Flareup

Released by: Warner Archive
Released on: May 31, 2012.
Director: James Neilson
Cast: Raquel Welch, James Stacey, Luke Askew
Year: 1969
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The Movie:

“Most men want to love her… one man wants to kill her!”

Directed by James Neilson, Flareup stars a scorching hot Raquel Welch as a Las Vegas go-go dancer named Michele who finds herself the unwitting victim of a maniac named Alan Morris (played by the late Luke Askew) who has just recently shot dead his own wife. He blames Michele and fellow dancer Iris (Pat Delaney) for turning his wife, Nikki (Sandra Giles), against him and fully intends to pay her back in kind. Michele is more than just another pretty face, however, and quickly realizes that Alan's intentions are - when she does, she takes some advice from her manager and goes on the run, deciding to get out of Las Vegas and hide out on the streets and in the clubs of Los Angeles.

While working at one of the Los Angeles clubs, she meets a parking lot attendant named Joe (James Stacey) who quickly wins her over and before you know it, she's shacking up with him. Alan is never more than a few steps behind her, however, and when he figures out where she's been hiding out, he cuts down anyone who tries to stand in his way.

Performance wise, Flareup really isn't very good, even if the movie turns out to be predictably campy fun. Askew does his best with the material he's been handed but doesn't seem wholly invested in the role while Welch, who looks fantastic, simply over does it wherever she can. Her dance routine, which is shot like it should be the highlight of the film, feels stilted and winds up rather funny, though not intentionally - but she looks great, no doubt about it. Look for quick cameos from Rob Rifkin as a gay bar patron and Gordon Jump as a security guard. Michael Rougas pops up a as doctor but adds very little of any interest to the movie.

What makes Flareup work isn't the story, which is pretty much a by the numbers 'guy stalks hot chick' storyline that offers few twists or surprises, but the locations. The movie was shot around Las Vegas and Las Angeles and it's interesting to see how much has changed in both cities in the four decades plus that have passed since the movie was made. Speaking of those locations, the interior strip club scenes in the movie were shot not in Las Vegas but in Los Angeles at The Losers, the strip club where Russ Meyer cast a few of his leading ladies like pussycats Tura Satana and Haji and Vixen herself, Miss Erica Gavin. The club makes for a great spot to film the go-go scenes and the décor definitely fits the sort of tone that it would appear director Neilson (who has a lot more TV credit to his work than he does feature film work and who did a lot of work for Disney!) was going for.

Video/Audio/Extras:

This Warner Archive MOD/DVD-R disc presents the movie in 1.85.1 anamorphic widescreen and while it doesn't appear to have been given a full blown restoration it looks pretty good. Some mild print damage shows up and the image can be a little faded looking in spots but the good outweighs the bad in that it's stable, fairly clean and rather film like even if detail won't floor you.

The only audio option on the disc is an English language Dolby Digital Mono track, there are no alternate language options or subtitles provided. The audio is on par with the video here. It sounds fine, there are no issues, but don't expect this to blow your ears. The track is serviceable enough.

No extras on the disc aside from the trailer and a static menu with chapter selection provided in ten minute intervals.

The Final Word:

Flareup is worth seeing for two reason - Welch's wacky performance and good looks and the time capsule aspect that the location shoots offer up. Very definitely a product of its time, it's isn't particularly well made but it can be fun if you're in the right frame of mind and looking for some mildly exploitative thrills.