February 7th, 2002
Approximate running time: 72 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Full Frame
Rating: XXX
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: VCA
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.95

Synopsis:William and Gillian a husband/wife radio duo host a hugely popular radio sex talk show. Their marriage on the surface appears to be perfect while underneath the duo are having affairs. How long will it take before their affairs disrupt their on air chemistry?

Naked Came the Stranger is based on a novel of the same name that was written in the late 1960’s by a group of journalists who worked for News Week under the pseudonym Penelope Ashe. Director Henry Paris for his follow up to The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann decided to go a completely different route with his second adult feature. This film relies heavily on the style of comedy known as screw ball which was most popular during the depression era.

The sex is tame is this one are by far and away the tamest out of the five Henry Paris films. To the films credit some of the sex has been cut out so the version I saw is not the best representation of Henry Paris’s intended vision. Another area where this film is at times lacking is its disjointed narrative and once again I suspect the drastic cuts made to the version I saw are to blame.

To the directors credit the films lead actors/actress’ all look like normal people and what you would expect when watching an adult feature film. Direction wise Herny Paris’ continues to evolve and impress with the films main standout scene being a stylishly photographed black and white sequence. Music always plays an important part in every Henry Paris film and the score for Naked Came the Stranger perfectly complements all the action and the films overall mood. Overall Naked Came the Stranger is not an easy film to digest and it doesn’t help that this DVD edition has been seriously altered.

The DVD:

Naked Came the Stranger is presented in a full frame aspect ratio that outside a few minor instances of tight framing looks pretty close to the film’s original aspect ratio. This film like all of Henry Paris’ hardcore features was original shot on 16mm and the source for this transfer is most likely from a 35mm print. Colors look faded and flesh tones look slightly off. Black levels are strong and print damage is kept to a minimum. Overall this transfers fares better then The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann which is also released by VCA.

This release comes with only one audio source an English language track which is presented in a Dolby Digital mono. The sound is thin and the volume has to be adjusted from time to time. There are some minor instances of hiss and other sound defects.

Extras for this release include original box art, photo gallery, production stills, press book (for the films video release and not the original theatrical release) and gallery of stills of adult cinema’s hall of fame performers in which Jim Holliday narrates. There is also the feature in which the viewer can jump to the starlets’ sex scene they enjoy with just the push of a button. Other extras include a minute 1/2 interview with Jim Holliday who gives a capsule review of Naked Came the Stranger. The main extra for this release is an audio commentary with Jim Holliday and Shayla La Veaux . Jim Holliday as usual supplies many interesting facts and Shayla La Veaux seems lost through out. One other minor complaint about the commentary is that Holliday doesn’t mention any of the various cuts that this release suffered for this DVD release.

This release more than any other of their Henry Paris release has suffered the most cuts with nearly eleven minutes of footage being cut for this DVD release. There are a few key moments of dialog and a full scene that are integral to the plot that has been removed. For a complete run down on what is missing visit this page.

Naked Came the Stranger is an interesting departure from you’re a typical adult cinema that was being made at the time and director Henry Paris’ unique vision is totally butchered via this DVD release from VCA which should be avoided at all costs.