Maraschino Cherry: Platinum Elite Collection 2 Disc Set – Distribpix (DVD)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1978
Director: Radley Metzger (as "Henry Paris")
Writer: Radley Metzger (as "Jake Barnes")
Cast: Gloria Leonard, Leslie Bovee, Annette Haven, Constance Money, C.J. Laing, Jenny Baxter, Penny Cherry, Wade Nichols, Susan McBain, Eric Edwards

Release Date: January 23rd, 2009
Approximate Running Time: 84 Minutes 51 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: OOP

"Gloria Leonard runs a pricey house of prostitution, and business is booming. Then her younger sister shows up and announces that she wants to earn her spurs in the world’s oldest profession. Gloria is simply thrilled to have her sister training to take over the family business, and she promptly begins her education. She starts with the simple pleasures her business offers its clients all the traditional forms of sex." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 1/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Digitally remastered from the original 35mm film."

Maraschino Cherry comes of a single layer DVD.

Disc Size: 4 GB

This transfer is a huge letdown; not only is it interlaced, but a Video X Pix appears on screen before each sex scene. Black levels are not convincing; there are compression and edge enhancement issues. Considering the source, the original 35mm film should have produced a better transfer. Reportedly, Distribpix re-released Maraschino Cherry on DVD with a better transfer; unfortunately, it is also OOP.

Audio: 2/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English, with no subtitles. The audio sounds boxy, and it lacks depth.

Extras:

Extras on DVD disc one include a classic slideshow (an image of unrelated hardcore images), bonus trailers All About Gloria Leonard and Inside Seka (9 minutes 15 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), and an interview with Gloria Leonard (5 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Extras on DVD disc two include a slideshow for Maraschino Cherry (26 stills), a theatrical trailer for Maraschino Cherry (5 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), bonus scenes from All About Gloria Leonard and Misbehaving (8 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), and an interview with Gloria Leonard (29 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Other extras include a strip of 35mm film from a Maraschino Cherry, a slipcover, and an 8-page booklet with liner notes written by Benson Hurst.

Summary:

Maraschino Cherry's little sister visits her one day and wants to learn the business of being an escort.

When Radley Metzger made his last adult film, Maraschino Cherry, he had all but run out of ideas and inspiration. It is like he saw the writing on the wall, like he had four years earlier when he transitioned from softcore into hardcore cinema. The industry was on the verge of a major change; instead of shooting on film, things would shift to video, making films cheaper and more accessible for anyone who wanted to make an adult film.

The disjointed feel in Maraschino Cherry is likely due to outtakes from other Henry Paris films being used. The scenes with Constance Money are outtakes originally shot for The Opening of Misty Beethoven. Editing holds together Maraschino Cherry and makes it better than it should be, despite its shortcomings. This is especially notable in how effectively the editing blends newly shot footage with outtakes.

When it comes to the cast, this is one area where Maraschino Cherry is not lacking. It is a superlative cast of who’s who of 1970s adult cinema: Leslie Bovee, Annette Haven, Constance Money, C.J. Laing, Jenny Baxter, Penny Cherry, Wade Nichols, Susan McBain, and Eric Edwards. The standout performance is Gloria Leonard’s portrayal of the protagonist.

The Henry Paris films are known for their offbeat humor and witty dialog, and Maraschino Cherry is overflowing with amusing set pieces. Notable examples are a man who cums every time he sneezes and a woman who gets whipped and used as a human clock. The most memorable moment is a S&M scene with C.J. Laing.

When I first saw Maraschino Cherry three years ago, I viewed it via a previous DVD release, which was missing about 11 minutes of footage. This new edition reinstates all missing footage, and it was like seeing Maraschino Cherry for the first time. Ultimately, though Maraschino Cherry does not reach the artistic heights of the other Henry Paris films, the result is a film that is still better than most adult films.

Maraschino Cherry is begging for a new release that is on par with the other Henry Paris home media releases.

Written by Michael Den Boer