Private Collections (1979 Erotic Anthology Film/Umbrella Entertainment/Region Zero/0/PAL)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C-     Film: C

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: This DVD can only be operated on machines capable of playing back DVDs that can handle Region Zero/0 PAL format software and can be ordered from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment at the website address provided at the end of the review.

 

 

It is hard to make erotic material that works and to try to make it artistic or artsy often backfires, especially in the XXX industry starting back during the 1970s era of Porno Chic.  The premise of Private Collections (1979) is to have three directors of note who seem to know something about pouting sex on film do so and make it work.  We get Just Jaeckin (the original Emmanuelle), Shuji Terayama (Fruits of Passion) and Walerian Boroczyk (The Beast, reviewed elsewhere on this site) and all are duds.

 

As much as I want to explain each, I cannot because 1) they are unmemorable, 2) X-rated, 3) too abstract and 4) too similar in pretense to distinguish if I could, but the fact that this came at the end of the original XXX cycle should give you an idea that this was on the tail end of what was becoming played out and is only for the biggest fans of either those directors or such filmmaking.  Otherwise, it is pointless.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.66 X 1 is slightly pillarboxed on the sides, but looks good, if not great for its age.  Color is good, but definition varies and the film might need some work.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is somewhat flat but workable.  The only extras are three trailers, including one for this, The Beast and Laura.

 

 

As noted above, you can order this impressive PAL DVD import exclusively from Umbrella at:

 

http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo