Hussy

This film starring Helen Mirren hit US theaters in 1981. I remember the trailer. “See Hussy!” the voice-over commanded. Still smitten by Mirren's bewitching performance as the enchantress Morgana in the Arthurian film Excalibur, I was wild to see Hussy. But sadly, it vanished from theaters within a week or so.

I don’t know what made me search for it after all these years, but I was astounded to find it on NetFlix. So I lived out my decades-long fantasy. I actually watched Hussy.

Helen Mirren in "Hussy" (1980)

As you might expect, it didn’t live up to my expectations. In fact, it's a dreadful film. I turned it off after less than an hour. But still, it was Helen Mirren. The young Helen Mirren. in this role, she’s a nightclub hostess and occasional call girl -- at least, that's what the poster for the film says. In one scene she has to entertain a client. He’s a very fat guy. She tells him that if he doesn’t behave, she’s going to charge him by the pound. God knows why she made this film, after O Lucky Man, Excalibur, and all those Shakespearean roles.

Now, having written all this and dredged up old memories, maybe I’ll watch the rest of Hussy after all. Those seeking further indulgence can visit The Helen Mirren Appreciation Society at www.helenmirren.com.