Cottonpickin' Chickenpickers (1967)

Director: Larry E. Jackson

Writers: Robert V. Barron, Larry E. Jackson

Composer: ???

Starring: Del Reeves, Hugh X. Lewis, Sonny Tufts, David Houston, Greta Thyssen, Maxie Rosenbloom, Lila Lee, Tommy Noonan, Hank Mills, Philip Hunter, Margie Bowes, David Wilkins, J.D. Marshall, Theodore Lehmann, Birgitta Andersson, Robert V. Barron, Mel Tillis, Jack Morey, Buck Bayliss

More info: IMDb

Tagline: It's a Swamp Romp

Plot: Hayseeds abound in this musical comedy, two star-struck hoboes hop what they think is a west-bound train that will land them in Hollywood. Well, it's going to Hollywood all right, but unfortunately its destination is Hollywood, Florida. The two become so hungry along the way that they are forced to ditch the train. They end up somewhere in the deep South and eventually try to swipe a hen. Unfortunately, they get caught by the Zickafoose family who chase them all about. Soon white lightning runners are also after them and all sorts of chaos ensues.

My rating: 5.5/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

You might not know it by just the names in the cast but this dumb ass picture is loaded with talent.  For one example, Lila Lee (in her last film) made almost 100 pictures dating back to 1918!  This flick is one of those dumb Hicksploitation cheapies that were in abundance in the late 60s and 70s.  It's low budget, the acting isn't meant to be good, the Southern stereotypes are all over this and the humor is so dumb that I doubt many people over the age of 8 will laugh much.  But, and this is a big BUT, it's not nearly as bad as many I've seen.  The Florida location shooting is marvelous.  The moss hanging from the trees, rivers, swamps, etc. are great.  There's a chase down a river with an airboat being pursued by an aqua car or whatever it's called.  A cherry red covertible drives off the road and into the water.  A couple of minutes later the airboat has somehow made it's way on a backwoods road and blasts through the police roadblock.  The fuck?

 

The plot is simple but it's interrupted periodically with a string of country songs, some of which are not bad at all.  Mell Tillis (his first movie acting gig) has a small speaking role (where he doesn't stutter) and a song. I did laugh a little and it was mostly at Tommy Noonan (also his last picture).  I'm giving it a slightly higher score because it's not as bad as most of its type, I did end up laughing a little, the songs aren't band and are welcome (and there's a bunch) and at least they don't have the police being complete and utter incompetent dumb fucks (although they have degrees of idiocy).  As lame as this movie sounds, there are enough small reasons to want to watch it, even if you probably aren't likely to enjoy it.