News

Harlem, which premieres this Friday on Prime Video, follows four dynamic friends navigating the different triumphs and challenges in their personal and professional lives while residing in the historically Black neighborhood.

It’s a personal story for series creator Tracy Oliver, who also wrote Girls Trip and serves as showrunner/executive producer on First Wives Club, because she got to write about her own experiences this time around.

More from TVLineAs Jack Reacher, Does Alan Ritchson Measure Up? -- Watch Amazon TrailerBlippi's Treehouse: Can Amazon Kids+'s New Series Make Blippi Less Annoying for Parents Who Loathe Him?Marvelous Mrs.

Radley Metzger died on March 31st at the age of 88, something that has not been widely reported in the mainstream and film press. This omission doesn’t necessarily surprise — though it does disturb — me. Like his work, Radley was largely marginalized because his films often included naked people having sex. Yes, the films were about sex but they were also about a lot more. Films like Score, Camille 2000 and The Lickerish Quartet were more than just softcore films. As the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s 2014 sold-out retrospective demonstrated to new audiences, Metzer’s films had strong visuals […]...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveriesNEWSRadley Metzger's The Lickerish QuartetRadley Metzger, whose groundbreaking erotic films helped set standards of style for both mainstream and arthouse cinema, has died at 88. His classics Camille 2000 (1969) and The Lickerish Quartet (1970) were featured on Mubi last year. Critic and programmer Steve Macfarlane interviewed the director at Slant Magazine for the Film Society of Lincoln Center's 2014 retrospective devoted to Metzger.Recommended VIEWINGThe Cinémathèque française has been on a roll uploading video discussions that have taken place at their Paris cinema. This 34 minute talk is between Wes Anderson and director/producer Barbet Schroeder.The Criterion Collection has recently released a new edition of Michelangelo Antonioni's masterpiece Blow-Up, and has uploaded this stellar clip of actor David Hemmings speaking on a talk show about making the film.Recommended READINGHoward Hawks' ScarfaceHow does Chicago intertwine itself with crime and the culture created in the mix of the two?...

Cult Epics has long been one of our favorite home video distributors for their unwavering dedication to the darkest corners of upsetting and challenging cinema. From their releases of Radley Metzger's late '60s softcore masterpieces Score, The Lickerish Quartet, and Camille 2000, to their championing of German underground legend Jorg Buttgereit, to their astoung releases of disturbing classics like Agustin Villaronga's In a Glass Cage and Gerald Kargl's Angst, Cult Epics has never shied away from a challenging title, often introducing home video enthusiasts to films they may not have known existed. Now, as they celebrate their 25th year, Cult Epics is getting ready to release their first book, a hardcover exploration of their legacy titled Cult Epics Comprehensive Guide to Cult Cinema. The book...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit the interwebs. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.

Almost Holy (Steve Hoover)

The most fascinating part of Steve Hoover‘s latest documentary Almost Holy is how its subject Gennadiy Mokhnenko parallels the life of well-known Russian cartoon Krokodil Gena. The latter deals with a lonely crocodile zoo worker named Gena and his friend Cheburashka: a young, abandoned creature rejected by the establishment employing him. The two therefore construct a home for the lonely as...

The eight-film series This Is Softcore: The Art Cinema Erotica of Radley Metzger opens today at New York's Film Society of Lincoln Center with Carmen, Baby (1967), Metzger's "take on Prosper Mérimée’s 19th-century novella that inspired the Bizet opera Carmen," as Stephen Holden notes in the New York Times. Plus: Melissa Anderson in the Voice on Camille 2000 (1969), Maitland McDonagh in Film Comment on Score (1973), Steve Macfarlane's interview with the 85-year-old director for Slant, an overview of the oeuvre from Dennis Harvey in Keyframe and Adrian Curry's collection posters for Metzger's films in the Notebook. » - David Hudson...

The eight-film series This Is Softcore: The Art Cinema Erotica of Radley Metzger opens today at New York's Film Society of Lincoln Center with Carmen, Baby (1967), Metzger's "take on Prosper Mérimée’s 19th-century novella that inspired the Bizet opera Carmen," as Stephen Holden notes in the New York Times. Plus: Melissa Anderson in the Voice on Camille 2000 (1969), Maitland McDonagh in Film Comment on Score (1973), Steve Macfarlane's interview with the 85-year-old director for Slant, an overview of the oeuvre from Dennis Harvey in Keyframe and Adrian Curry's collection posters for Metzger's films in the Notebook. » - David Hudson...

I first came to know of Radley Metzger through his posters, which bears out what the 85-year-old erstwhile king of high-class erotica told me recently, that “my respect for poster design came from my realization that more people would see my posters—for a longer period—than would see my films.” That should be rectified somewhat next week when the Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York embarks on a week-long, 8-film retrospective of Metzger’s legendary, ground-breaking “Art Cinema Erotica.”

The poster that first caught my eye was for a 1975 film directed by one Henry Paris. The film was the arrestingly titled The Opening of Misty Beethoven and I was struck by its combination of the austere and the voluptuous: its clean, monochrome simplicity, its beautifully balanced composition, and its nice use of the blocky serif typeface Clarendon, a favorite of mine. That juxtaposed with the lead-off quote...

The fine folks over at Olive Films have been carving out quite a nice niche for themselves by distributing obscure little titles that never seem to get enough love. Well, get set, kids, because things are gonna get even better. Read on for details.

From the Press Release

Olive Films has entered into an exclusive multi-year distribution agreement with Cult Epics, the independent label known for its catalog of cult classic horror, art-house and erotica titles from the 1920s to the present.

The deal includes all North American distribution rights across all platforms including theatrical, packaged media, digital, VOD, television and more. The deal was announced by Olive Films/Martini Entertainment Senior Vice President Eric D. Wilkinson.

“I’m excited to bring the Cult Epics studio under the Olive Films family of labels that also includes our recent partnership with 108 Media,” stated Wilkinson. “Cult Epics’ catalog of titles is a...

This week, the seventh edition of the Offscreen Film Festival in Brussels will start, undoubtedly one of the best 'genre' festivals in Europe. And their line-up this year is very much yummie. Radley Metzger is one of the guests of honor this year, and he will be giving a masterclass on nude cinematography. Also, they screen just about every film of his you can quickly name. Score, Misty Beethoven, Lickerish Quartet, Pamela Mann, Camille 2000... they're all there. Who isn't there is Ken Russell, as he died in 2011, but his filmography gets the same treatment here. It's hard to think of a film of his that isn't in the programme. Examples are: Tommie, Altered States, Lisztomania, Women in Love... even Lair of the White...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

I love when I am presented with opportunities to expose others to the glory of Radley Metzger and Arrow Video's recent Blu-ray special editions give me an opportunity to do just that. This trio of Metzger's most well-known works on Blu-ray is a great primer to those looking to get into his work on a larger scale. Score, The Lickerish Quartet, and Camille 2000 represent some of the very best softcore erotic drama/comedy of this golden age, and these Blu-ray discs are a great way to experience for the first (and second, and third, etc...) time!ScoreMetzger's controversial swinger comedy appears on UK Blu-ray in it's original theatrical format, which is kind of a shame as the Us disc from Cult Epics has a longer more...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Camille (1921) is directed by some guy called Ray C. Smallwood, whose IMDb profile looks like mash-up of two different guys, but who knows? We come to the film more interested in it as a vehicle for Nazimova and Valentino, but what actually seduces is the production design and costume design, by Valentino's wife and Nazimova's lover, Natacha Rambova.

Some time before art deco conquered Hollywood, this movie exults in deliciously modern, streamlined yet organic design. Some scenes go on for frankly an indecent amount of time, but we don't care if they're unfolding in opulent boudoirs or night clubs shaped by Rambova.

The movie's self-proclaimed approach, to strip Camille of her crinolines and thrust her into modern society, is amusing echoed in Radley Metzger's softcore Camille 2000 (1969), which likewise floats by on silvery clouds of beautiful people in beautiful interiors (in and out of beautiful costumes).

The screenplay is by June Mathis,...

Camille 2000

Review by Pete of Mondo Squallido

Stars: Daniéle Gaubert, Nino Castelnuovo, Eleonora Rossi Drago, Roberto Biasco, Massimo Serato | Written by Michael DeForrest | Directed by Radley Metzger

Here in the UK another big moment in cult cinema history has fallen upon us. A trio of Radley Metzger’s highly influential and well loved erotic classics have finally been released in all their glory and packed full of features from Arrow Video on deluxe Blu-ray and DVD combo packages. The first film chronologically out of the three is Camille 2000 and that is the DVD I will look at first.

Camille 2000 is an adaptation of a French novel called The Lady Of The Camellias, written in 1848 by Alexandre Dumas. The film follows the tragic relationship between a stunningly beautiful, luxurious and premiscuous woman by the name of Marguerite (Gaubert) who meets a rich, handsome and charming man called Armand...

It’s Monday, so we all know what that means! Yes, it’s time for another rundown of DVDs and Blu-ray’s hitting stores online and offline this week. It’s a very light week this week, so let us breakdown the new releases and highlight what you should – and shouldn’t – be buying from today, February 11th 2013.

Pick Of The Week

Sinister (DVD/Blu-ray)

Desperately in need of a best seller to revive his struggling career, true crime writer Ellison (Ethan Hawke), moves his family to the scene of his most recent story; the unsolved, gruesome murder of a loving, happy suburban family. Shunned by the local community and strained by his obligations to his family, the discovery of a batch of home movies in the attic offers Ellison shocking proof to the crime he is investigating and the terrifying realisation that his investigation may be putting his family in mortal danger.

Westwood - The master of sensual European cinema golden years have a tint of blue. UCLA just hosted retrospective of Radley Metzger’s films. His most important films are being released on Blu-ray. He’s about to take the director’s chair as he approaches 83.

His masterwork Camille 2000 was just released Blu-ray with an extended version from Cult Epics. The 1969 update of Dumas’ The Lady of the Camellias takes place in an esoteric Italy. The restored high definition transfer gives a detailed look at that magical time. The Party Favors had a chance to chat with Radley Metzger about the release.

Trailer provided by Video Detective

Radley is a true independent filmmaker. He owns the rights to his films instead of selling them off to distributor. He’s not at the mercy of an indifferent studio executive to keep his cinematic legacy available. The first question had to be...

Cult Epics, in their continuing charge to become the king of artsy erotica on home video, have announced their upcoming special edition Blu-ray and DVD of Tinto Brass's Monamour.  This follows stellar presentations of Radley Metzger's Score, The Lickerish Quartet, and Camille 2000 in HD, and I expect nothing less than excellence from Cult Epics on this disc.  In addition to the main film, they are including a rare short film from Brass titles Kick the Cock, which is making it's home video debut on the Monamour Blu-ray/DVD.  See what Cult Epics has to say and check out the pre-order links below:Tinto Brass'S Monamour "Salaciously entertaining and shows the director's unique flair for portraying the female form." - Twitch Film"Monamour gets a first rate release...

Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Black Moon: The Criterion Collection (1975)

Directed by: Louis Malle

Starring: Cathryn Harrison, Therese Giehse

Criterion.com Synopsis: Louis Malle meets Lewis Carroll in this bizarre and bewitching trip down the rabbit hole. After skirting the horrors of a mysterious war being waged in the countryside, beautiful young Lily (Cathryn Harrison) takes refuge in a remote farmhouse, where she becomes embroiled in the surreal domestic life of an extremely unconventional family. Evocatively shot by cinematographer Sven Nykvist, Black Moon is a Freudian tale of adolescent sexuality set in a post-apocalyptic world of shifting identities and talking animals. It is one of Malle’s most experimental films and a cinematic daydream like no other.

Camille 2000: Extended Version (1969)

Directed by: Radley Metzger

Starring: Daniel Gaubert, Nino Castelnuovo

IMDb.com Synopsis: Marguerite, a beautiful woman of affairs, falls for the young and promising Armand,...

Cult Epics are on a roll lately!  Yesterday I posted a review of their stellar Blu-ray of The Lickerish Quartet, as well as an announcement for their brand new extended Blu-ray of Camille 2000 in June.  The hits just keep on coming as this morning they've announced that they are re-releasing Agusti Villaronga's classic shocker In a Glass Cage in theaters and on Blu-ray/DVD this year!  Here are the details:agusti Villaronga's "In A Glass Cage"To Make U.S. Theatrical Run This Yearfilm Released By Cult Epics Will Open May 12In San Francisco And May 20 In Los ANGELESLos Angeles, CA (April 28, 2011) -Cult Epics is pleased to announce San Francisco and Los Angeles theatrical release dates for In a Glass Cage. The film was directed...

Hot on the heels of their awesome release of The Lickerish Quartet, Cult Epics have announced some cool new details for their imminent release of another Radley Metzger classic, Camille 2000.Cult Epics have managed to secure a never before seen recut of the film by Metzger and will be releasing it for the first time in a high definition transfer on both Blu-ray and DVD. Camille 2000 (Extended Version) Directed by: Radley Metzger Stars: Daniele Gaubert, Nino Castelnuovo, Eleonora Rossi Drago A child of the sixties sexual revolution, beautiful, sensuous Marguerite (Daniel Gaubert) is addicted to sex and money. She is kept by a wealthy man, has a string of young lovers and hosts wild orgies in her luxurious villa. When she falls in love...

Following the colorful re-issue of Radley Metzger’s colorful 1970s erotic favorite Score! last fall, Cult Epics will release two other Metzger titles on Blu-ray and DVD: The Lickerish Quartet (1970) will be available on April 26 and Camille 2000 (1969) comes out on June 14.

The sexy stylings of Radley Metzger are on display in The Lickerish Quartet.

The Lickerish Quartet Blu-ray and DVD carry the list prices of $34.98 and $29.98, respectively. The Camille 2000 Blu-ray and DVD are also priced at $34.98 and $29.98.

In The Lickerish Quartet, an aristocratic family becomes obsessed with a striking blond actress (Silvano Venturelli) while watching her in what appears to be a crude, silent stag film. After a visit to a local carnival, they meet the girl in person and invite her back to their mansion, upon which time she takes turns seducing the family members and unlocking their fantasies, family secrets and hidden desires.

The Lickerish Quartet...

Reviewer: Jeffrey M. Anderson

Rating (out of 5): ***½

Radley Metzger is widely acknowledged as one of America's greatest erotic filmmakers, which basically means that he's more serious than Russ Meyer and his films more artful than most porn. Metzger is perhaps best known for Camille 2000 (1969), The Lickerish Quartet (1970), The Opening of Misty Beethoven (1975), and Score, which has been re-released on DVD in an uncensored version.

Adapted by Jerry Douglas from his own play, Score features four main characters, plus a fifth supporting character. It takes place over a weekend in a fictitious European city. A "swinging" couple, Elvira (Claire Wilbur) and Jack (Gerald Grant) have a running contest to see who can seduce more members of the same sex. They lure other couples over for dinner, and Elvira sleeps with the woman, while Jack sleeps with the man. Their latest victims are newly married Eddie (Casey Donovan) and Betsy...

81-year-old filmmaker and distributor Radley Metzger has never been an artist who chased cheap thrills. Until the sea change of the '70s, when theatrically-released erotica was rejected in favor of hardcore pornography like Deep Throat, Metzger gained international acclaim for directing sophisticated, literate and lavishly stylized erotic films like The Lickerish Quartet, Camille 2000 and Therese and Isabelle. This week, Metzger's 1972 milestone Score, a film that Interview once said "hilariously hits the bull's-eye of bisexual chic," has been made available and uncut for the first on DVD/Blu-ray from Cult Epics:

Score is based on a 1971 hit Off-Broadway play that follows the erotic exploits of a happily married swinging couple (Claire Wilbur and Gerald Grant) who make a bet that they can seduce a couple of naïve young newlyweds during a weekend get-together at their luxury Riviera Villa. The young couple is played by Lynn Lowry, who starred in...

Mubi's teaming up with two festivals this week to offer a wide-ranging selection of films you can watch from anywhere. Starting today. And for free.

The 17th Oldenburg International Film Festival, opening today, is featuring a retrospective of work by the legendary master of Euro-erotica Radley Metzger. Two of those films — Camille 2000 (1969) and The Lickerish Quartet (1970; image above) — are featured in the online program along with eight shorts from new filmmakers competing for the German Independence Award. Watch them here from today through Sunday. (Note: The Metzgers are viewable everywhere but in the Us; The Drifter everywhere but in Germany.)

The online program we're co-presenting with Alpha-ville features five films from this new Festival of Digital Arts, Music and Culture happening in London this weekend, and you can watch them for free through September 22. Right here.