Distributor of Sexually Explicit Film May Seek NC-17

The distributor of a sexually explicit 1978 movie said it plans to submit the same film, with a new title, for an adults-only NC-17 rating from the Motion Picture Assn. of America.

If the former “Disco Dolls in Hot Skin in 3-D,” now known as “Blonde Emanuelle,” receives an NC-17 rating, it may test the general perception of what the NC-17 rating means. The distinction between sexually explicit pornography and sophisticated adult-oriented movies was a factor in the MPAA’s September decision to drop the X rating in favor of NC-17--no children under 17 admitted. The X rating, which was not copyrighted by the MPAA, had become the province of pornographic films and most publications refused to advertise such fare.

Several films have received the NC-17 rating, including Universal Pictures’ “Henry & June,” which originally was rated X. If “Blonde Emanuelle” is submitted in its original, sexually explicit form, it could be the first film of its type to seek an NC-17 rating.

An edited, softcore version of “Disco Dolls,” which also carries the name “Blonde Emanuelle,” was released in four Los Angeles-area theaters over the weekend. This edited version was submitted to the MPAA for an NC-17 rating in October and received the rating. As “Disco Dolls,” however, the movie was never submitted for an MPAA rating and was released self-rated in 1978 by the distributor as “adults only.” It features former Penthouse magazine centerfold Serena in the title role. It’s described by Los Angeles-based distributor Parliament Films in ads as having “explicit, erotic scenes.”

Parliament President John Parker called the movie a “a gangster comedy and sexual spoof that is filmed in 3-D.” Parker said the sole purpose for seeking the NC-17 rating for the edited version was to mitigate the stigma attached to X-rated adult films and thus allow the movie to be sold in major home video stores.

“Basically the NC-17 rating is the same as the old X, only it has a nicer title,” Parker said. “We felt if ‘Henry & June’ could do it, we could too. We felt that if we could advertise ‘Blonde Emanuelle’ with an NC-17 rating, more people would be aware of it. So the purpose was to get a wider playoff in theaters and home video store display.”

The softcore version did not play well in theaters over the weekend, however. “We wanted to play the softcore version, but a lot of people told me it was a rip-off,” Parker said, based on his attending a late-night screening at the Nuart Theater on Friday.

“The edited version of the movie was not well received by audiences,” he said.

As a result, he plans to resubmit the original uncut, explicit “Disco Dolls” now titled “Blonde Emanuelle,” for an NC-17 rating. The uncut version is scheduled to play at a Friday midnight showing at the Nuart.

The decision to switch to the unrated version precludes advertising in most newspapers, Parker said. Even when Parliament tried to place ads for the edited, NC-17-rated film, Parker said he encountered “difficulty.” He said the Daily Breeze in Torrance refused the ads for “Blonde Emanuelle,” but the Los Angeles Times agreed to carry the ad for the NC-17 version.

The standing policy of The Times is to generally accept ads for NC-17 rated films, but the paper reserves the right to reject advertising on a case by case basis depending upon the content of the film and the advertisement, according to a spokesman.

The MPAA generally encourages film distributors to submit never-rated or self-imposed X-rated movies for NC-17 consideration. A spokeswoman said, “The NC-17 designation makes it clear that these films are not for children.”

The new rating has not been without it critics. A Dallas-Ft. Worth-based chapter of the American Family Assn. said this week it is asking its 2,600 members to call theaters and urge them not to show NC-17 movies.