Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Pleasure Girls Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 9, 2010

Gerry O'Hara's "The Pleasure Girls" (1965) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute. The supplemental features on the disc include the film's alternative/export cut; original theatrical trailer; James Scott's short "The Rocking Horse" (1962); and Mamoun Hassan's short "The Meeting" (1964). The disc also arrives with a 26-page illustrated booklet. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Sally and Keith

Sally (Francesca Annis) arrives in London to pursue a modeling career. She moves in with Angela (Anneke Wills) and Dee (Suzanna Leigh, The Lost Continent) who immediately introduce her to two of their neighbors, Marion (Rosemary Nicols, The Mini-Affair) and Cobber (Colleen Fitzpatrick). Sally also meets the only man in the building, Paddy (Tony Tanner, Stop the World: I Want to Get Off), who, like the rest of the girls, likes men. Later on, during a wild party in the city, Sally encounters Keith (Ian McShane, If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium), a young and ambitious photographer, who immediately tries to get her to sleep with him. In the following days Sally also meets Nikko (Klaus Kinski, Nosferatu the Vampyre), the shady landlord who has a gambling problem and likes spending time with Dee, and Prinny (Mark Eden, Curse of the Crimson Altar), Marion’s abusive boyfriend, who has some very serious money problems.

Sally begins exploring what London has to offer - primarily by going out with Keith. She also realizes that Dee is with Nikko not because she likes him but because he has plenty of cash to spend; Cobber isn’t happy with her Australian accent; and Marion is pregnant but Prinny does not care.

Gerry O’Hara’s The Pleasure Girls is a very strange hybrid of a film. It has the careless look of a Swinging Sixties classic but occasionally it also feels like a serious social drama. During the final third of the film, there are even some quite prominent noir overtones popping up here and there. Additionally, there are two scenes that could probably give a few people the confidence to argue that The Pleasure Girls is a closeted exploitation affair.

Most of the main protagonists have something of a dark side. When Sally arrives in London she looks naive and determined to remain a virgin, at least until she makes it as a model, but she is also a surprisingly good seductress. Dee has no problem being exploited by the married Nikko, who is involved with some sort of illegal business, as long as he buys her expensive gifts and takes her out to chic night clubs and casinos. And Prinny is a liar and compulsive gambler who constantly abuses Marion, but, strangely, she seems to enjoy the treatment.

By the time the end credits roll, all of the main protagonists undergo serious, and bold, character transformations. For example, Sally’s transformation from a simple and naive country girl into a person who enthusiastically embraces Paddy’s homosexuality is quite unusual (remember, The Pleasure Girls was completed in 1965). Prinny’s transformation into an emotionally distraught, perhaps even suicidal individual is also surprising. So, was O’Hara trying to deliver a message of some sort with these fascinating character transformations? And if yes, exactly what type of a message?

It is very difficult to tell – which, I must assume, is probably one of the reasons why The Pleasure Girls had an alternative export cut (which is also included on this Blu-ray disc). Parts of the film indisputably look like an enthusiastic endorsement for a controversial lifestyle, while other parts are openly critical of it. My guess is, with the tiny budget he had to work with (roughly £30,000), O’Hara wanted a film that had the trendy Swinging Sixties flavor, for marketing reasons, but also a film that reached far enough and challenged certain social taboos.

The Pleasure Girls Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Gerry O'Hara's The Pleasure Girls arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the BFI. Please note that the disc contains two versions of the film: domestic, running at approximately 86 minutes, and international/export, running at approximately 87 min.

The following text appears in the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc:

"The Pleasure Girls was transferred in High Definition from a 35mm combined finegrain, and the extended export version scenes were transferred from a 35mm combined dupe negative. Both elements are held at the BFI National Archive. The complete export cut is presented on Blu-ray using seamless branching technology and incorporates footage from both the 35mm finegrain and the 35mm negative; due to the inherent differences in the source materials there are occasional noticeable variations in picture and audio quality throughout."

This is a very strong high-definition transfer. Fine object detail is very good, clarity pleasing and contrast levels impressive. The color-scheme is also solid - the whites and grays look fresh while the blacks are rich and very well saturated. Edge-enhancement is never a serious issue of concern; neither is macroblocking. Furthermore, the film's grain structure is very much intact. I did not detect any serious stability issues to report in this review either. There are a few minor flecks and a couple of scratches popping up here and there, but overall the high-definition transfer looks very healthy. All in all, this is a wonderful presentation of a very interesting film and a terrific addition to BFI's Flipside Series. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the disc's main menu).

The Pleasure Girls Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English LPCM 2.0 (Mono). For the record, BFI have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

The audio treatment is as impressive as the video treatment. The dialog is clean and stable, and there are no balance issues with Malcolm Lockyer's energetic soundtrack. Additionally, I did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks or hissings to report in this review. In terms of dynamics and fluidity, the LPCM 2.0 track is fairly modest. All in all, I have to assume that this is likely the best The Pleasure Girls have ever sounded.

The Pleasure Girls Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

None: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray disc are perfectly playable on North American PS3s and SAs.

Blu-ray

The Rocking Horse (1962) - a moody short about a young boy and his encounter with a beautiful painter. Directed by James Scott. (25 min, 1080p).

The Meeting (1964) - a short film about an unconventional romantic encounter at an unnamed train stattion. Directed by Mamoun Hassan. (11 min, 1080p).

Alternative/export version - the export cut of The Pleasure Girls running at approximately 87 min. With optional English subtitles. (1080p).

Trailer - the original trailer for the film. With optional English subtitles. (3 min, 1080p).

DVD

Alternative export sequences - a collection of deleted scenes. (13 min).

Booklet - a 26-page illustrated booklet containing Sue Harper's essay "Getting on with their own happiness - The Pleasure Girls"; "Gerry O'Hara recalls writing and directing The Pleasure Girls"; Gerry O'Hara biography by Jo Botting; and detailed information on James Scott's short film "The Rocking Horse" (1962) and Mamoun Hassan's "The Meeting" (1964).

The Pleasure Girls Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I enjoyed The Pleasure Girls as much as I enjoyed All the Right Noises. It is a fresh little film that has its awkward moments, but the atmosphere in it is terrific. I really hope that the BFI would also release The Bitch. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed looks and sounds terrific. It is also Region-Free. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.