LADYKILLERS

US, 1988, 97 minutes, Colour.
Marilu Henner, Susan Blakely, Lesley Anne Down.
Directed by Robert Lewis.

Ladykillers is a routine whodunnit designed for television. The twist is that the victims are male strippers and that the police person in charge is a woman. It is not difficult to work out who the murderer is.

The film has something of a sensational touch (television style stripping rather than feature film for cinemas). It also gives the opportunity for the rookie policeman to have to go in as a decoy and prove that he is a more talented stripper than most of the others.

Marilu Henner is the policewoman, Susan Blakely is the decadent owner of the club, Lesley Ann Down is the eccentric manager. Expected material - with a touch of the sensational.

1.Interesting police thriller? Murder mystery? The background of The Ladykillers Club? The salacious touch?

2.American cities, police precincts, advertising agencies, mansions, the strip club? Musical score, songs, choreography?

3.The title, the focus, the tone? The club?

4.The focus on the police, the policewoman and her skills, her partner, their affair, friendship, clashes? Professional partnership, the woman in charge, the man as the rookie? Her relationship with him, demands on him, his effectiveness? The officers discovering their relationship, their attitude? The woman on the job, interrogating the women? The male on the job, standing in as a stripper, becoming victim? The final confrontation of the killer, solution of the case?

5.The manager, her style, her relationship with the dancers, the costumes, choreography? The clash with the dancer and the finale? His death? Interrogated by the police? Keeping the club open? The woman who went to the club and knew the manager as a prostitute? Telling the story, the psychological trauma? Motivation for the killings? Confronting the policeman, the rescue, her death? The expected murderer?

6.The advertising agent, ownership, her relationship with men, at the club, pick-ups, the policeman wired and her being a suspect? The clash with the policewoman? Innocence? Her office, the girl with the advertising, the particular implement - used to slash the dancers?

7.The male dancers, their background, working together, the dressing room, attitude towards the manager? Their performances? Relationship with the women, money, pick-ups?

8.The audience, the club, the women and their egging each other on? The woman whose husband despised strippers? her background as a prostitute? As a suspect, giving information, her wanting to keep her life a secret to save her marriage?

9.The atmosphere of the city, the clubs, jealousies, sexual relationships? Murder?