Carmen, Baby, according to one reviewer, was the beginning of Metzger's successful style in his later films: that is, adapting "a literary classic in a gorgeous European locale with high polish and a goodly helping of sophisticated sex and seduction."[2] Film critic Jesse Vogel noted that the film is an example of Metzger's signature style, "cool, classy, distant, with a distinctively European sensibility".[3] According to Gary Morris of Bright Lights Film Journal, Carmen was "well played" by Uta Levka; lighting and camerawork by Hans Jura was "first-rate".[4]The New York Times wrote that the film had "a rather classy look" and that the performers were "attractive" and the setting "beautiful".[5]
Wally Lamb mentioned the bottle dance scene from Carmen, Baby in his 2016 book I'll Take You There.[6]
Notes
According to Steve Gallagher of Filmmaker, Radley Metzger's films, including those made during the Golden Age of Porn (1969–1984), are noted for their "lavish design, witty screenplays, and a penchant for the unusual camera angle".[7] Clare Simpson of WhatCulture noted that his films were "highly artistic—and often cerebral ... and often featured gorgeous cinematography".[8] Film and audio works by Metzger have been added to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.[9][10][11][12]
References
^"All-time Film Rental Champs". Variety. January 7, 1976. p. 48.
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