Product Details

• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001VTV0S
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,327 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A milestone of cinematic eroticism, The Story of O was an art house sensation in 1975, and it's still worthy of intelligent discussion. As with the controversial French novella by Pauline Réage, reactions to Just Jaeckin's sumptuous adaptation range from moral outrage to masturbatory indulgence, yet this remains one of the few sex films that stand the test of time (and a lot of academic study). Championed by practitioners of bondage and discipline and vilified by feminists, this metaphorical "love dream" (as Jaeckin has called it) follows the beautiful fashion photographer "O" (Corrine Clery) as she, like many gorgeously naked women before her, is "trained" for a seemingly satisfying life of love and discipline, her freedom sacrificed to the man (Anthony Steel) whom she willingly obeys. The debate whether Jaeckin's feminine-empowerment ending, which differs from that of the novella, justifies a story of humiliating submission is just one more reason why The Story of O endures. (Note: This DVD presents the 97-minute version of the film, edited by the director to improve pacing and not for purposes of censorship.) --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

387 of 401 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterwork of Erotic Fiction, May 16, 2001

By 

Chaldean Magus (The Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Story of O [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I was prompted to write this review after seeing some of the tripe written about the film. Most so-called adult films are mindless, empty, clinical depictions of rutting and most "erotica" is childish and bland. The Story of O is different: it is literature and the film is an excellent adaptation of the novel. I read the novel first and felt nothing but satisfation on viewing the film. The director and cast bring the novel alive as it is meant to be.

This story, written by a woman I might add, is not about the exploitation of women or a woman. It is not about submission to anything other than one's own love and sexuality. It is symbolic, so profoundly so, that it must touch upon our archetypes.

Many might miss that through submission, O conquers her lover--totally. There is an irony here in that her lover ends up the submissive one. She taps into the infinite power of her femininity and becomes a goddess. I am not into bondage and discipline personally, yet this movie is a favorite of my wife and me. O haunts, she is supernally erotic, and profoundly feminine.

The quality of the film is first class, it is well acted, and is a classic. IMO, it is a must have film. It is the only erotic film in our house--the rest just are so bland.

76 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless fantasy, January 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Story of O [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a high quality and timeless masterpiece of erotic expression that will bring back discerning viewers again and again and again (and again)!

And again, if you are into totally erotic submission and vengeful whipping of helpless and buxom nude gorgeous young ladies.

This story covers a wide range of very intense sexual and moralistic emotions, that we all experience but which few of us are comfortable with admitting to. In fact, few of us who answer to the call of being "middle class" would be happy admitting that we enjoyed the expressions of complex sexuality that are displayed in this (slightly)over the (middle class) edge classic.

This is great and timeless fantasy erotica with a challenging and stimulating BDSM twist.

Get it, enjoy it, ... and apply its physical and, most of all, its emotional lessons - or should that be lesions!

Come one, come all, together again and again!

But get a good whip!

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The All-Time BDSM Classic, July 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Story of O [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Story of "O", the acknowledged all-time BDSM classic, could only have been made in France, where romance and sexuality have been preserved and celebrated. The fact that in the quarter-century since it was produced nothing has supplanted it, is both a testimony to its staying power and a sad commentary on the lack of quality material in the adult (not porno) genre.

A must see for anyone curious about leaving the narrow boundaries that define "vanilla" sexuality or who already participate in such activity, but have yet to view it.