Revisited this one via the recent Vinegar syndrome BluRay and it's a heck of a revelation. Annette Haven stars as Scheherazade who tells the The Sultan (John Leslie) stories to keep him interested for the sake of staying alive. It's a nice concept, and allows for some different set ups. It's one of the classiest films you'll see with some nice production design that belies the lower porn budget. The dreamy flow kind of makes up for some pacing issues, and over all, it's heck of an achievement. This one plays like one of the best of the late 70's "porno chic" period despite coming out in '82. It shows just how quickly the feel of adult will change as video starts to take over.
6 Reviews
Not as good as it could have been
augustian29 April 2017
This film could have been better than it turned out to be if the writer/director, Edwin Brown had spent a bit more time thinking about the sex before filming it. The film sets and costumes looked good but the whole production was let down by unimaginative and on occasions laughable sex scenes.
Obviously, being a porn film, the sex plays the main part but there was too much emphasis on oral sex when proper love making could have taken priority. The first sex scene with Herschel Savage and Lisa De Leeuw was probably the best in the film but it was quite short by porn standards: maybe the missionary position is the least popular in the industry. The scene of the fisherman and the two girls could also have been more inventive but what we get is the fisherman falling asleep while the two girls have to pleasure themselves. I have never read the original book but this is a porn film after all. (For a good idea of how this scene should have looked, watch John Holmes with the three virgins in The New Erotic Adventures of Casanova Part 1.)
As for the three Tibetan girls, did you ever see three girls who looked less like Tibetans than the three here? The 1001 Arabian Nights is probably the sort of book which is more famous than read but even so, the film here lacks sparkle and inventiveness and ultimately is just another porn film.
Obviously, being a porn film, the sex plays the main part but there was too much emphasis on oral sex when proper love making could have taken priority. The first sex scene with Herschel Savage and Lisa De Leeuw was probably the best in the film but it was quite short by porn standards: maybe the missionary position is the least popular in the industry. The scene of the fisherman and the two girls could also have been more inventive but what we get is the fisherman falling asleep while the two girls have to pleasure themselves. I have never read the original book but this is a porn film after all. (For a good idea of how this scene should have looked, watch John Holmes with the three virgins in The New Erotic Adventures of Casanova Part 1.)
As for the three Tibetan girls, did you ever see three girls who looked less like Tibetans than the three here? The 1001 Arabian Nights is probably the sort of book which is more famous than read but even so, the film here lacks sparkle and inventiveness and ultimately is just another porn film.
One of the very few "erotic films"
genshman6 March 2003
I saw this one back in 1982 in a theater when it was advertised as a porn movie that was produced to entertain women as well - without being disgusting.
I've seen it a couple of times since then, and it's still one of the very few porn movies that are really erotic. Based on the famous tale of "1001 nights", everybody involved in this movie did his/her best to produce a sensual atmosphere.
If you are used to the run-of-the-mill porn produced nowadays, this will be a pleasant surprise for you. They don't make movies like this anymore.
9 out of 10.
I've seen it a couple of times since then, and it's still one of the very few porn movies that are really erotic. Based on the famous tale of "1001 nights", everybody involved in this movie did his/her best to produce a sensual atmosphere.
If you are used to the run-of-the-mill porn produced nowadays, this will be a pleasant surprise for you. They don't make movies like this anymore.
9 out of 10.
Eastern Promises Left Unfulfilled
Nodriesrespect30 October 2010
Reluctant to revisit their explicit exploits to this day, team in life as well as labor of Edwin and Summer Brown crafted several of the more successful attempts at the so-called "couples film", that mythical beast born to break down barriers between the sexes. The reality of most of these well-intentioned attempts was that, rather than satisfy male and female viewers alike, their frequently clueless approach ended up pleasing no one. Part of the demographic themselves, the Browns were an exception, producing a batch of increasingly impressive technical merit over the ten year period between 1975's CHINA GIRL and their 1986 DREAMGIRLS with a few early '90s efforts tagged on as a coda. Serving as a testimony to the genre's good health circa 1982, their adult adaptation from some of the lesser known tales from the compendium of folk tales from the Middle East commonly referred to as The Arabian Nights proves the most lavish of their sexual spectacles. Unfortunately, the sluggish pace - inspired, perhaps, by ill-advised reverence to its lofty literary source - also makes it their most stilted.
Albeit largely non-erotic in nature, The Arabian Nights has acquired a reputation, along with Boccaccio's Decameron and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, as a titillating tome, presumably as a direct result of Pasolini's tackling of all three for his magnificent Trilogy of Life at the dawn of the '70s, cleverly concentrating on some of the juicier passages, sending feverish adolescents of all ages scurrying back to their high school reading assignments to revisit the "good bits" they inexplicably missed the first time around. Retaining the correct title (well, almost anyway) of a book far more renowned than actually read, A THOUSAND AND ONE EROTIC NIGHTS should do little to dispel that slightly erroneous notion. Also lifted off the written page is the framing device of having crafty concubine Sheherazade (Annette Haven in the role she was born to play) entertain Sultan John Leslie with nocturnal tales filled with intrigue and intimacy, ending each with a cliffhanger as the sun appears in an attempt to steer clear of her master's heinous habit of having last night's companion executed at dawn. The Sultan's cruel streak came into being as he unwittingly uncovered a plot by his faithless spouse (an eye-popping turn by voluptuous Lisa DeLeeuw, lifted all too soon from a narrative that could really use her liveliness) and his army's general Herschel Savage to overthrow his reign. Suffice it to say that neither of them was ever heard from again...
Following Lisa's tempestuous threesome with Hersch and a faintly ridiculous Joey Silvera, who kicks off pornographic proceedings by lewdly gyrating to a characteristically chintzy "Ronny Romanovitch" tune, the movie settles into meandering mode as Annette spins her first yarn - incidentally, also the only one to pretty much play out in full - of an unfortunate fisherman (solemnly played by the fastest aging guy in porn, Jon Martin, just compare his appearances at the decade's start and fade) who passes the mansion of beautiful noblewoman Nicole Noir every day on his way to work. His luck's about to change, sort of, when he catches a genie in a bottle in his fishing nets. Prior to taking his life, the genie grants him two wishes. No prizes for guessing. This extended episode obtains most of its narrative thrust through voice-over, dashing all hopes of a Rex Ingram style sorcerer making even the most fleeting of appearances, but the tantalizing tension between Noir's sophisticated seductress and the oafish but very virile Martin mounts nicely and I'm sure you can probably come up with a pun of your own to complete that sentence. Lysa Thatcher and Tigr are perfectly cast as a pair of allegedly underage sisters Nicole trots out for her tireless paramour's second and final request.
Current director Paul Thomas ties with Silvera for silliest appearance, due to a colorfully gaudy crown 'n' cape combo, as a spoiled prince capable of traveling through time and space by way of magic horse, an ability he abuses for amorous exploits only with sleeping geisha Mai Lin and toothsome 1920s tart Laura Lazare in a rare forgettable turn from her concise carnal career. Sheherazade's saucy stories predictably get the Sultan a bit bothered so a bit of in-person follow-up is required as Haven puts her talented gob to work while Leslie leers over a girlie show provided by sensuous Fay Burd, pretty Jade Wong (who left an indelible impression in Chris Warfield's massively underrated PURELY PHYSICAL which might also serve as the aforementioned Lazare's finest hour) and fly by night starlet Heather Fields from Juliet Anderson's pioneering shot on video feature ALL THE KING'S LADIES.
Rather odd for a project that was easily his most high profile assignment to date, with the superior IRRESISTIBLE and EVERY WOMAN HAS A FANTASY still waiting in the wings, Ed Brown chose to hide behind the one time only (?) moniker of "Stephen Lucas" for the occasion, not to be confused with the lowly gay porn "auteur" of the same name. Nominated for tons of awards, yet actually bagging rather few, from the then still unchallenged Adult Film Association of America, which always seemed more preoccupied with production values than pornographic content, it comes across as an all too calculated attempt to appeal to this already antiquated (not to mention, prepared to plummet) assembly's skewed sensibilities and hasn't aged nearly as well as the couple's more creative carnal classics. Regular Brown crony Teru Hayashi contributes his customary glossy cinematography, galvanizing adult actresses seen to far lesser advantage elsewhere and making a goddess out of the already awesome Annette. Ironically, the pair's cheap 'n' cheerful 1986 sequel with cardboard and plywood supplanting the original's marble and mahogany and the decidedly more blue collar Kari Foxx stepping in for the heavenly Haven manages to best its overrated predecessor in most respects pertaining to elements that put the 'adult' in adult entertainment.
Albeit largely non-erotic in nature, The Arabian Nights has acquired a reputation, along with Boccaccio's Decameron and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, as a titillating tome, presumably as a direct result of Pasolini's tackling of all three for his magnificent Trilogy of Life at the dawn of the '70s, cleverly concentrating on some of the juicier passages, sending feverish adolescents of all ages scurrying back to their high school reading assignments to revisit the "good bits" they inexplicably missed the first time around. Retaining the correct title (well, almost anyway) of a book far more renowned than actually read, A THOUSAND AND ONE EROTIC NIGHTS should do little to dispel that slightly erroneous notion. Also lifted off the written page is the framing device of having crafty concubine Sheherazade (Annette Haven in the role she was born to play) entertain Sultan John Leslie with nocturnal tales filled with intrigue and intimacy, ending each with a cliffhanger as the sun appears in an attempt to steer clear of her master's heinous habit of having last night's companion executed at dawn. The Sultan's cruel streak came into being as he unwittingly uncovered a plot by his faithless spouse (an eye-popping turn by voluptuous Lisa DeLeeuw, lifted all too soon from a narrative that could really use her liveliness) and his army's general Herschel Savage to overthrow his reign. Suffice it to say that neither of them was ever heard from again...
Following Lisa's tempestuous threesome with Hersch and a faintly ridiculous Joey Silvera, who kicks off pornographic proceedings by lewdly gyrating to a characteristically chintzy "Ronny Romanovitch" tune, the movie settles into meandering mode as Annette spins her first yarn - incidentally, also the only one to pretty much play out in full - of an unfortunate fisherman (solemnly played by the fastest aging guy in porn, Jon Martin, just compare his appearances at the decade's start and fade) who passes the mansion of beautiful noblewoman Nicole Noir every day on his way to work. His luck's about to change, sort of, when he catches a genie in a bottle in his fishing nets. Prior to taking his life, the genie grants him two wishes. No prizes for guessing. This extended episode obtains most of its narrative thrust through voice-over, dashing all hopes of a Rex Ingram style sorcerer making even the most fleeting of appearances, but the tantalizing tension between Noir's sophisticated seductress and the oafish but very virile Martin mounts nicely and I'm sure you can probably come up with a pun of your own to complete that sentence. Lysa Thatcher and Tigr are perfectly cast as a pair of allegedly underage sisters Nicole trots out for her tireless paramour's second and final request.
Current director Paul Thomas ties with Silvera for silliest appearance, due to a colorfully gaudy crown 'n' cape combo, as a spoiled prince capable of traveling through time and space by way of magic horse, an ability he abuses for amorous exploits only with sleeping geisha Mai Lin and toothsome 1920s tart Laura Lazare in a rare forgettable turn from her concise carnal career. Sheherazade's saucy stories predictably get the Sultan a bit bothered so a bit of in-person follow-up is required as Haven puts her talented gob to work while Leslie leers over a girlie show provided by sensuous Fay Burd, pretty Jade Wong (who left an indelible impression in Chris Warfield's massively underrated PURELY PHYSICAL which might also serve as the aforementioned Lazare's finest hour) and fly by night starlet Heather Fields from Juliet Anderson's pioneering shot on video feature ALL THE KING'S LADIES.
Rather odd for a project that was easily his most high profile assignment to date, with the superior IRRESISTIBLE and EVERY WOMAN HAS A FANTASY still waiting in the wings, Ed Brown chose to hide behind the one time only (?) moniker of "Stephen Lucas" for the occasion, not to be confused with the lowly gay porn "auteur" of the same name. Nominated for tons of awards, yet actually bagging rather few, from the then still unchallenged Adult Film Association of America, which always seemed more preoccupied with production values than pornographic content, it comes across as an all too calculated attempt to appeal to this already antiquated (not to mention, prepared to plummet) assembly's skewed sensibilities and hasn't aged nearly as well as the couple's more creative carnal classics. Regular Brown crony Teru Hayashi contributes his customary glossy cinematography, galvanizing adult actresses seen to far lesser advantage elsewhere and making a goddess out of the already awesome Annette. Ironically, the pair's cheap 'n' cheerful 1986 sequel with cardboard and plywood supplanting the original's marble and mahogany and the decidedly more blue collar Kari Foxx stepping in for the heavenly Haven manages to best its overrated predecessor in most respects pertaining to elements that put the 'adult' in adult entertainment.
Truly sensual erotica
fertilecelluloid1 January 2005
In director Stephen Lucas's A THOUSAND AND ONE EROTIC NIGHTS, the sex is exciting, passionate and beautiful.
This is a diamond quality X-rater that is handsomely mounted from its sensational sets to the sharp, atmospheric photography.
The sensual Annette Haven and handsome stud John Leslie (now a very successful adult director) introduce a string of lusty tales of carnal desire within the shapely confines of a well rounded plot.
Exceptional performances are elicited from all participants including the horny Tigr, the insatiable Mai Lin and the succulent blonde beaty Lysa Thatcher, one of the most gorgeous X-rated actresses ever.
Hotter than hell.
This is a diamond quality X-rater that is handsomely mounted from its sensational sets to the sharp, atmospheric photography.
The sensual Annette Haven and handsome stud John Leslie (now a very successful adult director) introduce a string of lusty tales of carnal desire within the shapely confines of a well rounded plot.
Exceptional performances are elicited from all participants including the horny Tigr, the insatiable Mai Lin and the succulent blonde beaty Lysa Thatcher, one of the most gorgeous X-rated actresses ever.
Hotter than hell.
Classy and sexy early 80's hardcore winner
Woodyanders19 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Shrewd concubine Scheherazade (Annette Haven at her most ravishing and captivating) relates a never-ending series of titillating carnal tales to Sultan Khan (well played by John Leslie) in order to keep herself alive.
Writer/director Edwin Brown relates the absorbingly erotic narrative at a measured pace as well as ably crafts an intoxicatingly sensual atmosphere. The sex scenes are quite explicit and arousing while the production values are extremely lavish and impressive for an X-rated movie, with the sets and costumes in particular convincingly evoking the period setting. The ace cast of top Golden Age adult cinema regulars helps a lot: Jon Martin as an amorous fisherman, Lisa De Leeuw as the lusty Sultana, Herschel Savage as strapping stud General Sargon, Paul Thomas as a dashing prince, Nicole Black as a luscious noblewoman, Tigr and Lysa Thatcher as the noblewoman's delicious nubile daughters, Mai Lin as the delectable Mariko, and Laura Lazare as an enticing Parisian woman. Both Teru Hayashi's glossy cinematography and the sweeping score by Richard Hieronymus further enhance the pleasing polished quality of this superior adult fare.
Writer/director Edwin Brown relates the absorbingly erotic narrative at a measured pace as well as ably crafts an intoxicatingly sensual atmosphere. The sex scenes are quite explicit and arousing while the production values are extremely lavish and impressive for an X-rated movie, with the sets and costumes in particular convincingly evoking the period setting. The ace cast of top Golden Age adult cinema regulars helps a lot: Jon Martin as an amorous fisherman, Lisa De Leeuw as the lusty Sultana, Herschel Savage as strapping stud General Sargon, Paul Thomas as a dashing prince, Nicole Black as a luscious noblewoman, Tigr and Lysa Thatcher as the noblewoman's delicious nubile daughters, Mai Lin as the delectable Mariko, and Laura Lazare as an enticing Parisian woman. Both Teru Hayashi's glossy cinematography and the sweeping score by Richard Hieronymus further enhance the pleasing polished quality of this superior adult fare.
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