I feel like I have to put something against all the glowing reviews of this film. I acknowledge that it has to be seen in the context of its time, when it probably wasn't possible to produce erotica above the level of B-movies, but still the film is far from being a masterpiece.
The cinematography is adequate, but nothing special. The soundtrack and voice-over narration are cheesy and uninspired. The performances of Carl Parker and Marilyn Roberts are quite wooden. Parker appears more like a brute than a writer and refined member of society, and Roberts is not only cold but also utterly unerotic. Mary Mendum's performance is better, and it is the only thing that carries the movie, in some of her scenes I actually believe her being submissive. But there are other scenes, especially when she lingers ponderingly in front of the cupboard holding the instruments of her torture, where it remained completely mysterious to me what is supposed to be going through her mind.
But the main thing, and to me fatal for an erotic movie, is the lack of chemistry between the protagonists. Anne gets off on pain, but she seems to be indifferent as to who inflicts it on her, and Claire gets off on inflicting pain, but she doesn't seem to care about Anne. And I'm not saying I missed "romantic" or "cuddly" scenes – what I missed was actual interpersonal connection in the S&M scenes. There is a lot of skin contact, fellatio, cunnilingus, vaginal penetration, there is a lot of instrumentation being applied – but I never had the impression that these people truly touch each other. And while I understand Jean's sexual desire for pretty Anne, I don't see at all why in the end he would fall for Claire, who for all her libertinism comes across as extremely closed off.
Oh and finally: Didn't they seriously not have any nicer lingerie in 1970s Paris? Anne's garter belt looks like a few elastic bands stitched together by an amateur.
The cinematography is adequate, but nothing special. The soundtrack and voice-over narration are cheesy and uninspired. The performances of Carl Parker and Marilyn Roberts are quite wooden. Parker appears more like a brute than a writer and refined member of society, and Roberts is not only cold but also utterly unerotic. Mary Mendum's performance is better, and it is the only thing that carries the movie, in some of her scenes I actually believe her being submissive. But there are other scenes, especially when she lingers ponderingly in front of the cupboard holding the instruments of her torture, where it remained completely mysterious to me what is supposed to be going through her mind.
But the main thing, and to me fatal for an erotic movie, is the lack of chemistry between the protagonists. Anne gets off on pain, but she seems to be indifferent as to who inflicts it on her, and Claire gets off on inflicting pain, but she doesn't seem to care about Anne. And I'm not saying I missed "romantic" or "cuddly" scenes – what I missed was actual interpersonal connection in the S&M scenes. There is a lot of skin contact, fellatio, cunnilingus, vaginal penetration, there is a lot of instrumentation being applied – but I never had the impression that these people truly touch each other. And while I understand Jean's sexual desire for pretty Anne, I don't see at all why in the end he would fall for Claire, who for all her libertinism comes across as extremely closed off.
Oh and finally: Didn't they seriously not have any nicer lingerie in 1970s Paris? Anne's garter belt looks like a few elastic bands stitched together by an amateur.