If Russ Meyer had made "Common Law Cabin" early in his career it might be excused as a learning experience. But by 1967 he had advanced far beyond anything that he puts into this weak movie. Rather than work hard on something interesting, Meyer took a year off creatively and let his writer/collaborator Jack Moran get some screen-time.
The one amazing thing about about "Common Law Cabin" is that its running time is only 69 minutes. If you get a chance to see the movie I can promise you it will be the longest 69 minutes you have ever spent.
Basically it has the standard Meyer elements: Three buxom actress-one of whom (Adele Rein) is spokes-model gorgeous. Lots of Raymond Chandler stylized dialogue and wry humor. A blend of 1960's California culture and the dark and pessimistic undercurrents found in Film Noir features.
Moran stars with Ken Swofford. Swofford is best known for his later quest appearances on the "Rockford Files" including his priceless Carl Wronko portrayal in the classic "The Queen of Peru". He is younger here but the acting style was already there.
The story itself is original, if only because no one else ever bothered turning a screenplay this weak into a feature, but it is not at all engaging or interesting.
The scene where the two youngest cast members pair off and head for the lake to play to a self-parodying sixties pop score is very nicely done, so good that it seems utterly out of place in this production.
Watch if your goal is to see everything that Meyer worked on, but making "Common Law Cabin" wasn't much of a learning experience for Meyer and watching won't be much of a learning experience for film buffs.
