Lemora: A Child's Tale of The Supernatural (1973)

Continuing the Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith theme, I thought I would weigh-in on a fabulous cult horror film that Cheryl starred in in the early '70s. This is a film I remember seeing on local television in Boston as a teenager in the wee hours of the morning on one of the VHF channels at the time 27, 38 or 56.

I was mesmorized by Cheryl's earnest performance as lost girl Lila Lee, and by director Richard Blackburn's truly creepy, atmospheric no-budget filmmaking.

Speaking of creepy Blackburn also tackles the role of "The Reverend" who simultaneously wants to save Lila's soul and deflower her body.

Cheryl Gilb gives a weird performance as Lemora (the lemon-fresh vampire, just kidding). The touchy-feely bloodsucker treats our woozy heroine (according to Blackburn Smith was wasted out of her gourd for the entire shoot) to a sensuous sponge bath and seemingly much more as the scene fades out.

Anyway, this is out on DVD and I highly recommend checking out "Lemora" for fans of schlocky but swell '70s horror.

Somewhere Over The Rainbeaux

I watch a lot of bad movies. If it has a low budget and an exploitable premise I'll watch it. More often than not, I'm disappointed by the movies I see, but I keep watching them because I am looking for diamonds among these lumps of coal. One of these diamonds is Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith.

Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith's biggest role was Lavelle in CAGED HEAT (1974), but she is probably best known for her work in the Cheerleader movies of the mid seventies. She appeared in THE SWINGING CHEERLEADERS (1974), THE POM POM GIRLS (1976), and REVENGE OF THE CHEERLEADERS (1976). Rainbeaux isn't the lead in any of these movies, she doesn't have the most lines, or get the most screen time, but she has a presence that makes you want to watch her whenever she is on screen and that is a quality that is rare in any actress.

In this scene from REVENGE OF THE CHEERLEADERS (1976) Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith is the pregnant girl in the bathroom holding the lizard.