Haji, the actress who starred along side Tura Satana and Lori Williams in Russ Meyer's Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! passed away yesterday. She was born in Quebec in 1946, and became an exotic dancer at the age of fourteen. She later moved to California, where she was spotted by Meyer in a topless bar. Though Satana was the real star of that particular film, Haji (real name Barbarella Catton) was in five different Meyer films, more than any other actress, in addition to acting as a "talent" scout for him. She was in ten other films as well, most with Meyer-like titillating titles, like Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks, and Wham! Bam! Thank You, Spaceman!
It's my guess that a few of you have seen some of her work. If you haven't, Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! is essential viewing. A cult classic, yes, but it was one of the few films at the time (1965) that had women in domineering roles, albeit violently domineering. Tough chick karate chops, that sort of routine. It's a hoot and a half, as are a lot of Meyer's films, and not because of his obsession with cantilevered starlets. He was no slouch when it came to dialogue, good enough that you don't really know where intended corn begins. Blah, blah, blah,..so, I know, you want music. Here's the Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! theme song, by the Bostweeds, and another one by them. Yes, they have more than one song.
~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Listen:The Bostweeds - Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! mp3 at Miloman (?)
The Bostweeds - Little Bad News (streaming) at YouTube
Video:
Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! - Nine minute clip at Youtube
Visit:
Haji - Obituary at LA Weekly
Haji - Filmography at Internet Movie Database
Haji at Wikipedia
