Café Flesh

Infobox Film
name = Café Flesh


caption = DVD cover.
director = Rinse Dream
Mark S. Esposito (uncredited)
producer = F.X. Pope
Stephen Sayadian
writer = Rinse Dream
Herbert W. Day
starring =
music = Mitchell Froom
cinematography = F.X. Pope
editing = Sidney Katz
distributor = VCA Pictures
released =
runtime = 80 min.
country = USA
awards =
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id = 1:160265
imdb_id = 0083707

"Café Flesh" is a 1982 post-apocalyptic cult pornographic science fiction film co-directed by Stephen Sayadian (under the pseudonym "Rinse Dream") and an uncredited Mark S. Esposito and co-written by Sayadian and Jerry Stahl (credited as "Herbert W. Day"). Music was composed and produced by noted music producer Mitchell Froom (and later appeared in his album, "Key of Cool"). [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/17/arts/music/17froo.html "Succinct Bits of Melody in Search of a Film Score"] , by Jon Pareles, December 17, 2005, "New York Times", 2005-12-17. Retrieved 2007-09-25.]

Two sequels, "Cafe Flesh 2" and "Cafe Flesh 3", were released in 1997 and 2003, without the participation of the original creators. The sequels were written and directed by Antonio Passolini, and did not have the same degree of popularity and cult appeal as the first film.

Two versions of the film were released: a hardcore version, and a softcore version. The softcore version was shown in mainstream cinemas.

History

By the early 1970s, the pornographic film industry had gained popularity, through the success of films such as "Behind the Green Door" and "Deep Throat". During this period, there were many attempts to create artistic pornography, including "The Devil in Miss Jones". There were also non-pornographic films with hardcore sex, such as "I Am Curious (Yellow)" and "In the Realm of the Senses". By the early 1980s, home video technology shifted the porn industry, and pornography theaters were becoming less successful.cite book | title = Cult Movies 3 | first = Danny | last = Peary | year = 1988 | publisher = Simon & Schuster Inc. | location = New York | pages = Pages 52-56 | id = ISBN 0-671-64810-1]

In 1982, "Café Flesh", which mixed sex, satire, and avant-garde theater, was released. The film was created and co-written by Stephen Sayadian, under the name "Rinse Dream", [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.05/best_pr.html "The Next Best Thing To Being There"] , by Robert Rossney, "Wired" 3.05, May 1995. Retrieved 2007-09-25.] and journalist Jerry Stahl, under the name "Herbert W. Day". [http://www.wweek.com/html/screena093098.html "Alfspotting"] , by Kim Morgan, "Willamette Week", 1998-09-30. Retrieved 2007-09-25.] Sayadin and Stahl made the film in two separate parts, using the non-pornographic elements of the film to attract financiers. The film became a success at midnight showings. An R-rated cut of the film was shown in mainstream theaters.

Two actors involved in this film went on to notable work in mainstream productions. Pia Snow changed her name to Michelle Bauer and became a prolific B-movie actress. [http://www.radiotimes.com/servlet_film/com.icl.beeb.rtfilms.client.simpleSearchServlet?frn=33487&searchTypeSelect=5 "Cafe Flesh (1982)"] film review by Alan Jones, BBC Radio Times. Retrieved 2007-09-25.] [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000292 Michelle Bauer Internet Movie Database listing] , accessed June 24, 2007] [http://www.atomiccinema.com/xstar_bauer.asp Michelle Bauer Atomic Cinema profile] , accessed June 24, 2007] Richard Belzer, a noted comedian at the time who later became know for his roles in ' and ', appears as an audience member. [Peary, "Cult Movies 3", plus [http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=12591 Philadelphia Weekly] repertory film review, accessed June 24, 2007.]

References

External links

*
* [http://www.angelfire.com/movies/oc/cafe.html Review of the film]
* [http://sexyfandom.com/?s=cafe+flesh "Cafe Flesh"] by Molly Case, "SexyFandom", November 12, 2004.