Eva unter nackter Sonne

This film is being screened this week by Talking Pictures, my favourite British TV channel because of its old black-and-white films, though "The Nudist Story" is in rich colour.

It all seems very harmless nowadays,with a number of topless women and glimpses of pubic hair on both sexes. But when it was first released back in 1960 I was 15 years old and was curious about what women looked like and around that time I did watch another nudist film. As I remember it, pin-up photos in girlie magazines and the nudist magazine "Health and Efficiency" had photos of both sexes with the groin areas airbrushed out, so I was a little surprised to see the pubic hair, though in most scenes the actors carefully employed a towel so as not to show very much.

I watched the first part of this film, with its predictable plot, endured the synchronised swimming and then fast-forwarded through the camp concert and the rest of the film. Enough said.

From the outset I must recuse myself from any critical appraisal of this film. Because it is certainly not my type of film. It contains several song and dance routines which again are not to my taste.

So the background to my having seen the film is quite simply this. I attended a dinner party given by husband-and-wife couple. Have been my friends since teenage years.

So when their guests had departed, and they asked me to remain and watch a film with them. On seeing the title of the film I was placed in a painful predicament. I put my own feelings to one side so as not to offend them

So my observations and only observations are these. The film was made in Britain in 1960. Apart from social mores. Cinema and TV output very much reflected a conservative society.

So I was quite surprised to see full frontal nudity of both men and women in a substantial amount of the footage of this film. Children also depicted in some scenes, but their bodies were not exposed.

I could not find any information as to the location for the shooting. It appeared to be a large country house in Britain. Although that could have only been for the scenes of arrival at the centre. Most the footage was probably shot in a naturalist centre. And many of the persons would have been members of that centre.

Quite apart from my recused comments on the film itself. The production values as to regards the filming of it. Were very high indeed. The quality of the colour is not exceptional but fair considering the year in which it was shot and processed.

After further investigation, I was curious as to the certification of the original film.

There being in Britain at the time, only three classifications awarded by the British Board of Film Censors. If they awarded a classification. U fit for universal viewing, A . Adults only and children accompanied by an adult and X for any remaining films which the BBFC deemed fit for adult viewing only.

I was surprised to learn this film was classified as A. Effectively what we might deem today as PG.

A final comment. You will not be surprised to learn that the married couple hosted me and myself. Spent several hours discussing the film at its end.

I saw a movie with the same title,in color.I loved the story and the movie.I have been looking for a copy of it for years with no luck.It was about a girl who somehow had the authority to confiscate a nudist camp because somehow she was in control of its assets.The participants wanted to show her around,and convince her of the wholeness of the nudist lifstyle.She reluctantly agreed to meet the nudists.She became somewhat attracted by a man who ran the camp.She was showed the camp by him.Later,she removed her clothes and participated in the lifestyle.The camp was saved.Another actress liked the same guy,so there was a little catfighting going on.This lady was introduced to another nudist couple,who were friends with the man who ran the camp.So they helped convince her of the wholeness of the lifestyle,also.I remember her eating an apple,sitting at a picnic table with this man.It was a cute scene.Also,there was some kind of a party for "the old lady",who was the actual owner.Can you help me locate this film?

This title popped up on youtube. I'm sure it was marketed for its titillating subject, a throwaway "adult" low-bill title. It's actually fairly well made, with decent acting and production values. The story is exactly what you might expect, but it's not bad. Except for the skin, this could be Disney film.

There is some padding in the middle, where we're treated to not one but two full-length songs. Maybe they were giving the drive-in audience a chance to go to the snack bar. Also, being very English and very 1960, it's extra shades of whiteness.

It is rather strange that TPTV has given this film a 18 rating but when it was shown in cinemas it was given an A certificate which meant that children under 16 could view it if accompanied by an adult. It has been reclassified as a 15 by the BBFC.

Films such as this would often be shown at the Cinephone Cinema, opposite Selfridges. It would be supporting a Bridgette Bardot X certificate film.

This film is so mildly inoffensive and rather amateur and about as erotic as cold rice pudding.