Predating the cycle of gang movies by a few years, "The Jezebels" (a.k.a. "Switchblade Sisters") by exploitation icon Jack Hill really is a whole lot of fun. It's colourful entertainment that actually manages to be campy and serious in equal doses. And it does come complete with a feminist statement.

Robbie Lee is Lace, the leader of a girl gang dubbed The Dagger Debs, who are affiliated with a male gang known as the Silver Daggers. She's sweet on Dominic (Asher Brauner),their leader. Laces' world starts falling apart when Maggie (Joanne Nail),a loner, attracts the attention of the gangs (especially Dominic) and rises within the ranks - and gains influence - a little too quickly. Amid the personal problems of the main characters, they must go to war with a gang that masquerades as community activists.

Considering the fact that some of these actresses don't really convince at all as tough gals (especially Lee),and are clearly too old for their roles, they really are a whole lot of fun. Monica Gayle delivers a standout performance as Patch, a gang member who comes to distrust and despise Maggie. A rich assortment of familiar actors in the supporting roles include Marlene Clark as black revolutionary Muff, Don Stark as Hook, Bill Adler as Fingers, Kate Murtagh as butch lesbian prison guard Mom Smackley, and Bob Minor as police officer Parker. Nail definitely looks very hot in various sexy outfits. Co-star Kitty Bruce, who plays the put-upon Donut, is the daughter of Lenny Bruce.

The movie contains some absolute gems of dialogue thanks to screenwriter F.X. Maier; the viewer will find them very quotable. Nails' speech to the cops right before the end credits is hilarious. There's sex and plenty of violence, and some eye catching costumes by Jodie Tillen. And you just know that this is going to a be a most enjoyable film because of the tune "Black Hearted Woman" that's belted out during the opening credits. Many fine scenes include the clichéd action in the penitentiary and the gunfights at the roller rink and in the streets.

Fans of this kind of thing would be well advised to seek it out. It really hits the spot in terms of all of its exploitative elements.

Nine out of 10.

"The Jezebels" is also known as "Switchblade Sisters". And, whatever you call it, it's complete crap. Now this is NOT meant as criticism. It's obvious the folks making this wanted to make a trashy movie and boy did they make a nasty, crappy picture!! It's violent, stupid and even promotes the old rape myth! So, it certainly is not a film to show your mother or Father Jenkins.

The film begins with a gang of female punks attacking Maggie in a restaurant. Next thing you know, the ladies are in jail and the leader and intended victim become best friends! Soon, when they are all out of stir, the gang welcomes the newest recruit, Maggie, by raping her. Nice folks, huh? But the victim isn't particularly put out by this and soon she helps them in a gang war. And, before you know it, Maggie is their leader and makes friends with a local lady Black Panthers group and the war is on! But there is a traitor within the gang and Maggie's reign might be coming to a swift end. And, when the film ends, it sure looks as if there will be a sequel--which there wasn't.

There really isn't a lot of good in the film. It's super-violent and sadistic and unrepentantly nasty. And, because of that, the film is, in a sick way, quite entertaining---sort of a guilty pleasure if you are a bad movie buff.

The Dagger Debs are a gang of snarling girls, and Maggie (Joanne Nail) is their newest member. Lace (Robbie Lee),the ever tooth-gritting leader, befriends her but soon has doubts -- it seems Lace's man Dominic (Asher Brauner),head of the Silver Daggers, fancies the new recruit.

Director Jack Hill, one of my idols and a swell guy, has had some strange things to say about this film. He has said the script was inspired by "Othello", and has also claimed to interview real female gang members before making the movie. And yet, he readily admits the whole thing is a "wacky fantasy"...

The film not only has jail, gang fights and more... it has a pregnancy subplot! How do you beat that? While this may be no social commentary, it really does its best to be an exploitation classic (and it comes as no surprise that Quentin Tarantino has been the biggest supporter of this film.)