Look Who’s Talking

“This is not going to be ‘Pretty Woman.’ It is not glamorized, it is unglamorized. This will be the gritty version of a whore’s life.”

In fact, says Ken Russell, his soon-to-shoot movie, “Whore”--starring Theresa Russell (no relation)--is so frank that the English director couldn’t get it financed in his homeland. The reason: “You can’t get a deal over there unless your movie can be shown on TV in the future. In the case of ‘Whore,’ the imagery might be OK for TV, but the language would never be accepted.”

Based on a popular play by former London cabbie David Hines--who had plenty of conversations with prostitutes when he drove them about London--and adapted by Russell, the film involves a hooker on the run from her murderous pimp.

Originally set in London, the story and characters were “Americanized” when Russell and producers Dan Ireland and Ronaldo Vasconcellos found financing with the L.A.-based Vidmark Ent., which will distribute the $4-million film. The project marks a reteaming for the filmmaker and executives Roger Burlage, Vidmark president, and Joseph Akerman, vice president of production--both of whom were at New World Pictures when Russell made the controversial “Crimes of Passion.”

Russell sees no problems in changing the locale to Los Angeles--and having American actors instead of British. “(Sex) is (sex) in any language. And this is certainly about a universal profession.”

As for the frank language that proved prohibitive to British financing, Russell says simply, “This is a film about a prostitute, told in a prostitute’s language. You know, they’ve got a limited vocabulary. They tend to be graphic. They call a spade a spade.”

As such, adds Russell, he expects the film will be “terrifically revealing” about male sexuality. “After all, she isn’t speaking as a wife or a sweetheart. She’s speaking as a woman who has sex--a lot.”

Predicts Russell: “I think the male ego is going to suffer quite a shock.”