The Eyes of Laura Mars (1978): Sleazy Sexploitation or An Examination of Conscience? | Part 2 (American Giallo)

In Part Two of our discussion of The Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), Bill and Kevin are joined by Ben Schneider from Reel Beans Podcast, and finally get into the movie itself. As part of the continuing American Giallo series, they walk through the plot, dig into the production and behind-the-scenes history, and see whether the Catholic reviews from Part One actually hold any weight.

The crew goes over Faye Dunaway’s performance, Tommy Lee Jones' moralizing detective, the film’s strange blend of murder mystery and 1970s thriller, and the Helmut Newton fashion photography at the center of it all. The crew digs into what the movie might be saying about advertising, voyeurism, Capitalism, and the exploitation of women’s bodies. Is The Eyes of Laura Mars really just sleazy sexploitation ala Helmut Newton and Studio 54, or is there a more interesting argument buried underneath the pile of bodies and haute couture?

Were the Catholic reviewers onto something in their critiques, or were they totally off base? Did some of the reviewers get it, or at LEAST seem to grasp part of its meaning? Tune in (are we still saying that in the streaming era?) to find out!

Theme song by Bill "Netherlands" Holland

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