Maraschino Cherry Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Maraschino Cherry Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 16, 2026

The inherent darkness of brothel life is blended with comedy in 1978’s “Maraschino Cherry,” with writer/director Radley Metzger attempting to bring some silliness to the screen while examining various fantasy encounters. It’s an episodic endeavor about the life of a madame and her experiences with numerous clients, and Metzger follows the natural flow of oddity and carnal intensity with the picture, but he’s always ready to stop for a joke. “Maraschino Cherry” is bizarre at times, but it makes a valiant effort to be welcoming, keeping things spirited as the story jumps from one seductive scenario to the next.

Life moves quickly for Maraschino Cherry (Gloria Leonard), the madame of a New York City brothel. She oversees operations in her apartment, also participating in action as Mistress Cherry, maintaining power in her “Dark Dungeon of Secret and Unholy Delights.” A reunion occurs when her little sister, Penny (Jenny Baxter), visits from their small town home of Poplar Springs, looking to reconnect with her sibling and catch up on her life. Expecting to find a successful model, Penny learns more about Maraschino’s real work and the experiences of her employees, who are ready to satisfy any desire for curious customers. Penny elects to try out the business, aiming to test out a sexual experience while Maraschino returns to management concerns, sharing tales of client demands as her sibling’s trip is extended.

“Maraschino Cherry” basically follows the eponymous character as she oversees her operation, supported by a staff who run a tight ship, dealing with anyone seeking their company. The apartment is home base, but there’s also time devoted in the dungeon, where a young woman is going through a tough BDSM trial courtesy of Mistress Cherry, who demands obedience and stamina, placing the slave through a test of endurance later in the movie that involves balancing glasses of liquor on her hands while hunched over a portable burner. This kind of severity isn’t a common sight in “Maraschino Cherry,” as Metzger is mostly aiming to be playful with the endeavor, allowing Penny to understand the brighter side of the “House of Joy.”

One-liners are common in “Maraschino Cherry,” with the overall endeavor trying for a “Laugh-In” atmosphere of silliness as character interactions are examined. Bits extend to one man waiting for an appointment who sneezes, but wipes his penis, and one sex scene takes place on a toilet. Penny is depicted as a small town rube getting an eyeful and earful as she hangs out in the apartment, learning tales of lust from her big sister, who’s filled with stories. These adventures make up most of “Maraschino Cherry,” examining the effort put into realizing fantasies for clients, including a man who finds a female connection while playing with model sailboats. A gynecologist without confidence is permitted to realize his matador dreams, only not in a bullring. Instead, he’s brought to a bar, with the new bartender serving up a lot more than drinks. And there’s a scene set inside a piano bar, where Maraschino personally takes care of a single woman (Annette Haven) right on the instrument, giving the housewife a heated experience she’s been craving.

Maraschino Cherry Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation (1.85:1 aspect ratio) for "Maraschino Cherry" is listed as "newly scanned and restored from its 35mm negative." Elements of age are on display, with the viewing experience fighting some pinkness, while damage is present, including scratches. It's a softer movie, but detail survives, exploring ample skin particulars and fine hairs. Clothing is also passably textured. Interiors maintain decent dimension, exploring living spaces and dungeon events. New York City exteriors retain agreeable depth. Color is acceptable, finding life with period outfits and decorative choices. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is capably managed.

Maraschino Cherry Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Age is also present in the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix, with sibilance issues present throughout the listening event. Dialogue exchanges remain intelligible and comedic timing is secured. Scoring favors one basic song, and instrumentation is acceptable while supporting carnal activity and goofy antics.

Maraschino Cherry Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Radley Metzger, moderated by The Rialto Report's Ashley West.

• Interview (33:13, SD) is an undated sit down with actress Gloria Leonard, who shares her memories of making "Maraschino Cherry," surprised by the scale of the production, also recommended for the part by friend Jamie Gillis. Leonard goes on to deliver tales about her time in the industry, tracking her introduction to the business and her interactions with co-stars, sharing pride in her achievement of never having sex with Ron Jeremy. The interviewee examines the production experience of adult films created in the 1970s on the west coast, and her eventual move behind the camera. Leonard eventually gets back to more specifics about "Maraschino Cherry," focusing on her fellow actors and locations.

• Trims and Outtakes (16:29, SD) explore daily work on "Maraschino Cherry," presented without sound.

• Image Gallery (3:05) collects marketing art, film stills, and documents.

• Radio Spots (1:36) offer three commercials for "Maraschino Cherry."

• And Two Theatrical Trailers (10:24, HD) are included.

Maraschino Cherry Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Metzger keeps things moving in "Maraschino Cherry," which jumps around encounters, forgoing a traditional plot to play with scenarios and appearances, including famed monologist Spalding Gray, who wins the 2026 Viewer Double Take Award for his part in the production, even participating in Penny's introduction to the business, testing out the waters with two men before she commits. Not everything connects in the movie, and Metzger's use of repetitive music feels like a secret test of endurance, but "Maraschino Cherry" is spirited and appropriately performed, especially by Leonard, who offers appealing authority as the woman in charge. She brings big boss energy to the endeavor, and Metzger definitely has a sense of humor, aiming to entertain while summoning titillation.