DORIS WISHMAN: THE GODMOTHER OF FEMALE SEXPLOITATION
In the world of cult cinema, there are a few names that stand out as pioneers of their craft. One of those names is Doris Wishman. This director, who worked predominantly in the 60s and 70s, was the epitome of edgy, bold, and boundary-pushing filmmaking. Her works were often considered sleazy, risqué, and even downright offensive by some. But to her fans, she was a legend who brought a new level of daring to the screen.
Born in 1912 in New York City, Wishman initially worked as a secretary before getting into the film industry. Her first feature film, "Hideout in the Sun" (1960), was a nudist film shot in Florida. This was the beginning of a long and illustrious career that saw her make more than 30 films in various genres, including sexploitation, nudist films, and even horror.
One of the things that made Wishman's films stand out was her willingness to tackle taboo subjects that other filmmakers shied away from. Her 1965 film "Bad Girls Go to Hell" was a stark depiction of a woman's descent into depravity after being raped. The film was controversial at the time, but it became a cult classic and remains a favorite of fans of exploitation cinema.
Another hallmark of Wishman's filmmaking was her innovative use of camera angles and editing techniques. Her films often had a disjointed, dreamlike quality, with jump cuts and strange angles that added to the unsettling feeling of the movies. Wishman's experimental approach to filmmaking was ahead of its time, and many filmmakers today cite her as an influence on their work.
But it wasn't just her filmmaking techniques that set Wishman apart. She was also a trailblazer for women in the industry, as a female director at a time when the field was dominated by men. Wishman was a self-made woman who didn't take no for an answer and forged her own path in an industry that wasn't always welcoming to women.
Sadly, Wishman passed away in 2002, but her legacy lives on. Her films are still screened at festivals and repertory cinemas, and her influence can be seen in the work of contemporary filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and John Waters.
Doris Wishman’s work was the epitome of edgy filmmaking. Her films were daring, controversial, and boundary-pushing. But she was also a pioneer for women in the industry, a self-made woman who blazed her own trail, and that is what makes her a true legend of cult cinema.