Ruby (1977)

The story begins in Florida in 1935. Lounge singer Ruby Claire (Piper Laurie, fresh from her role in Carrie) is having a romantic encounter near a swamp with her gangster boyfriend Nicky (Sal Vecchio). They’re about to get on a boat when the rest of Nicky’s gang shows up and blows him away.

A gang member named Jake (Fred Kohler) is jealous of Nick and wants him out of the picture.

Ruby – pregnant with Nicky’s baby – goes into shock during the shooting and gives birth that same night.

When next we see Ruby, it’s 1951, and she lives with her 16-year-old daughter Leslie (Janit Baldwin) – who is mute and lives in a world of her own – and her loyal and faithful companion Vince Kemper (Stuart Whitman). They also care for Jake, who is now blind and in a wheelchair.

The rest of the gang – who have all done time in prison- now work for Ruby at the drive-in cinema that she owns.

This week, Ruby’s Drive-In is screening Attack of the 50-Foot Woman (which wasn’t released until 1958 but let’s not nit-pick), but not all the excitement is on the screen.

Nicky – having decided that 16 years lying at the bottom of a swamp is long enough – is back and sets out to use the speechless body of their speechless daughter as a vessel to exact revenge from beyond the grave on the people who killed him.

The special effects and gore are cheaply done – and some of the possession scenes are heavily influenced by The Exorcist – but the acting is superb, and William Mendell’s crisp cinematography makes excellent use of vibrant colour and makes the most out of the misty swampland location.

Made for $600,000, Ruby went on to make $16 million. Director Curtis Harrington had nothing to do with the weak and cheesy ending, which was re-shot by the producers. Both Harrington and Piper Laurie refused to be involved in the re-shoot.

Ruby Claire
Piper Laurie
Vince Kemper
Stuart Whitman
Dr Paul Keller
Roger Davis
Leslie Claire
Janit Baldwin
Lila June
Crystin Sinclaire
Louie
Paul Kent
Barney
Len Lesser
Avery
Jack Perkins
Jess
Edward Donno
Nicky Rocco
Sal Vecchio
Jake Miller
Fred Kohler
Donny
Rory Stevens
Herbie
Kip Gillespie
Mae Belle
Mary Margaret Robinson

Director
Curtis Harrington

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