The Naked Kiss (1964) | agoodmovietowatch

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The Naked Kiss 7.8 1964 Movie

The Naked Kiss

Dir. Samuel Fuller · United States of America · English

The new girl discovers a chilling town secret in this underrated, challenging neo-noir

Our take by Isabella Endrinal

Despite the title and the premise, The Naked Kiss is actually less raunchy than it sounds. Sure, it does have themes that seem more explicit than what’s expected from older classic films, but writer-director Samuel Fuller considers these themes with the weight it deserves, directly challenging the way the men of the town would scorn Kelly’s wares at the same time they’re taking a taste, and at the same time they’re willing to look away from the unpleasant truths lurking in the suburbs because of money. With memorable shots and a surprising song number halfway, The Naked Kiss plays with expectations for an earnest belief in change.

What happens

A former prostitute works to create a new life for herself in a small town, but a shocking discovery could threaten everything.

More about it

What happens

After a quick tryst with local police captain Griff, former prostitute Kelly abandons her lifestyle to become a nurse at the children’s hospital in Grantsville, and the fiancée of J. L. Grant, Griff’s best friend and the heir to town’s founding family, though she unexpectedly discovers a chilling secret.

What sets it apart

That eerie song number halfway. At first watch it seemed like just a random choice that just seems to relate to Kelly only, but the way it ties in with the twist later makes a kinda creepy song turn much more tragic.

TL;DR

Kelly, and the children, deserve better!!!

Awards

Sundance

1 nom

Nominated: Official Selection

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About the author

Isabella Endrinal

Isabella Endrinal

Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.