Scopitones, those clunky 16mm jukeboxes in clubs and bars in the Sixties, are a treasure trove of garish pre-MTV musical wonders, and “Web Of Love” is one of the art form’s most delirious delights. Joi Lansing (real name Joyce Wassmansdorff) was a platinum blonde nightclub chanteuse and bit player in movies and TV, but was better known to Middle America as Frank Sinatra’s on-again, off-again floozie, and she capitalized on her tabloid infamy by playing up the sexpot image in three Scopitones made in 1964. “Trapped, I’m…..TRAPPED….” Trapped, that is, on a tacky Vegas set with natives, spiders, bird costumes, a painted snake-man, and the most intriguing of come-hither expressions. Sadly Joi passed away from cancer aged just 43, joining the pantheon of doomed Hollywood blondes, long gone but, from where I sit at least, never to be forgotten.


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