Plot: What’s it about?
As the back of the case rightly states, the world of art is no stranger to eroticism, quite the opposite in fact. All the various kinds of art, from primitive cave paintings to modern sculpture, allow an artist to express themselves. And of course, some artists seek to express forms of sexuality and that means erotic or pornographic content. The painters, the sculptors, even architects all leave sexual fingerprints on their work, though of course, some artists refuse to exhibit such tendencies in their craft. As photography is a much more realistic, visual medium, it is without saying it offered a new kind of sexual expression. Now instead of paintings or drawings, we could see actual people in the nude, even engaged in sexual acts. But even that takes a backseat to motion pictures, where the images move and yes, even speak. You can see the actual passion, as if you were there in person, looking in on the subjects. So its no surprise erotic films became an almost instant business, though it wasn’t out in the open for some time. Most of the earlier erotic films were shorts, which showed women undressing, people engaged in sexual acts, and other sexual content. In this collection from Cult Epics, we’re able to venture back to those times, as we take a look at some Vintage Erotica, anno 1930.
A real landmark release for fans of erotic cinema, Cult Epics’ Vintage Erotica anno 1930 is a superb treatment. This disc must have been a success, as it spawned a sequential release, Vintage Erotica anno 1940. So we have a collection of erotic shorts, all produced sometime in the 20s and 30s. As you peruse this disc, you can either watch all the shorts in order, or opt to browse them as you see fit. Some are better than others, but that will depend on what you’re looking for, as they offer a wide range of subjects. The inclusion of direct short access seems like a foregone conclusion, but even so, I am glad it was offered here. Those expecting a shy assortment of features will be quite shocked, as Cult Epics has rounded up some risque material once again. You’ll see lesbians, group sex, fantasy situations, and full on sexual intercourse. So if you’re offended by graphic sexual images, then this release should be marked off your list. But for fans of erotic cinema, this is a wonderful look into some true vintage, the kind of shorts that are often hard to track down. A selection of twenty-three shorts can be found here, some with softcore content and others with more hardcore styles, including actual sex of several kinds. Its hard to recommend this to many folks, but those interested in erotic cinema will not want to miss out on this one. And of course, if you enjoy this volume, make sure to look into other erotic cinema titles from Cult Epics.
Video: How does it look?
The shorts are presented in full frame, as intended. I viewed Vintage Erotica anno 1940 prior to this release, so I expected a decline in visual quality here, but these shorts look on par with those from that disc. As such, I am porting over my comments from that review, since the same praise and complaints are applicable. The prints have grain, debris, and marks of damage, but that is to be expected in this case. I mean, its not like these shorts were well cared for and preserved, at least not until recent times. So you’ll see specks, nicks, grain, and assorted other defects, more in some shorts than others. As these are black & white shorts, the contrast is a vital element to the visuals and has to be passable. I found black levels here to be varied between shorts, but solid on the whole, though a few shorts are a tad dark. Given the age & nature of the elements involved, I think these shorts look more than acceptable.
Audio: How does it sound?
The same holds true for the audio, which is limited to the music that plays behind the various shorts. The audio is clean and free from most defects, so the music comes across in more than passable fashion. All the notes sound good in this presentation, but don’t expect anything beyond a simple treatment. But in this case, simple is all we need and the audio track here handles all the needs of the material. So you won’t be raving about the dynamic presence, but given the circumstances, I have no complaints here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a nice insert booklet, but no actual supplements on the disc itself.
