Plot: What’s it about?
Moonbeam is a gorgeous nineteen year old woman, but her time is spent with her prize swine, as opposed to young men. This worries her mother, as she wants her daughter to find a man soon and of course, take the vows of marriage. The prospects seem bleak however, as she does play around with a local boy, buy he has eyes for someone else and as such, Moonbeam has minimal potential there. A plan has been put into motion however, when a traveling salesman ventures into the area and tries to con the corn-pones. Can Moonbeam’s parents figure out a way to make this salesman marry Moonbeam and even if so, is this what she really wants, needs, or should even consider? In Sassy Sue, we overlook life on the Willard family farm estate, where romance problems have also taken root. Pa makes moonshine and wants to make it big as an outhouse seat designer, but he is concerned about his son, Junior. It seems Junior is more interested in the farm animals than the young ladies, which is not a pleasant prospect. Pa tries to set Junior up with some lovelies, but is Junior’s heart already taken and if so, by what?
I have come to love the folks at Something Weird Video and with good reason, as they’ve released some of the coolest, most obscure movies around. I mean, who else would release The Pigkeeper’s Daughter and Sassy Sue, especially in a value packed double feature edition like this? Yes, these movies have limited interest, but I think they’re a lot of fun and in any event, the girls are always worth a look. The usual Harry Novak (Please Don’t Eat My Mother) elements are evident here, with a ton of naked women, sex scenes, and oddball humor. Novak supplies an ample selection of ladies to parade in front of the camera and as per usual, is never shy with the camera once the linens reach the floor. The storylines and acting might not be too impressive, but for hayseed T&A epics, I doubt anyone will be let down. So neither film stands as a timeless classic, but for fans of flesh laden, unusual cinema, both are more than worth a look. And when you consider that you’ll get both pictures plus some extras for one low price, this release is more than recommended and offers a nice amount of value.
Video: How does it look?
Both films are presented in full frame transfers, which seem to be acceptable aspect ratio options. As expected, the source prints have some signs of wear and such, but not to the extent I had counted on. Some nicks and grain can be seen, but most of the time the prints look pretty clean and that’s most welcome news indeed. The colors and contrast also seem stable & natural, with no flaws to discuss on either front. These transfers don’t look pristine, but when you consider the films involved, these treatments look terrific.
Audio: How does it sound?
As far as the material goes, the included mono tracks are more than sufficient, though age & lack of resources are often evident. So the elements sometimes seem a little thin, but all things considered, I’d say the audio is more than acceptable. I heard minimal hiss, even at higher than normal volume levels and while some dialogue is a shade muffled, most of the time vocals sound clean and easy to understand. No, the audio is no match for more modern, higher budget releases, but given the age & nature of the films, these tracks are solid enough.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes theatrical trailers for both movies, as well as a theatrical featurette titled The Old Man’s Bride, which is worth a look. You’ll also find a slew of bonus bumpkin trailers, some exploitation artwork & radio spots, and some of Novak’s exploitation photos.
