The Naughty Victorians Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Naughty Victorians Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 6, 2020

1975’s “The Naughty Victorians” is an adaptation of the 1908 novel, “The Way of a Man with a Maid.” The book detailed the appetites of a gentleman named Jack who lured female victims into a private room known as “The Snuggery,” exposing panicked ladies to all sorts of bondage devices while raping them. Why this material needed to be turned into a movie is a question for writer/director Robert Sickinger, who chases the porno chic movement of the decade with “The Naughty Victorians,” trying to deliver a regal atmosphere of pained seduction, complete with broad acting and Gilbert and Sullivan on the soundtrack. I’m not convinced the feature is the refined erotic experience Sickinger imagines it to be, but he deserves some credit for his attempt to soften the hard edges of the source material, turning a parade of humiliation into a revenge film of sorts.

The saga of Jack (Beerbohn Tree) is retained in “The Naughty Victorians,” using his charms and a rainstorm to bring young Alice (Susan Sloan) into his special study. She resists, but is no match for his dominating demeanor and collection of bondage devices, commencing a sexual and psychological battle that continues on to other vulnerable women, with Alice turned into Jack’s slave, working with the monster to take control of additional victims. And that’s it for plot, with “The Naughty Victorians” more episodic in nature, watching Jack arrange waking nightmares for his “visitors,” detailing his obsession with “maidenhead,” and extending his perversions to photography and violence. It’s kink play for curious viewers, and one shouldn’t get too riled up by the ugliness of it all, with the production not especially mean-spirited, with Sickinger laboring to steer the tale toward vengeance, hoping to leave audiences with something more than a vague feeling of complicity.

The Naughty Victorians Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Vinegar Syndrome strives to preserve the strangeness of "The Naughty Victorians," offering an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation sourced from the "35mm original negative." The production's technical sense is limited to begin with, leaving the viewing experience perhaps as defined as possible, working with softer cinematography and age. Some speckling and wiggly debris are present, along with mild judder and reel changes. Detail reaches as far as it can go, offering bodily textures for erotic sequences, and period costuming retains a modest level of fibrous detail. Room decoration is reasonably defined. Colors emphasize the red walls of the study and clothing choices, which also favor lighter greens. Skintones are natural. Greenery for travel sequences is satisfactory. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is film-like.

The Naughty Victorians Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

One review from the initial release of "The Naughty Victorians" made a note of the film's muddy sound, and such an aural experience is offered with the 1.0 DTS-HD MA mix. It's not a clear track, and perhaps this is an inherent issue, but unintelligibility isn't a problem. Broad line-readings and sounds of struggle and ecstasy are understood. Soundtrack offerings are muted, but the general orchestral mood is appreciable, just not distinct.

The Naughty Victorians Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features author Dr. Laura Helen Marks.

• Alternate French Title Sequence (1:31, HD) is offered.

• Archival Gallery (3:06) collects newspaper ads, reviews and articles about the release of "The Naughty Victorians," and poster art.

• And a Theatrical Trailer – Hard (3:00, HD) and Theatrical Trailer – Soft (3:00, HD) are included, with the latter collecting reactions from moviegoers as they exit a theater.

The Naughty Victorians Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Naughty Victorians" is definitely a product of its era (well, two eras), bringing taboo happenings to suburban audiences searching for a cheap thrill (on top of everything else, the climax features incest). Think of it as the "Fifty Shades of Grey" of 1975, only with more body hair, elevated actresses, and something called the "Chair of Treachery." Oh, and Jack refers to his penis as his "John Thomas." There's certainly darkness to the picture, but to take it seriously would be a mistake. It's a porno film with a Gilbert and Sullivan soundtrack and a hillbilly-esque revenge cinema conclusion. Surely there's camp value in here somewhere.