{{Short description|1985 film by Andy Sidaris}} {{Use American English|date=September 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox film | name = Malibu Express
| image = Malibu Express theatrical poster.jpeg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Andy Sidaris | producer = Andy Sidaris | writer = Andy Sidaris | starring = Darby Hinton<br>Sybil Danning<br>Art Metrano<br>Shelley Taylor Morgan<br>Brett Clark<br>Niki Dantine<br>Michael Andrews<br>Lori Sutton<br>Barbara Edwards<br>Kimberly McArthur<br>Lorraine Michaels<br>Lynda Wiesmeier<br>John Brown<br>Richard Brose<br>Suzanne Regard<br>Abb Dixon<br>Busty O'Shea<br>Randy Rudy<br>John Alderman<br>Robert Darnell<br>Peggy Ann Filsinger<br>Robyn Hilton<br>Peter Knecht<br>Ruth Stamer<br>Les Steinmetz<br>Jeanine Vargas | music = Henry Strzelecki | cinematography = Howard Wexler | editing = Craig Stewart<br />Howard Wexler | studio = Malibu Bay Films | distributor = Malibu Bay Films | released = {{Film date|1985|03|}} | runtime = 101 minutes | country = United States | language = English }}
'''''Malibu Express''''' is a 1985 American action film starring Darby Hinton, Sybil Danning, Lori Sutton, and Art Metrano. It was directed, written, and produced by Andy Sidaris and is the first installment in the Triple B film series.<ref>{{citation | last1=Coffman | first1= Jason | title=''Cashiers du Cinemart Issue 17'' | chapter= The Early Films of Andy Sidaris | year=2012 | publisher=Impossibly Funky Productions | isbn=978-1300351405 | chapter-url =https://books.google.com/books?id=amj6AwAAQBAJ&q=%22Stacey%22+Andy+Sidaris&pg=PA23}} </ref> The film features 1980s ''Playboy'' Playmates Kimberly McArthur, Barbara Edwards, Lorraine Michaels, and Lynda Wiesmeier in its cast, as well. In it, Danning "cinched her image as B-budget bad girl".<ref>{{cite book |title=Boys and toys: ultimate action-adventure movies, Volume 2002 |author=Brode, Douglas |year=2003 |page=194| publisher=Citadel |isbn=978-0-8065-2381-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgHWBCVndpkC&pg=PA194}}</ref> Regis and Joy Philbin cameo as talk-show hosts.<ref>{{cite book| title=Regis Philbin - The Unauthorized Biography |year=2001 |author= Tracy, Kathleen |page= [https://archive.org/details/regisunauthorize0000trac/page/69 69] |publisher=ECW Press |isbn= 978-1-55022-439-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/regisunauthorize0000trac| url-access=registration | access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref>
==Plot == A wealthy playboy/private investigator named Cody Abilene is hired by a government intelligence operative to investigate a lead into who is selling computer technology to the Russians. While investigating rich socialites, amorous naked vixens, and an ex-con with a penchant for blackmail, and keeping it all from his sexy lady cop friend Beverly Mcafee, Cody puts himself in the crosshairs of the traitorous tech spies who will gladly kill to stay in business. The scope of the conspiracy is revealed after Cody and Beverly make love at a suspect's beach house, only to find a pair of hitmen gunning for them as they get dressed. Gunplay, car chases, and races ensue.<!-- For Cody Abilene and the fabulous femmes surrounding him, all is not what it seems in the shadowy world of counter-espionage!--><!-- no breathless prose or copying from the box unless quoted.-->
==Cast== {{div col}} * Darby Hinton as Cody Abilene * Sybil Danning as Contessa Luciana * Art Metrano as Matthew * Niki Dantine as Lady Lillian Chamberlain * Michael Andrews as Stuart Chamberlain * Shelley Taylor Morgan as Anita Chamberlain * Lorraine Michaels as Liza Chamberlain * Brett Clark as Shane * Lori Sutton as Beverly McAfee * Lynda Wiesmeier as June Khnockers * Kimberly McArthur as Faye * Barbara Edwards as May * Abb Dickson as P.L. Buffington * Busty O'Shea as Doreen Buffington * Randy Rudy as Bobo Buffington * Richard Brose as Mark * John Brown as Luke * Suzanne Regard as Sally "Sexy Sally" * John Alderman as Lieutenant Arledge * Robyn Hilton as Maid Marian * Les Steinmetz as Johnathan Harper * Robert Darnell as Douglas Wilton * Jeanine Vargas as Rodney * Peter Knecht as Peter * Harry Hauss as Helicopter Pilot * Ruth Stamer as Answering Service Girl * Peggy Ann Filsinger as Peggy * Regis Philbin as Regis Philbin * Joy Philbin as Joy Philbin * Niki Patterson as Computer Operator {{div col end}}
==Production== ===Filming=== Exteriors were shot in Beverly Hills, around Los Angeles such as Sunset Boulevard, Willow Springs Raceway and the Mojave Desert.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former resident immortalizes Cerulean Springs in new film|author=Dollar, Rob |newspaper=Kentucky New Era|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jPAwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FOAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5687%2C620267| page=1A |date=July 7, 1984}} Article written during production, quoting co-producer Bill Pryor.</ref>
===Soundtrack=== The film's music was composed by Henry Strzelecki, with Ronny Light producing the soundtrack which featured Strzelecki on bass, Bucky Barrett and Tommy Jones on guitar, Bobby Thompson playing guitar and banjo, Weldon Myrick playing guitar and Dobro, Barry Walsh on piano, Dale Morris on fiddle, Terry McMillan on harmonica and percussion, and Kenny Buttrey on drums.<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089539/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>
==Releases== The film was first released in March 1985, then on DVD in 2002. It then appeared in two DVD collections, ''Andy Sidaris Collection, Vol. 1'' (of six discs) in 2003, and ''Triple B Collection, Vol. 1'' in 2005.<ref>{{cite web | title=Malibu Express DVD releases |publisher=All Movie Guide| work=allmovie.com |url=http://www.allmovie.com/dvd/releases/malibu-express-31022 |access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref>
==Reception== ''Malibu Express'' is described as a "routine erotic spy tale" by Eleanor Mannikka of ''All Movie Guide''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmovie.com/work/malibu-express-31022 |title=Malibu Express|publisher=All Movie Guide |work=allmovie.com |date= |access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref> The ''Video Movie Guide 2001'' rated the movie with a single "turkey", amazed that the movie got an "R" rating, "since it's clearly soft porn".<ref>{{cite book| title=Video Movie Guide 2001 |author1=Martin, Mick |author2=Porter, Marsha |page=677 |year=2000 |publisher=Ballantine Books |isbn=978-0-345-42095-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2cicEzGKA2kC&q=%22Malibu+Express%22 |access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref> ''TV Guide'' gave the film two stars.<ref>{{cite book |title=TV Guide v. 40, pg. 522 |year=1992 | publisher=Triangle Publications (1992) | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nknvAAAAMAAJ&q=%22malibu+express+%281985%29%22 |access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref> Barbara Edwards' appearance in the hero's shower is cited as "one of the hottest topless lesbian shower scenes in the long and hot tradition of lesbian shower scenes".<ref>{{cite book | title=Mr. Skin's Skincyclopedia: The A-to-Z Guide to Finding Your Favorite Actresses Naked | author=Mr. Skin | authorlink=Mr. Skin | year=2004 | page= 163 | publisher=St. Martin's Griffin | isbn=978-0-312-33144-3 | access-date=July 17, 2010 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dMMP94fw3mgC&pg=RA2-PA163}}</ref><!-- in a non porno film-->
==Connections to other films== The material from the film was reworked from a previous Sidaris film, ''Stacey'' (1973). The role of Stacey Hanson (Anne Randall) was divided into two new characters: private detective protagonist Cody Abilene (Darby Hinton) and his girlfriend June Khnockers (Lynda Wiesmeier).<ref name="Coffman">Coffman (2012), p. 23-26</ref>
The openings of both films depict their respective female race car drivers in the finish of a practice race. Both films then have them getting out of uniform. Stacey is the protagonist, though, while June serves mostly as the source of a recurring joke in her film: "Knockers with an "h"?". June can still reliably drive a high-performance race car, but Cody performs most of Stacey's functions in the film.<ref name="Coffman">Coffman (2012), p. 23-26</ref>
The discreet homosexual nephew John (John Alderman) turns into Stuart (Michael A. Anderson), a drag queen, in the second film. In both films, the detective follows the character into a gay bar. The difference is that in the first film, John wears regular clothes, while in the second, Stuart is in full drag. Cody laughs while dictating notes into a recorder, while Frederick says that Stuart has great legs. Stuart is more of a cartoonish gay stereotype than John.<ref name="Coffman">Coffman (2012), p. 23-26</ref>
The youthful niece Pamela (Cristina Raines) turns into the bit older niece Liza (Lorraine Michaels) in the second film. Liza has her own sex scene with the houseboy Shane (Brett Clark). The difference in age was probably decided to allow this sex scene and more nudity than would be acceptable from a teenager.<ref name="Coffman">Coffman (2012), p. 23-26</ref>
The second film adds a character with no counterpart in the original: Contessa Luciana (Sybil Danning). Contessa has a romantic night with Cody, before he moves into his next assignment. The relationship to the family is unspecified, but she turns out to have murdered Shane. She is beyond the reach of the law and suffers no ill consequences for her murder.<ref name="Coffman">Coffman (2012), p. 23-26</ref>
==See also== * Girls with guns
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0089539|title=Malibu Express}} * [http://www.nanarland.com/Chroniques/Main.php?id_film=malibuexpress ''Malibu Express'' on NanarLand]
{{Triple B series}} {{Andy Sidaris}}
Category:1985 American films Category:1985 English-language films Category:1980s spy action films Category:1985 films Category:1985 independent films Category:American auto racing films Category:American detective films Category:American independent films Category:American spy action films Category:Films directed by Andy Sidaris Category:Films shot in Los Angeles Category:English-language independent films Category:English-language spy action films