Search - The Wild Party on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1974 DVD Release: 06/15/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 49 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 0 Genres: Drama, Period Film, Showbiz Drama, Film a Clef

Director James Ivory has disowned this Hollywood drama, inspired by the Fatty Arbuckle/Virginia Rappe case and based on a satirical poem by Joseph Moncure March, which was heavily cut by American International Pictures from two hours to 90 minutes. The story concerns Jolly Grimm (James Coco), whose career as a famous silent film comic is coming to an end with the advent of talking pictures. He plans a last hurrah by making one more silent film and invites a collection of Hollywood big shots to his mansion in hopes of convincing one of them to distribute the picture. His mistress, Queenie (Raquel Welch), encourages him, but it quickly becomes apparent the film is a bomb. As Jolly Grimm keeps drinking, his mood becomes less jolly and more grim, particularly when movie star Dale (Perry King) starts getting quite familiar with Queenie. Meanwhile, young starlet Nadine (Annette Ferra), after finding her sister in bed with a guest, seeks out Jolly for solace. When Jolly tries to comfort her by kissing her full on the mouth, a drunken party guest, thinking Jolly is trying to seduce the girl, begins to beat Jolly senseless. Dale halts the fracas, but when Jolly doesn't thank Dale properly for saving him from a shellacking, Dale retreats with Queenie to the boudoir. Jolly, already keyed up to a dangerous level, awaits their emergence from the bedroom with a gun in his hand. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

James Coco - Jolly Grimm
Raquel Welch - Queenie
Perry King - Dale Sword
Tiffany Bolling - Kate
Royal Dano - Tex

A Merchant/Ivory production from 1975, The Wild Party comes to DVD for the first time with this title from MGM. The film is presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. It would be fair to say that the film has never looked better on home video. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. The supplemental materials include the original theatrical trailer and a nearly 20-minute featurette starring director James Ivory in which he discusses the film in greater detail. This is a solid release from MGM that should be worthwhile for any admirer of the Merchant/Ivory team. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide