released in spite of a highly publicized World Premiere in Cincinnati, Ohio and the publicity brought on by the later murder of its star, Christa Helm. And yet still LET'S GO FOR BROKE is an entertaining picture--just not as entertaining as its own "making of" story.
The confusing plot has a bad guy in a wheelchair stealing an invention that can turn living things into raw meat. Meanwhile, another bad guy gets his minions, led by Chitra, to kidnap an American feminist. The karate expert talk show host whose show she had just appeared on, Jackie Broke, follows her to Haiti in a rescue attempt only to be captured herself where she becomes the centerpiece of a Voodoo ritual. SPOILER ALERT: She escapes, rescues several kidnap victims, runs from the bad guys, and eventually has to fight them alone until the cavalry arrives in the form of her karate expert boyfriend.
Attempts at comedy pretty much fall flat although there are some amusing inside jokes that some will get. Most won't. Christa gives a perfectly acceptable '70s B-movie performance and sings the ethereal theme song quite well! Most of the action scenes are handled well and even though the plot gets bogged down, there are some striking visuals and a number of unusual individual scenes.
Besides Christa, in only her second film and first starring role, you have the late Frank Raiter, reportedly a favorite of Frank Sinatra's (and later very successful on Broadway) as the main male villain and Chitra is actually played by Chittra Neogy, who had a small role in TO SIR, WITH LOVE and later would become a filmmaker herself. Kathy Imrie, from SHAFT'S BIG SCORE, is good, as is Herbert Kerr, Jr, who was being touted in the trades as a "next big thing" at the time. He kind of gets lost in this one. Eddie Egan, the cop on whose real life the movie THE FRENCH CONNECTION was based, plays himself. Veteran stuntman George Fisher gives one of the best performances in the movie. Former child star Jacqueline Mayro (Broadway's original Baby June in GYPSY) is the woman whose kidnapping starts off the adventure.
The only film produced by Broadway producer Stuart Duncan (GODSPELL), the film played for two weeks in Cincinnati at the end of 1974 and the beginning of 1975. As late as 1977, a release was said to be eminent (retitled LADY J) and Chittra was even told to prepare for a publicity junket with Christa. Then came the murder and the movie seemed to be permanently shelved.
R.I.P. Christa Helm
The confusing plot has a bad guy in a wheelchair stealing an invention that can turn living things into raw meat. Meanwhile, another bad guy gets his minions, led by Chitra, to kidnap an American feminist. The karate expert talk show host whose show she had just appeared on, Jackie Broke, follows her to Haiti in a rescue attempt only to be captured herself where she becomes the centerpiece of a Voodoo ritual. SPOILER ALERT: She escapes, rescues several kidnap victims, runs from the bad guys, and eventually has to fight them alone until the cavalry arrives in the form of her karate expert boyfriend.
Attempts at comedy pretty much fall flat although there are some amusing inside jokes that some will get. Most won't. Christa gives a perfectly acceptable '70s B-movie performance and sings the ethereal theme song quite well! Most of the action scenes are handled well and even though the plot gets bogged down, there are some striking visuals and a number of unusual individual scenes.
Besides Christa, in only her second film and first starring role, you have the late Frank Raiter, reportedly a favorite of Frank Sinatra's (and later very successful on Broadway) as the main male villain and Chitra is actually played by Chittra Neogy, who had a small role in TO SIR, WITH LOVE and later would become a filmmaker herself. Kathy Imrie, from SHAFT'S BIG SCORE, is good, as is Herbert Kerr, Jr, who was being touted in the trades as a "next big thing" at the time. He kind of gets lost in this one. Eddie Egan, the cop on whose real life the movie THE FRENCH CONNECTION was based, plays himself. Veteran stuntman George Fisher gives one of the best performances in the movie. Former child star Jacqueline Mayro (Broadway's original Baby June in GYPSY) is the woman whose kidnapping starts off the adventure.
The only film produced by Broadway producer Stuart Duncan (GODSPELL), the film played for two weeks in Cincinnati at the end of 1974 and the beginning of 1975. As late as 1977, a release was said to be eminent (retitled LADY J) and Chittra was even told to prepare for a publicity junket with Christa. Then came the murder and the movie seemed to be permanently shelved.
R.I.P. Christa Helm
