| The Party at Kitty and Stud's | |
|---|---|
Box cover for Italian Stallion |
|
| Directed by | Morton Lewis |
| Produced by | Morton Lewis |
| Written by | Morton Lewis |
| Starring | Sylvester Stallone Henrietta Holm |
| Distributed by |
Cinema Epoch Italian Stallion Productions |
| Release date(s) | February 10, 1970 |
| Running time | 71 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | US$ 5,000 |
The Party at Kitty and Stud's, better known under the title Italian Stallion, is a 1970 softcore film. It was Sylvester Stallone's first film, and also his first starring role, for which he worked two days and was paid $200.
Contents |
The film deals with the sex life of a young New York woman, Kitty, (Henrietta Holm) and her boyfriend Stud (Sylvester Stallone). Stud is brutal and oafish but Kitty is enamoured with his sexual performances. They sometimes engage into light sadomasochism, with Stud belt-whipping Kitty. Stud later posts a sign on a bulletin board inviting people to a party. Several people show up at Kitty and Stud's apartment and they all engage into group sex, with Stud servicing all the women.
Stallone has said in interviews that he did the film out of desperation after being bounced out of his apartment and finding himself homeless for several days, sleeping in a bus station. In Stallone's words : "It was either do that movie or rob someone because I was at the end - at the very end - of my rope. Instead of doing something desperate, I worked two days for $200 and got myself out of the bus station". The actor also called the film "horrendous" and commented "By today's standards, the movie would almost qualify for a PG rating.[1]
According to Stallone, The Party at Kitty and Stud's was financed by "a group of wealthy lawyers, very, very solid".[1]
Stallone has stated that the film's owners asked him for about US$100,000 in exchange for the film not to be released, but the actor "wouldn't buy it for two bucks"[1]
In a prologue included with the released version, and in the film's trailer, porn director Gail Palmer sat by an editing machine addressing the audience and presented the film as X-rated.[2] The release campaign implied that the original film was hardcore pornography, but that the material had now been edited into a milder version.[3] However, the truth of this version has been repeatedly challenged, notably by trade journal AVN, which examined an original print, finding no trace of hardcore scenes.[4] The "Sylvester Stallone porno movie" evolved over the years into a minor urban legend.[5]
The film was distributed to movie theaters for $10,000 a night, about which Stallone commented "Hell, for $10,000 forget the movie ! I'll be there myself !"[6]
In 2007, the film resurfaced in what was supposedly a hardcore version, with the lead actor performing actual sexual penetrations, but according to AVN the hardcore scenes were inserts not involving Stallone.[4]
It was released on DVD in the United States on July 6, 2004 by Ventura Distribution and on October 9, 2007, by Cinema Epoch both under short licenses from Bryanston Distributing Company who owned all worldwide rights to the title. Bryanston also granted short overseas licenses to various territories most of which have expired including the USA.
In 2008, scenes from The Party at Kitty and Stud's surfaced in a German version of Roger Colmont's hardcore-film White Fire, (1976), released on DVD under license by Another World Entertainment.[7]
During June 2009 protracted negotiations between Bryanston and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for a sale of all rights to the picture were terminated as neither party could agree on financial terms.
In November 2010, the film's worldwide rights and original 35mm negatives were sold on eBay for £270,000.[8]