Chastity 1968. American International Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment, Color, Aspect Ratio 1.85 : 1, 83 minutes, Rated R Release Date: June 24, 1968 Chastity is available at Amazon.com on DVD. Movie Synopsis: Chastity, a lonely hippie girl who is hitchhiking across the country in hopes of finding someone to love her so she can forget her disturbed past, finds herself in a series of situations that ultimately prove to be very disullusioning. Cast: Cher, Barbara London, Stephen Whittaker, Tom Nolan, Danny Zapien, Elmer Valentine, Burke Rhind, Richard Armstrong, Autumn, Joe Light, Dolly Hunt, Jason Clark Director: Alessio de Paola Thoughts on the Movie: I like this movie. First off, Sonny Bono, who was the creative force behind the film, was no dodo. He had the good sense to put together the singing duo of “Sonny & Cher,” and that was an amazingly popular and critical success. So, here, he took Cher, who he saw as a force to be reckoned with, and at his own expense put her in a feature film, in her first starring role. And she was good. The movie was good (okay... pretty good). But nobody wanted to give credit where credit was due, and Chastity was unfairly labeled a complete dud. But it’s not. It is a decent independent film, depicting the underground youth culture of the times. And Sonny Bono wrote it. It’s gritty. It’s realistic. And it’s kinda dark. So if you like that kind of thing, you will like this movie. Come on, the movie tag line was: “She’s not a girl, she’s a whole other thing!” Now who would not want to take a look at that? More people, of all generations, should see this film. You can see the kernal of talent in Cher that would later come to fruition in films such as Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean; Silkwood; and Moonstruck. She truly did come into her own. I was underage at the time, so I couldn’t see Chastity in its first run in the theater. And I would have, because I was (and still am) a big fan of Sonny & Cher. But now, I have it on DVD. So all that’s left to say is: I (finally) got you, babe! ~Jean Location Site: Phoenix, Arizona (see Map) Chastity was filmed in its entirety in and around the Phoenix, Arizona, area. Right: Cher (in tears) stands on the highway at one of the many Phoenix, Arizona, locations used for her first starring role in the movie, “Chastity.” About Phoenix, Arizona: Phoenix, Arizona (population 1,445,632; elevation 1,117 feet; 33° 26’ 54” N, 112° 4’ 25” W) is located in the northeastern section of the Sonoran Desert, on I-25 and I-10. Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and is also the anchor of the Phoenix metropolitan area (also known as the Valley of the Sun), the 12th largest metro area by population in the United States with more than 4.1 million people. The Phoenix area is surrounded by the McDowell Mountains to the northeast, the White Tank Mountains to the west, the Superstition Mountains far to the east, and the Sierra Estrella to the southwest. Within the city are the Phoenix Mountains and South Mountains. Residents of the city are known as Phoenicians. As with most of Arizona, Phoenix does not observe daylight saving time. In 1973, Governor Jack Williams argued to the U.S. Congress that energy use would increase in the evening, as refrigeration units were not used as often in the morning on standard time. He went on to say that energy use would rise “because there would be more lights on in the early morning.” He was also concerned about children going to school in the dark. The exception to this are lands of the Navajo Nation in Northeastern Arizona, which observe daylight saving time in conjunction with the rest of their tribal lands in other states. Right: Chastity (Cher) pumps gas in a scene from the self-titled 1960s underground flick, “Chastity.” Phoenix was incorporated as a city in 1881, after being founded in 1861, near the Salt River, and its confluence with the Gila River. The city has a notable and famous political culture, and has been home to numerous influential American politicians and other dignitaries, including: Barry Goldwater, William Rehnquist, John McCain, Janet Napolitano, Carl Hayden, and Sandra Day O’Connor. The history of Phoenix as a city begins with Jack Swilling, a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War who had earlier come west to seek wealth in the 1850s. On an outing in 1857, he stopped to rest at the foot of the White Tank Mountains. Swilling observed the abandoned river valley and considered its potential for farming: the terrain and climate were optimal, only a regular source of water was necessary. The existence of the old Hohokam ruins, showing clear paths for canals, made Swilling imagine new possibilities. Swilling had a series of canals built, which followed those of the ancient Native American system. A small community formed that same year about four miles east of the present city. It was first called “Pumpkinville,” due to the large pumpkins that flourished in fields along the canals. Later it was called “Swilling’s Mill,” in his honor, though later it was renamed to “Helling Mill,” “Mill City,” and finally, “East Phoenix.” Eventually, Lord Darrell Duppa suggested the name Phoenix, as it described a city born from the ruins of a former civilization. The coming of the railroad in the 1880s was the first of several important events that revolutionized the economy of Phoenix. A spur of the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Phoenix and Maricopa, was extended from Maricopa into Tempe in the late 1880s. Merchandise now flowed into the city by rail instead of wagon. Phoenix became a trade center with its products reaching eastern and western markets. Right: A timeless star of music and film, the beautiful and iconic Cher. The early economy of Phoenix was primarily agricultural, dependent mainly on the “5Cs,” which were copper, cattle, climate, cotton and citrus. In the last four decades most of the farmlands have been turned into suburbs, and the economy has diversified as swiftly as the population has grown. Lodging & Dining: Maricopa Manor. 15 West Pasadena Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona Maricopa Manor is in the heart of north central Phoenix in a historic residential district, less than half a minute from the intersection of Central Avenue and Camelback Road, and only 10 minutes north of the downtown business district. A Spanish style hacienda (dating back to 1928) with six suites, it is the perfect jumping off point for other Arizona destinations. Chino Bandito. 15414 N. 19th Avenue, Suite K, Phoenix, Arizona Guy Fieri of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” visited this unique eatery and he gave it a thumbs up. Portion size is large, the food is delicious, and the price is right. Where can you get Mexican and Chinese food not only at the same diner, but on the same plate? On the menu you’ll find eclectic choices like an Egg Foo Young Burrito or Jerk Fried Rice with Black Beans. Movie Trivia: • Taglines for the movie were: “Pick Her Up If You Dare!”; “A cop out! A drop out! And so far out she’s not just a girl, she’s an experience!”; and “There’s NEVER been a woman like Chastity!” • Sonny Bono wrote the screenplay for Chastity. • Chastity Bono (now Chaz Bono), daughter (now son) of Sonny & Cher, was conceived during the making of this movie, and named after it. Right: Sonny and Cher walk in a field near Phoenix, Arizona, between takes for the couple’s first film project, the 1968 cult classic, “Chastity.” • An “M” rated version of Chastity has a few different camera angles and shots not used in the “R” or “PG” rated versions. It also has some words muted for content. One version does not have Cher’s Band of Theives song in the closing credits. The television and “M” rated versions of the film are the same. • The network television version of the film has several scenes deleted and many words and phrases muted. One major deleted scene is when Chastity gets out of the shower, she is shown nude (Cher’s only nude scene). In the television version you see her hand reaching for a towel, but in the original, she walks out of the shower nude. Character Quote: “You gotta have a thing to do a thing, creep.” ~Chastity (Cher)