Private Obsession (1995)

Director:

Lee Frost

Writer:

Lee Frost

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

Almost a love story.

Plot:

Emanuelle, a world famous fashion model, is held captive by Richard Tate, a crazed fan. Richard wants...

Plot Keywords:

Model | Escape | Erotica | Bare Breasts | Shower

Cast

Michael Christian	...	Richard Tate
Shannon Whirry	...	Emanuelle Griffith
Bo Svenson	...	Sam Weston
Tony Burton	...	Sergeant Jim Lytel
Lee Frost	...	Jerry Turner
Francine York	...	Joan Harris
Keythe Farley	...	New York Photographer
Kelly J. Hornbaker	...	Phil
John Aitken II	...	Peetie's Handler
Allison Sie	...	Kim
Rip Taylor	...	Mr. 'T'
Freda Payne	...	Boutique Sales Director
Denise Gieser	...	Boutique Model
Lillian Hurst	...	Estella (as Lilian Hurst)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carol Stoddard	...	Emanuelle's Makeup Artist (uncredited)

Directed by
Lee Frost

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lee Frost

Produced by
Michael Christian	....	associate producer
Phyllis Di Rosa Frost	....	producer
Fred Nyquist	....	executive producer
Mike Tristano	....	producer

Original Music by
Dean Andre

Cinematography by
William Boatman

Film Editing by
Lee Frost

Casting by
Bob Diamond

Production Design by
Patricia Frost

Art Direction by
Patrisha Lee

Set Decoration by
Ann Krause

Costume Design by
Fontella Boone

Makeup Department
Tracy Juliver	....	hair stylist
Tracy Juliver	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mike Tristano	....	production manager

Art Department
Patricia Leigh	....	property master
Mary McCloud	....	set designer
Chester E. Tripp III	....	construction coordinator
Joe Witherell	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Dean Andre	....	adr recordist
Dean Andre	....	final mix
Dean Andre	....	production sound
Dean Andre	....	sound designer
Dean Andre	....	sound effects recordist
Dean Andre	....	sound effects
Dean Wallschlaeger	....	supervising sound editor: second unit
Ian Wallschlaeger	....	assistant sound editor: second unit

Camera and Electrical Department
MacKenzie Alexander	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Joseph D. Beam	....	best boy gaffer
Vidal Cohen	....	best boy grip
Buz Fawcett	....	director of photography: second unit
Mike Flaningam	....	key grip
David B. Goldenberg	....	camera operator: video camera
Dana Gonzales	....	key gaffer
Kelly Green	....	camera operator
Spencer Hayden	....	focus puller: second unit
Chad Rivetti	....	second assistant camera
Pat Stephan	....	camera operator: second unit
Carol Stoddard	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kara Booker	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Christian Boatsman	....	associate editor
Barbara Riley	....	negative cutter

Transportation Department
Rueben Hernandez	....	transportation captain

Other crew
John Aiken	....	set production assistant
Josh Kesselman	....	assistant: Mr. Frost
Gerry Michael	....	production coordinator
Heather Robbins	....	assistant to producer
Eric Struble	....	set production assistant
Nino Wilson	....	set production assistant

Production Companies

• Via Lido Films

Distributors

• C/FP Video (1995) (Canada) (video)
• Image Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• New City Releasing
• Spentzos Film Home Video (1995) (Greece) (VHS)
• Triboro Entertainment Group

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and language

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:(Banned) | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Via Lido Films

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Throughout captivity, Manny and Richard converse through the television monitor, as if they are looking at each other. The camera, however, is behind Manny, so Richard would only be seeing the back of her head, as she faces the monitor. He wouldn't be looking at her face. Also, when they show Richard at his console, there is no camera facing him, that would be televising his face into the room. The bathroom wall where the camera is hidden is an interior wall, so the camera would be sticking into the room, in order to be shooting into the bathroom.

Quotes:

Richard Tate:When you deal with Richard, you're dealing with style, class and elegance.

Soundtrack:

I'M YOURS FOREVER

An Exploitation Master's Sad Last Gasp

I realize Shannon Whirry was the main draw for "Private Obsession," but it was the director, the late Lee Frost, who was my reason for seeking this title out. Frost directed some of the grittiest and meanest grindhouse movies in the 1960s ("The Defilers," "Hot Spur," "The Pick-Up") and some of the more entertaining drive-in movies of the 1970s ("Dixie Dynamite," "Black Gestapo"). Even his hardcore films (most notably "Climax of Blue Power") were a notch above the usual porno fare.

But the fast-paced narratives, brutal violence and gritty style of Frost's earlier work isn't found in "Private Obsession," his last movie. Instead, it's just another humdrum direct-to-video erotic thriller, only it's not even that good. The story--about a psychotic male chauvinist (Michael Christian) obsessed with a famous fashion model/feminist icon(!)--should have been right up Frost's alley. After all, it's just a '90s update of "The Defilers." But his heart just doesn't appear to be in it this time. Even though Whirry's character is kidnapped and held against her will, there's no real tension or suspense. The torments inflicted on her are the equivalent of a bratty little kid locking his babysitter out of the house. The script, written by Frost, often meanders, with story points that appear made up on the spot, like when Christian's character inexplicably books a trip with a gay travel agent (Rip Taylor) to the Caribbean. I don't begrudge Taylor getting work, but his scene could have -- no, make that should have-- been left on the cutting room floor.

If Michael Christian's name rings a bell, he was titular Eddie in the notorious "Poor Pretty Eddie." In that movie he managed to be goofy, creepy and menacing. In "Private Obsession" he's just goofy (and 15 pounds heavier) playing the role as if it were written for William Shatner at his most desperate. As for Whirry, she's OK if a bit shrill at times, but most viewers won't be concerned about her acting. Though she gets topless periodically throughout the movie, the softcore action doesn't happen until the movie's final third. It really isn't worth the wait.

It's a shame that Lee Frost's last movie was this forgettable thriller. Other than its misogynistic attitude and the director appearing in a small role as a bumbling investigator, there's really nothing that distinguishes this as having been directed by Frost at all.