Official: The Night Porter

[Sam@Cult Labs]

A quick note, although The Night Porter is clearly something more than an exploitation film (it's a fantastic if twisted work of art in my opinion) it did help to kick off a raft of Nazi-themed grindhouse flicks such as Ilsa and Salon Kitty, so I'm putting it here for those people who like to trace back where their favourite trashy movies stole their moves e.g. The Devils set the tone for the many nunsploitation flicks that followed in its wake. OK, lecture over, here's the press release and pack shot...

“A classic. A compelling and disturbing testament to the enduring power of evil and the complexity of human nature.” (Four Stars)

Film4.com


On DVD & Blu-Ray 30 Jul 2012

One of the most shocking and controversial movies ever made, this scintillatingly sexy story of forbidden love and the aphrodisiacal effects of decadence and cruelty comes to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK.

Director Liliana Cavani (Ripley’s Game), stars Charlotte Rampling (Malancholia; Never Let Me Go) and Dirk Bogarde (Death In Venice; The Damned) and Oscar winning production designer Dante Ferretti (Hugo; Sweeney Todd; The Aviator).

Vienna, 1957. Max (Dirk Bogarde), a former Nazi concentration camp officer, is now employed as a respectable night porter at one of the city's most luxurious hotels. Still anguished by the guilt of his actions during the war, he attempts to relieve his conscience by devoting himself to his work while awaiting the upcoming trial of himself and his fellow Nazi officers. But one fateful evening Max's disturbing past catches up with him in the form of the beautiful and alluring Lucia (Charlotte Rampling). Now the wife of a respected American classical composer, almost 15 years earlier Lucia was a teenage concentration camp inmate and Max's lover in an aberrant sado-masochistic relationship. Bound by their memories and uncontrollably drawn to each other, Max and Lucia rekindle their bizarre love affair. But their future together becomes threatened by other ghosts from the past…

Despite having long divided critical and public opinion due to its shocking subject matter and imagery (respected critic Roger Ebert famously described it as “as nasty as it is lubricious, a despicable attempt to titillate us by exploiting memories of persecution and suffering. It is – I know how obscene this sounds – Nazi chic.”) “The Night Porter” is a courageous and uncompromising piece of filmmaking that has come to be regarded as a classic of European cinema. Comparable to Visconti’s “The Damned”, Bertolucci’s “The Conformist” and Tinto Brass’ “Salon Kitty”, this is a powerful cinematic experience that, once seen is impossible for forget.

Hot Quotes:

“A superb piece of work anchored by two phenomenal performances from the leads… a film that deserves virtually every bit of acclaim it’s received.” – TWITCH FILM

“’The Night Porter’ is about as good as high drama gets, and any self-respecting cinephile should be making plans to see this if they haven't already.” – TWITCH FILM

“A psychologically complex and disturbing film, which cannot be dismissed… challenging and repulsive all at the same time.” – DVD VERDICT

“A strange and unforgettable picture that questions deeply the psyches of torturers and the tortured.” – TV GUIDE
“ an unnerving vitality that most American films are incapable of capturing. This movie is for the strong of heart, so be prepared if you choose to view it.” (Four Stars) – DVDFUTURE.COM

“A film one has to venture out of their own comfort zone to watch and understand. Those who like cinema and actually care about what they watch would do well to take a chance on it. Highly recommended.” – SOUND ON SIGHT

Special Features:

Available on DVD only.

• Interview with Director Liliana Cavani
• Interview with Writer Italo Moscati
• Interview with Actress Charlotte Rampling

[suziginajackson]

*Shudder*

As a child, I used to babysit for my nephew. As a 'sweetener', my aunt would get me some chips, and a video to watch. The video shop put the wrong film in the box, however, and so I settled down with a plate of chips and ketchup, expecting to see a Clint Eastwood action film, but was actually confronted with this Nazi soft-core exploitation film

Didn't like it then, and have no wish to see it again!

[Gojirosan]

I'm surprised Criterion have never released a Blu of this.

I haven't seen it for years. It's a bleak experience!

[Demdike]

I'm pleased about this, i was looking to buy it a few weeks ago.

Pleased its on dvd as well as BD.

Wonder why the extras are dvd only?

[Pete]

Charlotte Rampling looks so sexy in that scene where she's dancing around topless with her short hair and those black gloves.

[JC77]

I hope it's a new print, the pre-existing DVD was missing about a quarter of the frame at the side...

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Dirk Bogarde & Nazi Decadence

[Slippery Jack]

A pretty cool illustrated poster design by Martin Ansin.

[Sam@Cult Labs]

I've cut a clip from the director's interview as a sneak peak for you all.

A film like The Night Porter benefits from a little background explanation, after all, this isn't a trashy movie despite inspiring more than a few jackboots and jack-offs flicks in it's wake...

The Night Porter: Interview Sneak Peak

[Scyther]

Would love to review this! hintcoughhint