Red Shoe Diaries
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Red Shoe Diaries is a dramatic series that aired on the American cable television network Showtime from 1992 to 1999 and distributed by Playboy Entertainment overseas. Most episodes were directed by either Zalman King, Rafael Eisenman or both.
The episodes always open with a quick montage of a newspaper personals section ad under 'Red Shoes' seeking women to mail in their personal diaries with stories of love, passion and/or betrayal.' The presenter/host Jake Winters (David Duchovny) is then shown walking on desolate train tracks with his dog Stella. He begins reading a letter from his post office box out loud that begins with Dear red shoes ….
Storylines usually have a thin plot revolving around some intrigue and the sexual awakening of a girl or woman who often also narrates. Well photographed, artful, sensuous love scenes with nudity as well as sultry, moody music are characteristic of most episodes. There is no story arc or characters connecting the different stories other than Jake Winters introducing each episode.
This series was considered by some to be softcore pornographic television when introduced and this may have added to its initial appeal — or lack thereof.
The Showtime series led to two spin-off movies:
- Red Shoe Diaries — The Movie (1992). Zalman King, Director. Starring: David Duchovny, Brigitte Bako and Billy Wirth. This movie was released after the Showtime cable TV series started, but it is a prequel to them. The movie's plot is more substantial than that of the cable TV episodes; the storyline covers the developments that lead to Jake Winters running the 'Red Shoes' personal ad.
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
The movie starts with a funeral for his fiancee; later, as he is packing her things, he reads her diary and discovers that she was unfaithful to him. She committed suicide after beginning an affair with a construction worker who gave her a gift of sexy red shoes. In the television episodes, "Jake" attempts to glean insights into issues of sex, love and fidelity by buying the stories of women who respond to a personal ad asking if they have betrayed a lover or have been betrayed. Some of the episode story arcs, however, do not involve either types.
The Red Shoe Diaries episodes still run from time to time on Showtime and are also available for sale on DVD.
[edit] Partial List of Episodes
- Forbidden Zone (2002)
- As She Wishes (2001)
- Swimming Naked (2001)
- Luscious Lola (2000)
- Girl on a Bike (2000)
- The Game (2000)
- Luscious Lola (2000)
- Night of Abandon (1997)
- Temple of Flesh (1997)
- Farmer's Daughter (1997)
- Burning Up (1997)
- Train (1996)
- Four on the Floor (1996)
- How I Met My Husband (1996)
- Weekend Pass (1995)
- Auto Erotica (1994)
- Hotline (1994)
- Another Woman's Lipstick (1993)
- Double Dare (1993)
- Some Things Never Change (1992)
- Strip Poker (1992)
- Double or Nothing (1992)
- Temple of Flesh
- You Have the Right to Remain Silent
