Lorna Maitland

Lorna Maitland (born November 19, 1943) is a film actress noted mostly for her large-breasted figure and appearances in three Russ Meyer films: "Lorna", "Mudhoney" and "Mondo Topless". Her given name is Barbara Popejoy. (Sometimes she also called herself Barbara Joy.) She was born in Glendale, California.

exploitation star

Lorna was a dancer in Las Vegas when she answered an ad in "Daily Variety" placed by Russ Meyer for the lead in "Lorna" (1964). Another actress was initially cast but replaced because she was small chested. Meyer decided to hire Maitland the first day of shooting (he had accidentally overlooked her audition photos). Another account states that Maitland was selected from 132 applicants who responded to an ad in a trade paper. When the movie was being filmed Maitland was 20. She weighed 135 pounds and measured 42 – 25 – 36.

Meyer chose the name 'Lorna Maitland' after a secretary he had once been attracted to. Also, the surname 'Maitland' would overcome the 'backwoods roots' of the character. "Lorna" marks the end of Russ Meyer's "nudies" and his first foray into serious filmmaking. It is, perhaps his most romantic film, despite the tragic ending. The director describes the movie as "a brutal examination of the important realities of power, prophecy, freedom and justice in our society against a background of violence and lust, where simplicity is only a facade." Reviews described Maitland as "a wanton of unparalleled emotion...unrestrained earthiness...destined to set a new standard of voluptuous beauty." "Lorna" was called "the female Tom Jones (film)."

Doc Scortt, the fourth lead in "Lorna", was a student of psychology and history, an ex-fireman, operating room technician,and racing car driver. Scortt was quoted as saying that Maitland's measurements were 50 – 25 – 34. Thus an Oakland Tribune interview with the motion picture's "assistant villain", refers to Maitland as a "female hipster".

According to numerous biographers Maitland was only leading lady Meyer disliked discussing. This was because she "hated his guts." In numerous interviews he actually claims that her figure "had gone south" after working with her. Maitland was pregnant during the two week "Lorna" shoot. This augmented her already very large breasts, Meyer claimed that her slightly smaller post-pregnancy breasts was a reason that "Mudhoney" (1965) was less successful than "Lorna". Much of Meyer's unabashed sexism and big breast fetish is apparent when one reads about his views of Maitland.

Career decline

Lorna Maitland also appear in the Dale Berry directed, "Hip, Hot & 21" (1967). Following that she vanished from the world of motion pictures. She was considered for the Angie Dickinson role in the TV series "Police Woman". Her whereabouts are currently unknown.

References

*cite book|author= McDonough, Jimmy|year=2005|title=Big bosoms and square jaws : the biography of Russ Meyer, king of the sex film|publisher=Jonathan Cape|location=London|id=ISBN 0-224-07250-1p 132
*Oakland Tribune, "Doc Scortt...Actor-Printer", Sunday, March 1, 1964, Page 7-EL.
*Van Nuys Valley News, "Valley West", September 11, 1964, Page 14.