Unholy Matrimony

And now, for a new low in bad taste: “Sonny Boy.”

Upcoming from TransWorld Ent., directed by Robert Carroll, it stars Paul Smith (the heavy in “Midnight Express”) and David Carradine as brothers who are also “married.” That is, Carradine is a transvestite, performing his role in drag, and he and Smith act just like a married couple.

(“But you never see anything kinky,” said a TransWorld rep.)

It’s during a crime spree that a baby’s unexpectedly found in a getaway car. Turns out it’s just what Carradine’s longed for. But he and Smith aren’t the world’s best parents. They raise the tyke in a cardboard box. On his sixth birthday they cut out his tongue--the better to not hear his screams when they drag him behind a car, training him to run fast.

The years pass, and the kid--who’s been fed raw chickens and has a mass of hair covering his face--turns 18. He’s asked to join the family biz--and murder the mayor. While washing up after the dirty deed, he pulls back the hair that’s covering his face and is shocked to see--for the first time--his sweet countenance in a mirror.

(Sonny is played by Michael Griffin of those Pac Bell TV spots, a young soldier who declares it’s not wimpy to call your mom when you’re away from home.)

Is Sonny’s not as bad as his “parents” have raised him to be?

“We’re hoping you don’t get the wrong idea about this movie. It’s got some shocks, but we’re also finding that people are empathizing with Sonny. It’s got some ‘Elephant Man’ qualities,” said the TransWorld source.

One of the cast members--who said the film’s intended to be “ ‘Blue Velvetish’ “--assured us: “The ending is very up. “