''Chatterbox'' (addressed in the opening credits as ''Chatterbox!''; also known as ''Virginia the Talking Vagina'') is a 1977 American

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

about a woman with a talking vagina. The film stars

Candice Rialson Candice Ann Rialson (December 18, 1951 – March 31, 2006), also known as Candy Rialson, was an American actress known for her starring role in ''Hollywood Boulevard'' (1976). According to one obituary, "although never reluctant to take her c ...

as a hairdresser who discovers her

vagina In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen ...

has the power of speech after it derisively comments on a lover's performance. Her talking vagina has a mind of its own, which includes a desire to sing; they wind up exploited by her psychiatrist, who launches her on a career in

show business Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz or showbiz (since 1945), is a vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry.''Oxford English Dictionary'' 2nd Ed. (1989) From the business side (including managers, agents, produc ...

. According to

Michael Medved Michael Saul Medved (born October 3, 1948) is an American radio show host, author, political commentator, and film critic. His talk show, ''The Michael Medved Show'', is syndicated from his home station KTTH in Seattle. It is syndicated via Gen ...

in ''

The Golden Turkey Awards ''The Golden Turkey Awards'' is a 1980 book by film critic Michael Medved and his brother Harry. About The book awards "Golden Turkey Awards" to films judged by the authors as poor in quality, and to directors and actors judged to have created a ...

'', the talking vagina precipitates many developments in her life:

Escapades include a sojourn in jail with a basketball team and sessions with a psychiatrist to help Virginia overcome her (its?) emotional problems. With her self-confidence restored, she makes several hit appearances on TV talkshows; the theory, apparently, is that Virginia makes an even more interesting late-night guest than
Truman Capote Truman Garcia Capote ( ; born Truman Streckfus Persons; September 30, 1924 – August 25, 1984) was an American novelist, screenwriter, playwright and actor. Several of his short stories, novels, and plays have been praised as literary classics, ...
.

Plot

Penelope, a young hairdresser, discovers her vagina can talk when it criticizes a lover's performance, who leaves in a huff. At the salon where she works, her talking vagina insults a lesbian client, which leads to her being fired. Penelope goes to a psychiatrist, Dr. Pearl, where she reveals her "problem". In the psychiatrist's office, her vagina reveals a new talent, singing. It has a propensity for singing

show tunes A show tune is a song originally written as part of the score of a work of musical theatre or musical film, especially if the piece in question has become a standard, more or less detached in most people's minds from the original context. Th ...

. Dr. Pearl reveals her secret to friends of his in show business. At a meeting of the

American Medical Association The American Medical Association (AMA) is a professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. Founded in 1847, it is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Membership was approximately 240,000 in 2016. The AMA's state ...

, Penelope and her talking vagina, now called "Virginia", are revealed to the public for the first time. Virginia regales the assembled physician with show tunes. Dr. Pearl becomes her agent, and over Penelope's objections, launches Penelope and Virginia on an entertainment career. At a show hosted by Professor

Irwin Corey "Professor" Irwin Corey (July 29, 1914 – February 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comic, film actor and activist, often billed as "The World's Foremost Authority". He introduced his unscripted, improvisational style of stand-up comedy at th ...

, Virginia sings in public for the first time, becoming a star after crooning a

disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...

tune. Virginia increasingly becomes the tail that wags the dog, with Penelope becoming increasingly unhappy as "they" become a successful act on a cross-country tour. Despite her new success, Penelope decides to kill herself until she sees the lover from the start of the movie and discovers that he has a talking penis.

Cast

as Penelope Pittman *

Larry Gelman Lawrence Sheldon Gelman (November 3, 1930 – June 7, 2021) was an American film and television character actor. He was known for playing Dr. Bernie Tupperman on the TV series ''The Bob Newhart Show'' and Vinnie, the poker playing friend of ...

as Dr. Werner Pearl *

Jane Kean Jane Kean (April 10, 1923 – November 26, 2013) was an American actress and singer whose career in show business spanned seven decades and included appearing in nightclubs, on recordings, and in radio, television, Broadway and films. Among her ...

as Eleanor Pittman *

Arlene Martel Arlene Martel (born Arline Greta Sax; April 14, 1936 – August 12, 2014) was an American actress. Before 1964, she was frequently billed as Arline Sax or Arlene Sax. Casting directors, among other Hollywood insiders, called Martel the Chamel ...

as Marlene *

Rip Taylor Charles Elmer "Rip" Taylor Jr. (January 13, 1931 – October 6, 2019) was an American actor and comedian, known for his exuberance and flamboyant personality, including his wild moustache, toupee, and his habit of showering himself (and others ...

as Mr. Jo *

Professor Irwin Corey "Professor" Irwin Corey (July 29, 1914 – February 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comic, film actor and activist, often billed as "The World's Foremost Authority". He introduced his unscripted, improvisational style of stand-up comedy at th ...

as Himself *

Sandra Gould Sandra Gould (July 23, 1916 – July 20, 1999) was an American actress, perhaps best known for her role as Gladys Kravitz on the sitcom ''Bewitched''. Gould was the second actress to portray the role, debuting at the start of the third season. Li ...

as Mrs. Bugatowski

Critical reception

''Chatterbox'' was poorly received by audiences. The ''Los Angeles Times'' said "the film's vulgar premise smacks of smirking adolescents, its crude one liners, full of foul language that unsuccessfully try to stretch to into a full-length movie... the movie is a male masturbatory fantasy."MOVIE REVIEW: Chatter-Box Fit for Locker Room Gross, Linda. Los Angeles Times 21 Nov 1977: g12. ''Diabolique'' magazine wrote that "there are actually worse concepts for a comedy, and with really smart handling this could have been worth watching – maybe even been quite feminist. But as used here the film is far too depressing" arguing that Rialson's character suffers too much in the film. "A lesbian tries to rape her, she’s put naked on a board in front of a room of scientists while her vagina sings (and she’s clearly not having a good time), she’s forced to perform a big song and dance number where her clothes get ripped off, her love interest is an insecure drip...if I’m not mistaken she’s also gangbanged." The magazine did say that "Rialson is very engaging in the picture, as usual... and manages to take the sleaze out of everything her character does (and still be sexy). There’s something actually quite moving watching her try so hard in a role that is killing her career with every minute of screen time."

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Chatterbox (1977 film) 1977 films American comedy films American International Pictures films Films shot in Los Angeles Films directed by Tom DeSimone 1970s English-language films 1970s American films