For Members Only

This title has been available for quite some time from Something Weird Video under the title For Members only, The Nudist Story. This was the original complete title in the UK. Film quality is excellent. The opening credits briefly switch from the original to the title page of "Pussycat Paradise" and then back to the original. That was a brief alternate title in the mid to later 60s.

I don't have any idea how long this movie has been available, but it was a happy shock to learn of it's original British title, Google it, and discovery that it has been here for some time.

Beyond the opening credits, the film remains complete and beautiful quality. There is even a film trailer after the end of the feature.

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.

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.

I only found out about this movie recently, and managed to download for viewing.

The premise was predictable, having being used in other movies before however, the idea of a nudist camp definitely was different.

The story followed the expected line, and ended with the expected conclusion but, on it's travels, it was rather enjoyable, and very unexpected. In places, it was quiet funny.

The only thing that slightly spoiled was, the late introduction of naturism etiquette. I've never been to a nudist camp yet, I am aware that members are obliged to carry a towel at all times.

The two reasons are very simple. For new male members, it is to cover up expected unwanted displays until the mind and body adjusts, and for all members to place on seats or other areas where they would sit, for hygiene reasons.

I was 2 years old when this was made so, it's possible the towel etiquette came out sometime after, I was much older when I read about it.

A quirky movie that is not quiet as smutty as some might think, and the granddaughter and aunt characters would espouse this, as the movie progresses.

A rather enjoyable view, and I did manage to see the uncut version.

Shelly Martin, the actress in the lead role, she dealt with Miscellaneous Crew for "Deep Throat", the famous porn film from 1972. Here, 12 years before, she found a pretext to show us her tits and her ass. That's all!