This could just as well have been called "Kings of Wrestling" because it featured about as much men's wrestling as women's. And moving the camera view between the ring action and the crowd was distracting and annoying. I did somewhat enjoy the interviews with fans going into the arena, and wished that the interview with lovely and talented lady wrestler Vicki Williams had been much more in-depth and extended. Having said that, any movie with more than a smidgen of female grappling is above average, just because such movies are such a rarity (which makes no sense to me- which would the average red-blooded American male rather watch: a couple of sweaty guys or a couple of perspiring and attractive females? Do the math, movie makers and TV programmers!). Sadly, the star of the film, the very pretty and outgoing Vivian Vachon, passed away a few years ago, but the two matches that do feature her are well worth wading through some of the less interesting parts of this documentary on one of the most fascinating and stimulating of subjects, professional women's wrestling. One final gripe/suggestion for any future releases: add a two or three minute clip at the end similar, but not identical to the one that starts the film, with several short, fast-paced shots of various women's matches.
6 Reviews
Cautionary Tale... or Inspiration...?
A_Different_Drummer11 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The film itself is more correctly labelled a documentary and is primarily of historical interest to those interested in the professional wrestling scene in the eastern and north-eastern areas of North America in the 1970s. They were colourful times, and by focusing on the odd-woman-out, that is the female sister/wrestler in the Vachon family (well-known French Canadian pro wrestlers) the producer did sort-of, maybe, half-way, manage to elevate this to semi-cult status, especially for fans of the aforesaid Vachon family. The real story (to this reviewer) is how the film got made in the first place, because it shows aspiring film-makers that there is no one single clear path to celluloid magic. The producer of record was a young fellow who was expecting a certain inheritance. He took a mortgage on this expectation (rare, but it can be done, sounds like a Dickens novel, I know) and used the cash to hire a ex-Hollywood producer with no active project to "advise" him on what to do next...? Ultimately, the lad ended up in French Canada with a lot of strange footage in the can. A friend of the cinematographer was induced to connect the production team with a distributor, which in fact happened and ergo the production found an audience. (According to filmic history, said friend was stiffed on the introduction fee, but, in the language of the locale, c'est la vie.) The film was shown to the incredibly loyal target market and, since it was made on a shoestring, ended up in the black anyway. And there you have the hidden history behind this IMDb entry. Whether this inspires you ... or cautions you ... is entirely in the eye of the beholder.
Not enough Vivian Vachon
jellopuke26 April 2018
This movie should really be called "talking to rednecks" because most of it is asking people in the deep south if they think wrestling is real and whether or not they like it. The bits behind the curtain (all in kayfaybe) are interesting and it's neat to see the early 70's wrestling world with people like Bill Watts, Mad Dog Vachon, Blackjack Mulligan, etc, but I would have enjoyed following Vachon more, she seemed interesting and her story might have had more depth than what we got.
Time capsule
BandSAboutMovies14 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Wrestling Queen is less about Vivian Vachon, the titular rassling royalty, than it is about early 1970's pro wrestling. This movie near-instantly puts a lie to the rewritten Vince McMahon Jr. history of wrestling that big crowds and families didn't attend wrestling shows until the rock and wrestling connection of the early 80's.
Vivian comes from the legendary Vachon family, which includes Paul the Butcher and Mad Dog Maurice, both of whom show up here. They'd eventually come into the WWF fold at the start of the USA Network era and Vachon daughter Luna would become a memorable part of the Attitude Era.
The most important reason to watch this movie is to see a behind the scenes and in-ring portrait of some of the most famous names of wrestling's past, including Andre the Giant, Baron Von Raschke, Dory Funk Jr., Dick Murdoch, Bill Watts, Danny Hodge, Blackjack Mulligan, Killer Kowalski and more.
There are some interesting moments with fans, who compare it to other sports like baseball, while some opine that women are there to hook up and the son of a female wrestling explains why he still thinks that it's real. It's not the best documentary on wrestling that I've seen, but still a fascinating time capsule.
Vivian comes from the legendary Vachon family, which includes Paul the Butcher and Mad Dog Maurice, both of whom show up here. They'd eventually come into the WWF fold at the start of the USA Network era and Vachon daughter Luna would become a memorable part of the Attitude Era.
The most important reason to watch this movie is to see a behind the scenes and in-ring portrait of some of the most famous names of wrestling's past, including Andre the Giant, Baron Von Raschke, Dory Funk Jr., Dick Murdoch, Bill Watts, Danny Hodge, Blackjack Mulligan, Killer Kowalski and more.
There are some interesting moments with fans, who compare it to other sports like baseball, while some opine that women are there to hook up and the son of a female wrestling explains why he still thinks that it's real. It's not the best documentary on wrestling that I've seen, but still a fascinating time capsule.
The Wrestling Queen
publicrelations-152 December 2007
This movie is excellent for those who enjoy wrestling. It gives you the real feeling of being right there and experiencing what a wrestler goes through often many nights a week. The biggest shock about wrestling is that they pretend to make it look fake. I challenge any of you to get in the ring with any wrestler for 10 minutes and come out telling me how fake it is. It is staged combat acting with some pulled punches but look past that at the rest. A football player might see less than 10 minutes of physical contact in a game and have oxygen, cooling fans, misting machines and heaters with doctors on the side lines. Then he gets a 15 minutes or more break in the middle. Professional "fake" wrestlers have only an ambulance with paramedics standing by if they are injured.
I enjoyed wrestling of the past and was there when portions of this movie was made in Lafayette, Louisiana. I attended the matches and the production of this documentary; even had dinner with the cast, producer and director and crew at the end of the filming in Lafayette. The popular restaurant was at the intersection known as "Four Corners" (appropriate place to eat and none of us thought of it at that time).
Captain Lloyd Loup of the Lafayette police department is the policeman in the movie and I am right behind him. It was funny I knew some of the crew who were from New Orleans that called me to get together with them and I knew the Captain of the police department who later came to work for me a brief period after his retirement from the police department. Lloyd liked to be in the spot light since he had appeared regularly on a afternoon live show for the kid. He was Officer Friendly who would come visit on John Plauché TV show, "Polycarp and His Pals" afternoon show in Lafayette. Lloyd called me and said "hey we are going to be in the movies tonight so be sure to come." The funny part is that when I was there at the time it took place it meant little to me. I actually did not want to go and have dinner with them and they talked me into it. Today, I can get real enjoyment pulling this movie out and watching it. I can remember the conversations and thoughts of each of those who made this movie, too.
May I suggest you look for this movie and get it. Then think about the people in the movie and crew who went over budget but wanted to make this for fans to remember them. The policeman
I enjoyed wrestling of the past and was there when portions of this movie was made in Lafayette, Louisiana. I attended the matches and the production of this documentary; even had dinner with the cast, producer and director and crew at the end of the filming in Lafayette. The popular restaurant was at the intersection known as "Four Corners" (appropriate place to eat and none of us thought of it at that time).
Captain Lloyd Loup of the Lafayette police department is the policeman in the movie and I am right behind him. It was funny I knew some of the crew who were from New Orleans that called me to get together with them and I knew the Captain of the police department who later came to work for me a brief period after his retirement from the police department. Lloyd liked to be in the spot light since he had appeared regularly on a afternoon live show for the kid. He was Officer Friendly who would come visit on John Plauché TV show, "Polycarp and His Pals" afternoon show in Lafayette. Lloyd called me and said "hey we are going to be in the movies tonight so be sure to come." The funny part is that when I was there at the time it took place it meant little to me. I actually did not want to go and have dinner with them and they talked me into it. Today, I can get real enjoyment pulling this movie out and watching it. I can remember the conversations and thoughts of each of those who made this movie, too.
May I suggest you look for this movie and get it. Then think about the people in the movie and crew who went over budget but wanted to make this for fans to remember them. The policeman
Loved it, add more ladies matches and it's a 10!
joemacfop27 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Love Vivian Vachon! Great wrestler
Sexy woman, honest woman .
Her interview in the locker room she talks about the idea that guys might watch her and dream about her later. How this isn't obvious to everyone....?
Look at her body, face and how rough the matches are, she doesn't always win either.. Kay Noble and Marie Laverne two awesome talents too.
Add another match or two and it's even more awesome of a movie.
Her interview in the locker room she talks about the idea that guys might watch her and dream about her later. How this isn't obvious to everyone....?
Look at her body, face and how rough the matches are, she doesn't always win either.. Kay Noble and Marie Laverne two awesome talents too.
Add another match or two and it's even more awesome of a movie.
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