filmchap Review of The Lickerish Quartet

The Lickerish Quartet (1970)

Beautiful cinematography and exquisit sensuality, Amazing

[10/10 · 7 August 2003]

With the sexual revolution of the 1960's in full swing, along came Euro Erotica master, director Radley Metzger. With films like Therese and Isabelle (1968) and Camille (1969) and his next project The Lickerish Quartet (1970) he's left his directional style of sensuality and erotica, a lavishness imagery with a brilliance for framing the exquisite beauty not just of the actors but as in The Lickerish Quartet especially, the beauty of the location. The sexual power that flows from the gorgeous Silvana Venturelli, not only ignites the screen but burns the very celluloid of the print. This film oozes provocatively forward all the while presenting a playfulness, and free exhibit of the time of the sexual revolution. I have only just discovered this director and have so far seen only four of his movies (this one, Camille 2000, The Private Afternoons of Pamala Man 1975 and The Opening of Misty Beethoven, 1976) The last two movies in this list were the ones Radley Metzger made in the US under the name Henry Paris and where I believe to be his most successful (at the box office) Both were hard versions and the later Misty Beethoven is heavily regarded by filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson the director of Boogie Nights as his favourite Adult movie of all time, I can see many of the same characteristics of this film in The Lickerish Quartet. I myself am doing my final year dissertation on the rise of European Erotica from the late 60's to the late 70's, and the decline of these films after the 80's. With directors such as Radley Metzger and another favourite of mine, José Ramón Larraz (Vampyres, The Coming of Sin) I truly know that I am witnessing the very best that this genre has too offer. My only wish is for these movies and others like them should all receive a screening again today in as many cinemas around the world as possible to reawaken a sensuality that is long dead and dormant in most movies today. This movie captures the time, the feeling, and the energy of this genre and most of all it captured me. Thank you