Maraschino Cherry – Quality X (Blu-ray)

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 20th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 84 Minutes 48 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.98

"Set over the course of one sex-filled day at an exclusive Manhattan bordello, lusty madam Maraschino Cherry and her dedicated staff satisfy the desires of their seemingly endless stream of clients. From haggard city employees, brusque businessmen, hopeless romantics, kinky hedonists, and other assorted oddballs, they fulfill any and all fantasies over the course of a hard day’s work." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm negative."

Maraschino Cherry comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.3 GB

Feature: 24.4 GB

Although this new transfer is a massive improvement over this film’s previous home media releases, it is not on par with other Henry Paris films that have been given upgrades to Blu-ray and 4K UHD. Some very minor instances of print debris and other imperfections remain, flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio is also greatly improved, it sounds clean, clear and balanced throughout.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/advertisements/posters), three radio spots (1 minute 36 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), two theatrical trailers (10 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), never-before-seen trims & outtakes (16 minutes 29 seconds, no sound), archival video interviews with actress Gloria Leonard (33 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary with director Radley Metzger moderated by Ashley West of The Rialto Report, reversible cover art, a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 3,000 units), and 24-page booklet with essay by Ashley West.

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.

Outtakes from other Henry Paris films likely contribute to Maraschino Cherry's disjointed feel. 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, it's 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 an S&M scene with C.J. Laing.

When I first saw Maraschino Cherry 19 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.

Quality X gives Maraschino Cherry its best home media releases to date. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer