Skip to main content
Crime Cult Classic

Serial murders stalk the barmaids of a burlesque club in this sleazy 70s crime drama.

THE SWINGING BARMAIDS

They Can't Wait For Their Next Hot Date

1975 · 1h 28m · R · Crime / Drama · IMDB TMDB

A deranged serial killer infiltrates a popular club and slowly starts killing cocktail waitresses.

5,470 FilmsIn The Vault
Vault UpdatedDaily
Curated ByHumans
No AlgorithmBullsh*t
Vault Note

Don’t let the title fool you: these barmaids are swinging from suspense, not just the chandeliers.

Programmer's Pick

The Swinging Barmaids walks the tightrope between sleaze and style, serving up a heady cocktail of 70s grindhouse flair and psychotronic menace. William Smith puffs his way through the proceedings as the mustached detective, while Bruce Watson's unhinged killer turns the barmaids' world upside down. It's more horror than the title suggests—and yes, cleavage and brown-yellow set design are both on the menu.

— SassyFlix Programmer
Quick Answer
What is The Swinging Barmaids about?

The Swinging Barmaids is a 1975 American crime drama directed by Gus Trikonis about a cop tracking a deranged serial killer targeting cocktail waitresses at a burlesque club.

Details & Specs
Director
Gus Trikonis
Writer
Charles B. Griffith
Release
1975
Runtime
1h 28m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Crime, Drama
Also Known As
Eager Beavers, Killer, Room Service Sex

Synopsis

A cop goes after a psycho who is killing cocktail waitresses. Manages to be both sleazy and breezy, which was a fine line often walked in the 70's like no other decade. TV actor Bruce Watson plays a psycho who becomes obsessed with a group of barmaids at a burlesque club and starts killing them off and posing their lifeless bodies so he can photograph them. William Smith, in one of his 270 career roles, plays the chain-smoking, mustached cop trying to track him down in a sea of brown and yellow interior set decorating. Dyanne Thorne of Ilsa fame also shows up. The movie title is a bit misleading... this is more horror oriented than it looks.

There's a psycho killer on the loose again, and this time he has an appetite for barmaids. Smith is a tough cop who's determined to stop the bloodshed and make the world safe again for girls. Will the killer strike again? Will the barmaids swing again? Will the audience wake up in time to see the ending?

As the reviewer at Critical Condition says, “nothing special, but it’s not a bad way to spend 88 minutes of your life.”

This flick is kind of bizarre. It’s a serial killer flick that’s not really high on the gore or suspense. It’s a sexploitation flick without much titillation. It’s a William Smith movie where he’s kind of unthreatening (until the end when he’s as badass as you want him to be). None of that means it’s a lame movie. Not at all.

Why Cult

70s Grindhouse Vibe

Expect a breezy yet sleazy atmosphere only the 1970s could deliver, complete with era-appropriate set decor and psychotronic touches.

Burlesque Club Murders

A serial killer targets cocktail waitresses in a burlesque club, blending crime and horror in a cult-friendly setting.

William Smith Detective

See William Smith in one of his 270 roles, this time as a chain-smoking, mustached cop navigating a sea of suspects and gaudy interiors.

Sexploitation Elements

The film amps up the sleaze with nudity, lingerie, and a healthy dose of cleavage, living up to its sexploitation tag.

Trailer

Scene Gallery

Questions from the Vault

What is The Swinging Barmaids about? +

The Swinging Barmaids is about a cop hunting a psycho killer who is murdering cocktail waitresses at a burlesque club.

When was The Swinging Barmaids released? +

The Swinging Barmaids was released in 1975.

Who directed The Swinging Barmaids? +

Gus Trikonis directed The Swinging Barmaids.

How long is The Swinging Barmaids? +

The Swinging Barmaids has a runtime of 88 minutes.

What genre is The Swinging Barmaids? +

The Swinging Barmaids is a crime drama.

Where can I watch The Swinging Barmaids? +

You can watch The Swinging Barmaids on SassyFlix.