Le malizie di Venere (1969)

Director:

Massimo Dallamano

Writers:

Inge Hilger (writer)
Fabio Massimo (writer)

Release Date:

26 November 1969 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

What's the worst thing a man could do to a woman? ... WRONG!

Plot:

Based on the infamous novel by Leopold Sacher-Masoch this fine film follows the perverted passions of...

Plot Keywords:

Voyeurism | Dominatrix | Sex | Taboo Sex | Erotica

Cast

Laura Antonelli	...	Wanda
Régis Vallée	...	Severin
Loren Ewing	...	Bruno (as Ewing Loren)
Renate Kasché	...	Gracia
Werner Pochath	...	Manfred
Mady Rahl	...	Helga
Wolf Ackva	...	Bailiff
Peter Heeg	...	Psychiatrist
Josil Raquel	...	Carmen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Kroll	...	Painter
Fred Newman	...	Gardener

Also Known As:

Venus in Furs (International: English title)
Devil in the Flesh (USA)
Fire in the Flesh (USA) (informal English title)
Venere nuda (Italy)
Venus im Pelz (West Germany)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

West Germany | Switzerland | Italy

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Norway:18 (re-rating) (2003) | UK:18 | Norway:(Banned) (1970-2003) (cinema release)

Company:

Roxy Films

Trivia:

It was filmed in 1969 just for the German market like Paroxismus (1969). In 1973 it was realized in Italy for the first time and immediately confiscated by the authorities. In 1975 it was realized again in Italy but after cutting all the sex scenes, substituted by plotless judicial scenes.

A great film about perverted passion

I hear that this version of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's isn't faithful to the original story. Having not read the book (yet!) I can't say if that's true or not, but as a film in its own right; this version of Venus in Furs really is something special. Massimo Dallamano is best known to cult film fans for his incredible Giallo What Have They Done to Solange, as well as the less successful follow-up What Have They Done to Our Daughters, although this is a film that is a success for very different reasons. The plot focuses on a nobleman named Severin. He believes that a man is the sum of his childhood traumas; and his childhood, which involved punishments for voyeurism, has lead to him exhibiting some perverted desires. He meets the beautiful Wanda and wants their relationship to exist on a plain where he is dominated by his lover. He begins to ferry her around as her chauffeur and enjoys watching her have sex with other men...but as their relationship continues, he begins to question his own motivations.

Venus in Furs is an incredibly beautiful film. The cinematography is scintillating and this really helps to bring on the story. Lead actress Laura Antonelli is beautiful also and the director uses her and her character well. Régis Vallée is the main standout on the acting front with his understated, yet believable performance as the central perverted character. It's clear that the film relies on atmosphere more than story and the character's decisions are what drive the plot forward more than anything else. The film could easily have been turned into a low rent skin flick in the hands of a less talented director; but Dallamano clearly values his subject material and treats it in a respectful manner. The film does manage to justify the lead character's motivations and while masochism may be an alien concept to some people; the film should be fairly easy to get on with even for someone with no prior knowledge of it. However, this is not a film for everyone and if you like your films plot heavy then Venus in Furs will do nothing for you; but for me, this is a beautiful and memorable film and tracking down a copy is well worth the effort.