“She Ruled The Swamp With A Blazing Gun And A Luscious Smile!”
One of the 70’s most promising Actresses starred in several classic cult films, but just as she was growing as an Actress, she died tragically – here is the story of Claudia Jennings…
Jennings gained fame when she was named Playboy’s Playmate of the Year for 1970. As many Playmates did, Jennings used that fame to get into film.
The Love Machine!
Jennings got her start in the camp cult film “The Love Machine”, based on the notorious novel by Jacqueline Susanne, who wrote “Valley Of The Dolls.”
Listen to this plot, thanks to IMDB:
“Robin Stone, an ambitious, sex driven TV news anchor catches the eye of Judith Austin, the wife of network executive Greg Austin. She pressures Greg into promoting him to a higher position and before long, he is running the network while Greg recovers from a massive coronary. Meanwhile, Robin dumps his model girlfriend Amanda and begins an affair with Judith!”
Pure campy trash. Jennings followed this with roles in “Unholy Rollers” and “Group Marriage” – yes, exactly the kind of films you’d expect to see a naked Playmate in!
Just a few years after the groundbreaking “Bob & Carol& Ted and & Alice”, Jennings starred in a sex romp that imagined a whole new way to get married! Check out the trailer for this camp classic:
Next up, Jennings headed to the country for some classic “hicksploitation!”
“Truck Stop Women, My Head’s Still Swimming’!”
Talk about a catchy title song! “Truck Stop Women” from 1974 is a classic exploitation movie – just look at the double entendre in the poster!
Check out this trailer:
“Half Animal…ALL Woman!”
“Gator Bait” in 1974 was Jennings’ greatest film achievement – she got to get down and dirty in the swamp, and kick some serious ass at the same time…check out the trailer for this cult classic:
If you want to know more about the “hicksploitation” genre, click on my guide here:
Jennings took her success in this film and started to branch out, getting away from pure exploitation:
Jennings began to change her onscreen image. She was reluctant to do nude scenes any more, as she wanted to become a more serious Actress…
Claudia’s “Texas Dynamite!”
Jennings starred in several more serious films, in smaller roles, and then headlined this campy action film…
Here is the trailer for the film, a foreign version known as “Dynamite Women”:
Jennings’ boyfriend at the time was songwriter Bobby Hart, who wrote many hits for The Monkees. She was poised to grow as an Actress as she headed into the 80’s…
Her Tragic Death…
Then, a senseless tragedy.
Early in the morning of October 3, 1979, Jennings died in a car accident when a van hit her while she was driving her Volkswagen Beetle convertible along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. She was only 29 years old…
Hollywood is full of these tragic stories – stars who had personal problems or tragedies that cut short promising careers….
Cheryl “Rainbeaux” Smith was one such Actress…after a slew of roles in cult 70’s films, she lost her way…read her story here:
I don’t know any of her films, but was saddened to hear that she died so young. I doubt that she would ever have become the ‘serious actress’ that she sought to be though.
Best wishes, Pete.
Pete. I have worked in Hollywood for decades…the desire to become more “serious” in a career is widespread, and the success rate is very low…would she have been able to go past Playboy and “Gator Bait?” Unlikely, but maybe, and that is what drives this business…..thanks as always for your comment!
johnrieber 
I don’t know any of her films, but was saddened to hear that she died so young. I doubt that she would ever have become the ‘serious actress’ that she sought to be though.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete. I have worked in Hollywood for decades…the desire to become more “serious” in a career is widespread, and the success rate is very low…would she have been able to go past Playboy and “Gator Bait?” Unlikely, but maybe, and that is what drives this business…..thanks as always for your comment!
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She has her place in history, John. An actor cannot really ask for more.
Regards, Pete.
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