Café Flesh
Encyclopedia
Café Flesh is a 1982 post-apocalyptic cult
pornographic
science fiction film
designed and directed by Stephen Sayadian
(under the pseudonym "Rinse Dream") and co-written by Sayadian and Jerry Stahl
(credited as "Herbert W. Day"). Music was composed and produced by noted music producer Mitchell Froom
(and later appeared in his album, Key of Cool).
Two sequels, Cafe Flesh 2 and Cafe Flesh 3, were released in 1997 and 2003, without the participation of the original creators. The sequels were written and directed by Antonio Passolini, and did not have the same degree of popularity and cult appeal as the first film.
Cafe Flesh was the first adult film to successfully crossover as a midnight-movie hit. Throughout the 1980s it played repertory theaters across the USA and Europe.
and Deep Throat
. During this period, there were many attempts to create artistic pornography, including The Devil in Miss Jones
. There were also non-pornographic films with hardcore sex, such as I Am Curious (Yellow)
and In the Realm of the Senses
. By the early 1980s, home video
technology shifted the porn industry, and pornography theaters were becoming less successful.
In 1982, Café Flesh, which mixed sex, satire, and avant-garde
theater, was released. The film was created and co-written by Stephen Sayadian
, under the name "Rinse Dream", and journalist Jerry Stahl
, under the name "Herbert W. Day". Sayadin and Stahl made the film in two separate parts, using the non-pornographic elements of the film to attract financiers. The film became a success at midnight showings.
Two actors involved in this film went on to notable work in mainstream productions. Pia Snow changed her name to Michelle Bauer
and became a prolific B-movie
actress. Richard Belzer
, a noted comedian at the time who later became known for his roles in Homicide: Life on the Street
and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
, appears as an audience member.
- Film', and has been inducted into the XRCO Hall of Fame
. Café Flesh 2 won the 1998 XRCO Award for 'Best Video', and the 1999 AVN Awards for 'Best Video Feature' and 'Best Special Effects'.
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
pornographic
Pornographic movie
Pornographic films are motion pictures with the purpose of promoting sexual arousal in the viewer, often featuring depictions of sexual activity. They are sold and rented out on DVD, shown through Internet and special channels and pay-per-view on cable and satellite, and in adult...
science fiction film
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
designed and directed by Stephen Sayadian
Stephen Sayadian
Stephen Sayadian, also known as Rinse Dream is a writer, production-designer and director active in the 1980s and 1990s. His films and videoshave a small but rabid cult following throughout the United States and Europe...
(under the pseudonym "Rinse Dream") and co-written by Sayadian and Jerry Stahl
Jerry Stahl
Jerry Stahl is an American novelist and screenwriter, He is best known for his memoir of addiction Permanent Midnight. A film adaptation followed with Ben Stiller in the lead role....
(credited as "Herbert W. Day"). Music was composed and produced by noted music producer Mitchell Froom
Mitchell Froom
-Career:Froom began his career as a keyboard player in Sonoma County, California. The band Crossfire featured two keyboards players; Mitchell on one side of the stage and brother David on the other with Gary Pihl on guitar...
(and later appeared in his album, Key of Cool).
Two sequels, Cafe Flesh 2 and Cafe Flesh 3, were released in 1997 and 2003, without the participation of the original creators. The sequels were written and directed by Antonio Passolini, and did not have the same degree of popularity and cult appeal as the first film.
Cafe Flesh was the first adult film to successfully crossover as a midnight-movie hit. Throughout the 1980s it played repertory theaters across the USA and Europe.
History
By the early 1970s, the pornographic film industry had gained popularity, through the success of films such as Behind the Green DoorBehind the Green Door
Behind the Green Door is a 1972 feature-length pornographic film, widely considered one of the genre's "classic" pictures. It was the first hardcore film widely released in the United States. It was the first feature-length film directed by the Mitchell brothers and starred Marilyn Chambers...
and Deep Throat
Deep Throat (film)
Deep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and produced by Louis Peraino and starring Linda Lovelace ....
. During this period, there were many attempts to create artistic pornography, including The Devil in Miss Jones
The Devil in Miss Jones
The Devil in Miss Jones is a pornographic film, written, directed and produced by Gerard Damiano and starring Georgina Spelvin. It is widely regarded as a classic adult film, released during the Golden Age of Porn. Damiano made the film after his 1972 success with Deep Throat...
. There were also non-pornographic films with hardcore sex, such as I Am Curious (Yellow)
I Am Curious (Yellow)
I Am Curious is a 1967 Swedish drama film written and directed by Vilgot Sjöman and starring Sjöman and Lena Nyman. It is a companion film to 1968's I Am Curious ; the two were initially intended to be one 3½ hour film...
and In the Realm of the Senses
In the Realm of the Senses
is a 1976 Franco-Japanese romantic drama film directed by Nagisa Oshima. It is a fictionalised and sexually explicit treatment of an incident from 1930s Japan, that of Sada Abe...
. By the early 1980s, home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
technology shifted the porn industry, and pornography theaters were becoming less successful.
In 1982, Café Flesh, which mixed sex, satire, and avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
theater, was released. The film was created and co-written by Stephen Sayadian
Stephen Sayadian
Stephen Sayadian, also known as Rinse Dream is a writer, production-designer and director active in the 1980s and 1990s. His films and videoshave a small but rabid cult following throughout the United States and Europe...
, under the name "Rinse Dream", and journalist Jerry Stahl
Jerry Stahl
Jerry Stahl is an American novelist and screenwriter, He is best known for his memoir of addiction Permanent Midnight. A film adaptation followed with Ben Stiller in the lead role....
, under the name "Herbert W. Day". Sayadin and Stahl made the film in two separate parts, using the non-pornographic elements of the film to attract financiers. The film became a success at midnight showings.
Two actors involved in this film went on to notable work in mainstream productions. Pia Snow changed her name to Michelle Bauer
Michelle Bauer
Michelle Bauer is an American B-movie actress, scream queen, pornographic actress, and bondage model.Bauer was Penthouse magazine's Pet of the Month for July 1981....
and became a prolific B-movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
actress. Richard Belzer
Richard Belzer
Richard Jay Belzer is an American stand-up comedian, author, and actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as John Munch, which he has portrayed as a regular cast member on the NBC police drama series Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as in guest...
, a noted comedian at the time who later became known for his roles in Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de-facto series finale...
and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
, appears as an audience member.
Awards
Café Flesh won the 1984 AVN Award for 'Best Art DirectionArt director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
- Film', and has been inducted into the XRCO Hall of Fame
XRCO Hall of Fame
XRCO Hall of Fame lists some of the most notable adult entertainment works and workers. The list is managed by X-Rated Critics Organization and inducted annually during the XRCO awards.-Actors:* 1985 John C...
. Café Flesh 2 won the 1998 XRCO Award for 'Best Video', and the 1999 AVN Awards for 'Best Video Feature' and 'Best Special Effects'.
External links
- Review of the film
- "Cafe Flesh" by Molly Case, SexyFandom, November 12, 2004.