Search - The Night Porter [Criterion Collection] on DVD

Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Rape & Sexual Abuse, Not For Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1974 DVD Release: 03/28/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 58 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 37 Genres: Drama, Psychological Drama, Erotic Drama, Reunion Films

Max (Dirk Bogarde) is a discreet, unassuming night porter working in a posh hotel in Vienna in 1957, tending to the guests' needs, from cold water to a bed-warming gigolo. Then Lucia (Charlotte Rampling) arrives at the hotel, on the arm of her husband, an American composer, and Max's past comes flooding back to him. It turns out Max was an S.S. officer at a Nazi concentration camp where Lucia was a beautiful young prisoner. She became, in effect, Max's sexual slave. Now, years later, their reunion shatters both of their lives. Lucia stays in Vienna after her husband travels on, in order to see Max, and they find themselves caught up in a renewal of their former sadomasochistic relationship. Max has an upcoming show trial for his war crimes. His former S.S. comrades have been carefully destroying documents and "filing away" witnesses to clear all their names, and, while Max tries to keep Lucia's existence a secret from them, they eventually find out about her. They consider her a threat, and they urge Max to turn her over to them. He quits his job, and he and Lucia hide out in his apartment, while his former friends keep watch. Liliana Cavani (Ripley's Game) co-wrote and directed this controversial film, Il Portiere di Notte, which she reportedly based partly on her own interviews with a Holocaust survivor. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Dirk Bogarde - Max
Charlotte Rampling - Lucia
Philippe Leroy - Klaus
Gabriele Ferzetti - Hans
Isa Miranda - Countess

Liliana Cavani's controversial erotic drama The Night Porter, starring Charlotte Rampling and Dirk Bogarde, comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and German soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English subtitles are accessible. There are no supplemental materials on this release. As always, Criterion has done a fine job with this DVD, but it does not contain enough material to appeal to anyone other than the film's enthusiasts. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide