The Image (film)

For 1967 film, see The Image (short film).
The Image
Directed by Radley Metzger
Produced by Gill Champion
Written by Jake Barnes
Catherine Robbe-Grillet
Starring Rebecca Brooke
Carl Parker
Marilyn Roberts
Cinematography René Lefèvre
Gaston Muller
Distributed by Synapse Films
Release dates
 February 1976
Running time
 89 minutes
Language English, French

The Image is a 1975 American film that was re-released in an edited version in 1976. The film is also known by two other titles: The Punishment of Anne and The Mistress and the Slave and was directed by Radley Metzger. The film is based upon the classic 1956 sadomasochistic novel L'Image, written by Catherine Robbe-Grillet and published under the pseudonym of Jean de Berg.

The story of middle-aged Jean, a writer (played by Carl Parker), who meets an old friend, Claire, a lesbian and also middle-aged (played by Marilyn Roberts) and is soon drawn into her world of sadomasochism, in which they torture Claire's youthful slave, Anne (Mary Mendum, aka Rebecca Brooke, and Metzger's girlfriend at the time).

Structure

The movie's structure is divided in 10 chapters, separated by white writing on a black background:

  1. An Evening at the X...'s
  2. The Roses in Bagatelle Gardens
  3. Too Much Water and Its Consequences
  4. False Starts
  5. The Photographs
  6. An Expiatory Sacrifice
  7. The Fitting Room
  8. In the Bathroom
  9. The Gothic Chamber
  10. Everything Resolves Itself

Reactions

Blu-ray release

In 2011, Synapse Films re-released The Image on Blu-ray and DVD.[3] The original 35mm negatives were scanned to facilitate the high definition release.[3][4] In addition to the visual remastering, the audio was also reworked for the re-release, adding DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 to the Blu-ray.[3][4] Synapse also created new cover art for the re-release.[3]

Critical reception

The Image received mixed critical reviews.[5][6][7][8] Buzz Burgess of DVDTalk gave the film four out of five stars for content, stating that "Metzger [...] has created a piece argued by some to be the best erotic film ever made."[5] Charles Tatum, of eFilmCritic.com disliked the film, awarding it just two out of five stars, citing a lack of substance, "The Image is just that- pretty pictures of pretty people whipping each other during sexual sessions. Its infamy is understandable, but not deserved."[8] Michael Den Boer praised the actor's performances, especially Brooke's, even implying that she carried the movie with her portrayal of Anne.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lugosi, Boris. "The Punishment of Anne (1976)". girlsgunsandghouls.com. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Tuna" und Johnny Web (Uncle Scoopy), The Image (1998)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Thompson, Nathaniel. "Mondo-Digital Review: The Image". mondo-digital.com. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Atanasov, Dr. Svet (June 11, 2011). "The Image Blu-ray Review". www.blu-ray.com. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Burgess, Buzz (October 21, 2002). "DVD Video Reviews: The Image". www.dvdtalk.com. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  6. ↑ Baty, Greg (May 18, 2011). "The Image (1975, Review) Synapse Blu-ray". Cinesploitation.com. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Feng, Eddie (July 8, 2002). "IMAGE, THE - DVD review". [moviemet.com Movie Metropolis]. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Tatum, Charles (January 5, 2011). "Image, The". eFilmCritic.com. HBS Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Den Boer, Michael (May 2, 2011). "Image, The (BluRay)". 10kbullets.com. Retrieved 17 July 2013. So much of this film relies on her performance and she does not disappoint.

External links