Bel Ami

Vintage Erotica

Klubb Super 8 Video

R2 DVD

English with Swedish subtitles

This 1976 film sits midway between the early European erotica with its humour and reasonably intelligent plots and the American demands for more graphic sex. In 1972 Deep Throat was released in the U.S. and its success meant that the Scandinavian filmmakers had to follow its lead or drop out of the market.

Bel Ami director Mac Ahlberg imported a rising U.S. porn actor, Harry Reems, and used the usual bevy of local beauties. In spite of the thinner plot and Mr Reems’ improbable moustache Ahlberg turned out quite a nice piece of erotica. He did not forget to include a bit of comedy and the camerawork is superb. As a result this film still has the style and class of traditional Euro erotica. Style and class were something the later U.S. directors sadly lacked. Plot was more important to Ahlberg than penetration and the “money shot”.

As far as the plot goes, bumbling reporter George (Reems) is instructed by his editor at New Morality magazine to do a piece on decaying moral standards in art. He visits an exhibition run by rival magazine Playhouse and is “taken care of” by the girls. For some reason that is not obvious he is irresistible to women and they drop everything at the sight of him. There is a lot of “dropping everything” and many rather mild but tasteful sex scenes. Sleeping your way to the top was never so much fun..

For an old show the transfer to DVD is quite good. The sound is a little patchy, but the girls are simply astounding. Despite its age, Bel Ami is worth a look.

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