Kind of like Flashdance without all the leg warmers, Below The Belt is the touching story of no-nonsense New York City waitress Rosa who, stuck in a rut, is noticed by a wrestling promoter and spirited out of her old life to train to be a professional wrestler. The film details Rosas training and touring with his crew, before her first match with a veteran performer who dislikes her, and may be about to go into business for herself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSZns0yPljA Shot in 1974 but taking six years to be released, Robert Fowlers feel good working class romp does a good job of portraying the rigours of the road and the camaraderie of the locker room, although theres an overreliance on the musical montage. Its based on a true story, too writers Fowler and Sherry Sonnett adapted award-winning artist and writer Rosalyn Drexlers autobiographical novel To Smithereens, which detailed her brief pro wrestling career as Rosa Carlo, the Mexican Spitfire. At one point, Drexler was such an inspiration that no less a pop culture maven than Andy Warhol created silkscreen paintings based upon her likeness. Rosas trainer in the film was legend of wrestling Mildred Burke, playing a fictionalised version of herself. Burke was a truly groundbreaking performer, having apparently wrestled 200 men during her career. She broke into business the hard way: trainer and promoter Billy Wolfe didnt like her at first, and told a male trainee to bodyslam her, figuring itd put her off. Instead, Burke slammed the guy out of his socks, and Wolfe was similarly, if metaphorically floored he trained her himself, and eventually married her.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
