The Opening of Misty Beethoven
| The Opening of Misty Beethoven | |
|---|---|
The Opening of Misty Beethoven movie poster
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| Directed by |
Radley Metzger (as "Henry Paris") |
| Produced by | Radley Metzger |
| Written by | Radley Metzger (as "Jake Barnes") |
| Starring |
Constance Money Jamie Gillis Jacqueline Beudant Gloria Leonard Terri Hall |
| Music by |
George Craig Gioacchino Rossini |
| Cinematography | Robert Rochester |
| Edited by | Bonnie Karrin |
| Distributed by | Catalyst Productions Joy Bear Pictures VCA Pictures |
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Release date
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March, 1976 |
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Running time
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86 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Opening of Misty Beethoven is an American adult erotic film released in 1976. It was produced with a relatively high budget and filmed on elaborate locations in Paris, New York City and Rome with a musical score, and owes much to its fastidious director Radley Metzger (directing this film as "Henry Paris"). According to award-winning author Toni Bentley, The Opening of Misty Beethoven is considered the "crown jewel" of the Golden Age of Porn.
The Opening of Misty Beethoven was released during the Golden Age of Porn (inaugurated by the 1969 release of Andy Warhol's Blue Movie) and the phenomenon of "porno chic" in the United States, in which adult erotic films were just beginning to be widely released, publicly discussed by celebrities (like Johnny Carson and Bob Hope) and taken seriously by film critics (like Roger Ebert).
Films made by Radley Metzger, the film director, are noted for their "lavish design, witty screenplays, and a penchant for the unusual camera angle", according to one film reviewer. Another film reviewer noted that Metzger's films are "highly artistic – and often cerebral ... and often featured gorgeous cinematography".
In a adult erotic take-off of George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion (and its derivative, My Fair Lady), the film is about a sexologist who tries transforming a low-skilled prostitute into a goddess of passion. While he tries to prepare her to seduce a homosexual artist, it is he for whom she develops feelings. In this film, Henry Higgins (of Pygmalion) is replaced by Dr. Seymour Love, the sexologist, played by Jamie Gillis. Eliza Doolittle (of Pygmalion) becomes Dolores "Misty" Beethoven, who is played by Constance Money, and Colonel Pickering becomes Geraldine Rich, played by Jacqueline Beudant. During the film, Misty achieves "elevation" better than Love and Rich had hoped and then cuts them off, as in George Bernard Shaw's play. However, this film then sees Misty return, take over for Dr. Love, and run the "school". Dr. Love is present but in a very subservient position. It is clearly Misty that is in charge by this time.
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Wikipedia