Frightmares On Celluloid Review: Arrow Video’s Immoral Tales Blu-ray (1974)

Written by Lonnie Pingleton

For so long, there have been movies made that break the barrier of what can be seen on the screen. These are films willing to explore human behavior, both in a natural setting and socially. Many people, even to this day, would be much happier sweeping such topics under the rug. It is especially true when it comes to the subject of sexual issues. Nowadays, video distribution companies are hard at work; bringing these works of cinema to you.  As a free individual, you are able to choose what you want to see and decide on your own terms how to deal with such subject matter. One of the absolute forefront companies out there today that bring these works to you, is non other then Arrow Video. And consider that my opening to Arrow’s beautiful release.

Walerian Borowczyk’s 1974 film Immoral Tales, is rather a collection of five short films, made by writer/director Borowczyk in the ’70s when he was making short films that had just a teeny bit of eroticism in them. One might be wondering why I would be talking about erotic films on a site which is known for discussing horror content. Well surprise! There’s horror!

The first episode, ‘The Tide’, is a short about a young man named Andre, played by Fabrice Luchini, who takes his young cousin Julie on an innocent bike ride down to the beach. Just as the tide comes washing in, he decides he will train his cousin that the coming in of the tide is much like the coming on of sexual nature within the male species and female species.

There are some elements one would find frightening and disturbing in this segment, such as the subject of incest. The main theme within this story is something we see that happens on the news all over the world. We find out that a young, impressionable youth has been corrupted and taken advantage of by an older relative, someone they are supposed to look up to and trust in. Yikes.

The second segment, ‘Therese Philosophe’, is the story introducing a young lady named Therese, played by Charolette Alexandra. She is a young woman who is very devout in her religious beliefs and wants to be a good, God-abiding person, who at the same time is discovering her sexuality. One afternoon while at church for too long, her mother thinks she has been up to no good. She is locked in her room, given only cucumbers and water. It’s then and there that Therese fights her urges and experiments on her body. Talk about a Salad Shooter!

There is a slight horror element to this, seeing as how we can all relate to wanting to be good people and yet everyday, we all fight the war of good versus evil within ourselves. The separation of mind and morals over body and instinct is a battle we all wage.

The third segment in this film was initially cut out and made into another film, but Arrow restored it for the Blu-ray version of Immoral Tales. It is called, ‘The Beast’ and stars Sirpa Lane as Romilda de l’Esperance.  On one lovely day, Romilda is playing her piano and watching her pet lamb. The lamb gets away and scampers into the forest. Romilda goes after the lamb and comes upon a bear, eating the lamb. While running away, the bear follows after her, ripping at her clothes and enjoying her scent. She soon realizes that the bear may have other intentions.

The horror of this segment deals with people who, once again, are fighting back the animal urges they have within them. Most are horrified when they ultimately submit to their desires. Literally, in this case, as it brings to forefront the subject of bestiality. There is a definite fear of the unknown and being forced into it.

The fourth segment is a flat out horror entry, entitled, ‘Erzsebet Bathory’. The segment follows the infamous accounts of Lady Elizabeth Bathory, who was caught and found guilty of murdering many young girls and bathing in their blood. Bathory and her companion travel to a small village, where they inspect the ladies living there. She promises them that if Bathory is pleased with them, they may go to work in her castle and they are even permitted to touch her gown with pearls. It is also rumored to give whoever touches it eternal joy. The ladies are taken back to her castle, where they shower, unaware that Bathory is getting prepared to kill these girls. She appears in her gown, as she promises. Bathory is next seen getting into a large tub of blood, which has been bled from all the young ladies from the village.

Another key to making this horrifying segment even more terrifying is that Bathory, played by Paloma Picasso, actually bathed herself in a tub of pig’s blood that the crew had shipped in. Mostly because fake blood was not working for them. The segment ends with Bathory being arrested and taken away. Another frightening aspect of this segment is seeing civilized people act out viciously, even murdering to get what they want. That damn dress. Materialism. Check.

The final segment is entitled, ‘Lucrezia Borgia’, where the title character engages in incest with her father, Pope Alexander VI and her brother, Cesare. The overall message here is how people in positions of power will do whatever it takes to keep that power.

Certainly, there are elements of horror in this film and surely folks could criticize it. It makes it all the more frightening for people when it’s realized this is not all from some director’s imagination, but that these themes are part of history and everyday life. Ignore it all you want to, it is still there, hiding underneath the surface.