Ricordati Venezia

Canadian film producer Robert Lantos has basically proclaimed himself the savior of English-Canadian filmmaking, though if you look at his filmography you'll see that he has set many of his films in other countries as well as using Canadian taxpayers' money as funding for these foreign-set films, this movie included. An early effort by Lantos, this movie has subsequently been almost totally forgotten, with good reason. The central story isn't much of one, being somewhat short but stretched out to 91 minutes. The movie also has some unintentionally amusing moments, from dialogue that has lines like, "Don't underestimate the value of a partial erection", to goofy sequences of a sexual nature. Though speaking of those sexual scenes, it does give Richard Harris the opportunity to take off his clothes and get into sweaty sex sequences, so if you've ever wanted to see Harris do that, this is the film to watch.

I have the VIZ Movies VHS copy, strangely it has a misprint. In the US it's known for "Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid", here in Europe it's called "A Slow Descent Into Hell" but on the VHS and cover it's written Decent. So for that reason alone it's a collectable. But is it a collector for other reasons. Well, it's a strange flick to watch. It has some for that time being big names in it, George Peppard and Richard Harris, both no longer with us and Jennifer Dale still in the business as an actress and producer. It was up to now never released on DVD. But it's easily to obtain. It's all about a man on top of a national which empire is decaying and has to sell it. But not only that, he has some sexual problems too due his age. He can't take it and is as the title says descending into hell. It's a really slow movie but somehow I kept watching it because you want to know what will happen. Richard is the main lead and did an excellent job as did Jennifer. George doesn't appear that much and is so typical himself, it could have been Hannibal from the A-team. There is some nudity in it from Jennifer and full frontal from some stripper at a bar. Not that it was sexy because in the eighties full bush was the way to go. And admit it, seeing the stripper in a sexy costume and seeing pubic hair coming out is really a turn-off. There isn't any action in it, it's all blah blah and as I said some weird scene's in it like the one with the thief in a dressing room. And the last minutes are strange too, the story about a sex slave...The movie ended suddenly and things are still left open to discuss what is happening next. It's exactly 30 years old and it is what it is, it's a bit slow and lame for times being but if you're into those actors then I recommend it.

If upon hearing the title of this movie, you don't immediately know what it's referring to, you shouldn't be watching it. This completely cheesy, ridiculously '80s sex-fest is hilarious - and totally entertaining to the ladies in the audience. I would absolutely watch it again, with a bottle of bubbly and a bunch of my girlfriends to giggle with.

Richard Harris starts off the movie with a high-end job, a beautiful young wife, and the world at his fingertips. But when he goes to a party and chats with his old friend George Peppard, he succumbs to the power of suggestion. George lets it slip that he's not the stallion he once was in the bedroom, and Richard is afraid that since they're both of the same advancing years, he might suffer from the same "partial" problem. It's a bit of a shock to hear George Peppard saying such racy jokes, but it's still very funny and naughty to see someone who acted before the Production Code was dismantled act in one of these movies. It will be an even greater shock - for those who grew up watching the Harry Potter movies - to see Richard Harris in graphic sex scenes. But those who are a little older and are used to seeing him baring his bod (still lovely to look at, even at fifty years old) won't find anything objectionable in this nasty drama. His striptease in the rain: there's nothing objectionable in that.

You'll be able to tell right away if this movie is for you or not. My motivation to watch it is obvious, but it'll pretty much be impossible not to get a crush on Richard Harris after watching this movie. You'll find out.

Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to graphic sex scenes, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

Ordinarily, I'm not disgusted with movies. And probably this movie did what it set out to do if its' aim was to disgust audiences. Subject: old guy can't get it up, nor can the other robber baron (played by George Peppard). Wife loves him, but he can't believe that since he's so concerned about his age, and her youth.

Kind of sad to see all this, pre-Viagra of course. It would be a great 2 hour ad for Viagra, but doesn't have much else in it; unless you like the snuff-dancing done by the dancer. Macho looking guy is turned into a slave in a very humiliating manner. It made me feel pretty dirty to watch this movie, as though I were a voyeaur.

Watching Richard Harris do his push-ups was a great spectacle, and I don't mind THAT kind of voyeaur-ing. No accounting for tastes, I guess.

I totally recommend this movie if you are a Richard Harris fan (who isn't?), if you don't dig him, nix this as it is somewhat shameless. Once again, Richard is being his usual exhibitionist self...the way I like it. He is so utterly not self-conscious about his shameless parading, he becomes attractive for that very reason. Too bad there was no full monty a girl can be curious, right ).