The Tale of Tiffany Lust

This minor classic from adult cinema's Golden Age is long overdue for re-appreciation. Jointly directed by revered French porno filmmaker Gérard Kikoïne (PARTIES FINES a/k/a EDUCATION OF THE BARONESS) and the usually uncredited "Henry Paris" a/k/a Radley Metzger (THE OPENING OF MISTY BEETHOVEN), it was casually discarded by reviewers upon its initial release yet stands as an interesting hybrid of its authors wildly divergent styles : a mixture of dainty elegance and down 'n' dirty sex.

Rich housewife Tiffany (popular French actress Dominique Saint Claire, billed as "Arlene Manhattan") breaks out of her boring daily routine by making an appointment with call girl Betty (the incomparable Veronica Hart) who tries to teach her the finer points of lesbian lovemaking before sending her out on a one day trip of sexual self-discovery. Starting point is the raunchy radio show hosted by Florence Nightingale (a very funny performance by the legendary Vanessa Del Rio) who disperses explicit advice – not to mention physical demonstrations of oral (with Dave Ruby, the Al Bundy of porn) and rectal (with Ron Jeremy) intercourse – to her horny studio audience. Imagining herself in a passionate embrace with the sex therapist, Tiffany loses her bottle when it's her turn to be interviewed and rushes out of the studio. While her husband (former gay porn icon George Payne, star of Francis Ellie's KISS TODAY GOODBYE) has to deal with the not entirely desired attentions of a submissive slave girl (spunky redhead Misty Regan in an early appearance), Tiffany catches the eye of an amorous mystery man ("Roger Caine" a/k/a Al Levitsky who'd made an engaging comedy team with Zebedy Colt on PLAYGIRLS OF MUNICH and DUTCH TREAT) while gazing upon superstar Desirée (PRETTY PEACHES) Cousteau's deft handling of a trio of male members belonging to Ron Hudd, Roy Stuart and David Christopher respectively. And I'm not even going to bring up that Heineken bottle ! Our heroine and Levitsky finally make contact in a health club shower where Tiffany's cooling off from spying on Samantha Fox (Chuck Vincent's fetish actress in BAD PENNY, JACK 'N' JILL, THIS LADY IS A TRAMP, and so forth) taking on pretty blonde Continental dish Morgane (credited as "Marianne Flowers") in the sauna. Thinking she has now rediscovered the passion so sorely lacking from her marriage, Tiffany's in for a rude awakening however…

Though the pace occasionally lags, there is some scintillating witty dialog courtesy of Metzger, a master of classy comedy, exemplified by such cute bits like the kinky couple in the radio show audience and the rude phone call with the waitress and the switchboard operator. Good acting from Hart and Del Rio, but Saint Claire predictably suffers from dodgy dubbing, her performance improving considerably in the alternative French version known as DOLLY, L'INITIATRICE. Sexually, she remains more of an observer than an actual participant as well though her tanned supermodel figure contrasts nicely with Veronica's milky curves and she stirs up some steam in the film's final portion with both Levitsky and Payne. Production is solid with soft lighting and professional cinematography by Gérard Loubeau, himself director of underrated erotica such as RAPT IN LOVE and LE SEGRETE EXPERIENZE DI LUCA E FANNY. It's also great to cinematically revisit some of New York's seamier sights with Kikoïne, a renowned grandmaster of the unhealthy sensation in his homeland, relishing the opportunity to wallow in the sleaze while still retaining an apparently adversary touch of class.

The world of erotic cinema is a tricky one to navigate, and "The Tale of Tiffany Lust" from 1981 is a prime example of a film that toes the line between artistic expression and sleaze. Directed by the duo of Gérard Kikoïne and Radley Metzger, this movie takes us on a journey into the life of Tiffany, a housewife living in New York.

The film's protagonist, Tiffany (played by Dominique Saint Claire), resides in a fancy apartment with her affluent husband (George Payne). However, as the story unfolds, we discover a world of adult-themed adventures and unhealthy sensations. This is a tale of lust, desire, and the seedy underbelly of New York, all captured with a surprisingly artistic eye.

The cinematography by Gérard Loubeau is impressive, to say the least. Loubeau, himself a director of underrated erotic films, brings a soft and sensual touch to the lighting and visuals. The film revels in the seedier sights of New York, with Kikoïne, a self-proclaimed grandmaster of unhealthy sensations, clearly in his element. Despite the subject matter, the film retains a sense of class and style, an adversary touch that elevates it above similar erotic ventures.

The story, though simple, is effective in portraying the life of Tiffany and her journey into the world of lust and desire. Claire portrays Tiffany with a sense of innocence despite the explicit nature of the film, and her interactions with the rest of the cast, including Veronica Hart and Desiree Costeau, are engaging. The film also benefits from a strong sense of humor, ensuring that it doesn't take itself too seriously.

"The Tale of Tiffany Lust" might not be a masterpiece, but it is an underappreciated gem within the erotic cinema genre. With a strong cast, beautiful cinematography, and a good sense of humor, it offers an entertaining and provocative experience. While it may not reach the heights of some of director Radley Metzger's earlier works, it is still worth discovering, especially for fans of classic, artistic adult cinema.