Whore (1991 film)

Whore
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKen Russell
Screenplay by
  • Ken Russell
  • Deborah Dalton
Based onBondage
by David Hines[1]
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAmir Mokri
Edited byBrian Tagg
Music byMichael Gibbs
Production
company
Cheap Date
Distributed byTrimark Pictures
Release dates
  • January 24, 1991 (1991-01-24) (Sundance)
  • October 4, 1991 (1991-10-04) (United States)
Running time
85 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget<$2 million[3]–$4 million[4]
Box office$1 million[5]

Whore is a 1991 American satirical drama film[6] directed by Ken Russell and starring Theresa Russell. It follows the life of a jaded street prostitute in Los Angeles. Benjamin Mouton, Antonio Fargas, Jack Nance, Danny Trejo, and Ginger Lynn Allen appear in supporting roles. The screenplay by Russell and Deborah Dalton is based on David Hines' monologue play, Bondage. The film is partly presented in a pseudo-documentary format,[7] with the lead character often breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience with monologues consisting of her observations and reflections on her career as a prostitute.

While the source play, Bondage, was set in London, Ken Russell was unable to find funding for the film in Britain due to its frank language and sexual content, leading him to instead make the film in the United States and change its setting to Los Angeles. The film was shot in a fortnight in downtown Los Angeles in September 1990.

Whore premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1991, followed by theatrical releases in the United Kingdom and the United States in June 1991 and October 1991, respectively. While not a financial success, grossing a little over $1 million, the film did attract some positive notices from critics, particularly for Theresa Russell's performance. The film was given an NC-17 rating in the United States, and was banned in Ireland due to its depiction of sexuality and violence. The film generated the unrelated sequel Whore II in 1994.

  1. ^ Ebert, Roger (October 18, 1991). "Whore". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022 – via RogerEbert.com.
  2. ^ "Whore (18)". British Board of Film Classification. May 2, 1991. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference richmond was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference courier was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Whore (1991)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  6. ^ White, Armond (December 1, 2023). "The Resurrection of Paul Vecchiali". National Review. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024.
  7. ^ "Whore". American Cinematheque. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024.