#command cinema

Vinegar Syndrome / Distribpix Press Release: A Home Video Merger of Epic Proportion

Bridgeport, Connecticut - Vinegar Syndrome is excited to announce an exclusive distribution partnership with legendary NYC-based exploitation and sexploitation producer and distributor, Distribpix Inc.

This partnership will bring Distribpix’s extensive catalog of close to 300 feature films to Home Video, including countless never on disc titles as well as classic exploitation films from genre masters such as Michael and Roberta Findlay, the Amero Brothers, Joe Sarno, Chuck Vincent, Radley Metzger, Ron Sullivan, and Shaun Costello, among dozens more. Additionally, Distribpix’s unprecedented archive of key 1960s and early 70s exploitation rarities, many of which have been completely unavailable since the VHS and early DVD era, will at last be making their return to disc, all newly restored and presented in the type of deluxe, collector-centric editions that both Distribpix and Vinegar Syndrome are known for creating.

Vinegar Syndrome co-founder Joe Rubin, in describing the collaboration said, “Vinegar Syndrome and Distribpix have worked together before Vinegar Syndrome existed. This venture has been a long time coming and I couldn’t be more excited to be working on preserving, restoring and releasing this collection. So many of the best and most significant sexploitation and early hardcore features were produced by Distribpix and it is an honor to finally be able to consider them part of the Vinegar Syndrome family.”

Head of Distribpix Inc, Steven Morowitz responded “The gang at Vinegar Syndrome is wonderful; they opened their doors and welcomed me into their family. I am honored and grateful for this opportunity and together we are going to produce some absolutely amazing packages. Vinegar Syndrome is the best at what they do, from the highest quality restorations, to top-notch physical releases, so this really is a perfect match and the best spot for Distribpix. Our companies not only thrive on excellent restorations and releasing, but there is a major emphasis on film preservation and archiving, which was equally attractive to me.”

While schedule specifics are still being worked out, Radley Metzger and Gerard Kikoine’s, The Tale of Tiffany Lust (1981), starring Veronica Hart, Vanessa Del Rio, Desiree Cousteau, Samantha Fox, George Payne, and Dominique St Clair, will be making its world 4K UHD and Blu-Ray debut late this summer, while Michael Findlay’s notorious Flesh Trilogy is being prepared for a Blu-Ray release this fall, in partnership with Something Weird Video. Additionally, the Command Cinema line which has been distributed by Distribpix for the last several years will also be joining the Distribpix/Vinegar Syndrome family and will see both Blu-Ray and 4K debuts of producer/director, Cecil Howard’s acclaimed erotica.

This monumental merger coincides with the launch of Mélusine, a new online marketplace for premium home video editions of sexploitation and hardcore cinema primarily produced during both genres’ golden ages: the early 1960s through the late 1980s. In addition to serving as the new retail home for Command Cinema, several other brandings will be launched:

Mélusine, which will serve as the flagship brand, will offer deluxe 4K UHD/Blu-ray combo pack editions of some of the landmark works in hardcore theatrical features, with an emphasis on works by the genre’s most acclaimed filmmakers.

Quality X, the name of which pays homage to what was one of the most esteemed early home video distributors of erotic entertainment, will offer single film Blu-ray editions of standout and hidden gem theatrical hardcore features from around the globe.

Distribpix itself will become home to all things sexploitation, pulling from both Vinegar Syndrome and Distribpix’s vast libraries and ranging from the earliest nudie cuties all the way through the tail end of theatrical softcore. Releases will be single, double and triple feature Blu-rays.  

Finally, Vinegar Syndrome’s acclaimed hardcore feature branding, Peekarama, will continue to offer double feature Blu-rays of hardcore films in all genres.

In keeping with Vinegar Syndrome and Distribpix’s focus on film preservation, releases under all branding will meet the highest standards in presentation quality and the most comprehensive available extras.

The adult film industry was quick to skewer the Reagan Administration upon its inauguration in 1981, a tradition which continued into its second term, especially as the Meese Commission was underway.

Spitfire pokes the bear of corrupt, hypocritical Republicans and the dangerous, sleazy and sycophantic fundamentalists who grew to control the party. It features an all-star cast of industry heavies and Howard regulars like Eric Edwards, Samantha Fox, R. Bolla, Tigr, and Sharon Mitchell. Unfortunately it lacks the cohesiveness of far better films doing the same thing, namely Henri Pachard’s Public Affairs.

The pacing is there, but the film lacks much of Howard’s signature mood and lighting. Sometimes you’re in ‘40s noir territory (Sharon Mitchell’s first scene with Joey Silvera is quippy like a Hawks film), sometimes it feels like a Carry On film (which is carried so far you actually hear a-woogas and other goofy sound effects when body parts are squeezed). It’s just all over the place as farce.

What the film does well is show off the cast’s comedic chops. R. Bolla’s con artist minister guy has several exasperated outbursts that remind me of Edgar Kennedy in ‘30s Paramount comedies. Tigr, playing the official spokesperson of her father’s sham chastity movement, seems to be winking at the camera throughout the whole thing, delivering one of the most hilarious moments of comedic timing in porn history when her father dies on live television. Despite the cast of heavies involved, this is really Tigr’s movie.

Howard’s penchant for fourth-wall breaking moments continues to amuse me, with the great Sue Reno doing the honours this time as a nurse straight out of a Russ Meyer film.

This was my first Cecil Howard film. Almost a literal homage to Pagliaci. Every performance in this family melodrama is incredible. Tigr especially. I hate saying this, but young, svelte convicted rapist Ron Jeremy is surprisingly good, and reminds me of William Peterson round this time. George Payne, cuckolding Jeremy on multiple fronts, brings the crazy, as is expected.

“I’ve never really done much before. I’m from Pittsburgh.”

“You wanna eat me out with a spoon?”

“I’d kinda like if you’d stop talking.”

Amazing dialogue here, folks. And an incredibly moody, synth-driven score composed by Peter Lewis and Dave Ogrin. Some amazingly ominous Space Echo at play.

I don’t normally comment on the sex scenes in these films unless they’re overly long and overcooked (or in the case of a fine Roger Watkins flick, gynaecologically sterile and cold), but this one just hit the spot: not too long, colourfully lit, and overall incredibly sexy. Tigr’s scene with the john sizzles, as does any scene with Payne. Then Sharon Mitchell shows up and really turns up the thermostat. That soft-focused scene with Copper Penny was hot.

The Command Cinema bluray is pretty loaded with extras, too, including an audio commentary with Howard (and I guess, dating the release, is an interview with Ron Jeremy). Looking forward to seeing more of Howard’s work.