María Álvarez emerged in the late 1970s as a captivating presence in the realm of exploitation cinema. In Tigers in Lipstick (1979), she plays a pivotal role that showcases her ability to navigate the gritty and provocative themes of the genre. This film, steeped in the aesthetic of grindhouse cinema, allows Álvarez to shine as she embodies the fierce spirit of its characters. Her work in this cult classic contributes to the ongoing conversation about the representation of women in exploitation films, marking her as a distinctive figure within this niche.
Tigers in Lipstick
Eight comic sketches set in Italy, with four of the most famous European sex symbols of the 70's playing two roles each: in the 1st sketch, Kristel lures an unsuspecting man into her room, but what is her real purpose? In the 2nd, Vitti agrees to pose as the mother of a kid going to take his school report; in the 3rd, Andress is the widow of a politician, and a photographer ends up taking more shots of her than his job requires; in the 4th, Antonelli has a rather drastic way of dealing with her husband's jealousy; in the 5th, Kristel also has a drastic way of dealing with her husband's dullness; in the 6th, Vitti is a thief who steals a necklace, then has it stolen from her and tries to get it back; in the 7th, Andress flashes her underwear in the middle of the street and causes traffic accidents, then she gets paid by the owners of auto-repair shops for the all the smashed cars she brings them! And in the 8th, a timid orchestra conductor finds the courage to flirt with Antonelli on the street; to his surprise she responds and agrees to meet him later, but their promised lovemaking keeps getting interrupted by her various business activities. A heist involving a princess's necklace and a cast of characters who are not what they seem. They do about anything they can to get the necklace from one another. 8 comic sketches set in Italy, with 4 of the most famous European sex symbols of the 70's playing 2 roles each. Eight short stories, four lovely actresses. Ursula Andress, Sylvia Kristel, Laura Antonelli and Monica Vitti appear in two stories each. Some stories are better than others, and which ones you like will depend on your individual taste.
