The Night Porter (1974)

It couldn't be made today. Organized protests by Jews and women would shut that whole thing down now.

You're kidding! One post for Night Porter?

I saw it around '75 in a Times Square porno house.

It was never considered powerful or important! Most middle-brow and high-brow critics of the time considered it amusing or vulgar trash. It's long term reputation in the film studies world is "fake transgressive" pulp. It's not nearly as juicy and entertaining as Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS.

I love the opening gambit of Ebert's 1975 review:

[quote]"The Night Porter" is as nasty as it is lubricious

Having said that, I first saw it in a Sydney arthouse cinema in the late '70s when I was still a teenager and loved it. I've since seen it a couple of times on the smaller TV screen, and, though I don't agree with Ebert's review, it's nowhere near as convincing or interesting as it seemed at the time. Cavani's attempt to explain away sadomasochism (the natural state of male–female relationships for her, I presume?) through the belaboured metaphorisation of political fascism is just trite. Although, I suppose, you could actually turn that on its head and just as easily say that Cavani is trying to explain away fascism as some sort of erotic necessity—in which case, Ebert is right when he says the film is just plain nasty.

I know she's one of those UK National Treasures but I've never liked her. She seemed hardened and crazy; one of those people who dismisses their bad behaviour as "artistic license." I never thought she was much of an actress. She was willing to strip, which made her a part of more films that she normally would have been in based on talent alone.

Speaking of, R3, I first saw Salo in a porno house on Market Street in SF. It was even programmed between gay porn! Perfect!

Who thinks it's powerful and important? Pauline Kael laughed at how stupid it was. I suppose the Eurotrash types still think it's impressive.

It's on Hulu. I will check it out. I love this stuff.

[quote] I suppose the Eurotrash types still think it's impressive.

I guess so.

Cavani's films in general are pretty stupid and overheated. She made a film of BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL that is unwatchable.

I do like Rampling, though. She did a lot of Eurotrash movies in the 70's, but she's turned into a very fine actress over the last few decades.

Hang on, r11, I love her Beyond Good and Evil!

Cavani is a conceited hack. Her movies are all laughable, they aged terribly, and they just scream "70s eurotrash", like a C-grade Visconti. She's a closeted butch lez, btw

btw, watch "La pelle", her movie about postwar Naples liberated by american troops: it's even worse than Night Porter, if you can believe it

[quote] it's even worse than Night Porter, if you can believe it

LOL

Shame the story was executed so badly. It's a waste. Could have been interesting.

well, it's based on a famous italian novel, but that's quite shitty too

Personally, I feel very strongly that the story of the holocaust was so extraordinary fictional stories about it, seem totally superfluous and in my mind never work.

[quote]"The Night Porter" is as nasty as it is lubricious

Means you don't need lube.

R1 actually, a movie released a few years ago, called the Black Book, was very similar and inspired no protests