Review: The Naked Kiss (Spine #18)

The central conflict isn’t just Kelly’s past; it’s the hypocrisy of the law, represented by Captain Griff. In my eyes, the only difference between Griff and the pimp is which side of the law they stand on. Griff views Kelly (and likely all women) as objects, enjoying the double life where he sleeps with her in private but judges her in public. Her willingness to better herself flies in the face of men like him, who only get satisfaction by keeping others oppressed. I view him as the true villain of the film, and his sudden change of heart at the end rings hollow.

For a first-time viewer, the reveal that the town’s wealthy philanthropist is a child molester is a massive shock, flipping the script on who the “monster” really is. However, the film grinds to a halt after this twist. Kelly spends too much time passively waiting in a jail cell, hoping for salvation rather than being the strong fighter we met in the opening. She is ultimately bailed out by the convenient B-movie notion that children are allowed to play within conversational distance of a holding cell.

The Verdict: I feel Criterion chose this movie because it was willing to take massive plot risks in 1964. America has always painted itself as squeaky clean, but Fuller rips back that curtain to expose the dark underbelly. It is messy and melodramatic, but it is undeniably brave.