Product Details

• Actors: Monique van de Ven, Rutger Hauer, Andrea Domburg, Hannah de Leeuwe, Jan Blaaser
• Directors: Paul Verhoeven
• Writers: Gerard Soeteman, Neel Doff
• Producers: Rob Houwer
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: Dutch (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: October 23, 2001
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305972842
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,038 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #20 in	Movies & TV > Art House & International > By Original Language > Dutch
  #66 in	Movies & TV > Art House & International > European Cinema > Netherlands

• For more information about "Katie Tippel" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Made in 1975 and directed by Paul Verhoeven, Katie Tippel ("Katie the Streetwalker") is a handsome period drama set in 19th-century Holland, based on a true story. The second eldest daughter in a poor, Friesland family who move to Amsterdam, Katie (Monique Van de Ven) must find whatever work is going to make ends meet. She has already learnt to have no faith in her weak father. Now, as she enters a succession of jobs in which she experiences both exploitation and sexual harassment, she learns that men want her for only one thing. Duly, at the behest of her own mother, she enters prostitution. However, when she becomes model to an artist she is finally able to escape the poverty trap and ascend the social ladder, particularly when banker Hugo (Rutger Hauer) takes her as his lover. All this is set against a backdrop of social foment as the workers' impatience at poor social conditions increases.

Although director Verhoeven, as well as Hauer and cinematographer Jan De Bont eventually became involved in mainstream American movies, Katie Tippel is very much of the European school of film-making, episodic and harsh in its depiction of everyday poverty. The dead puppy at the beginning definitely marks it as contrary to Hollywood's near-zero canine mortality rate. The sexual scenes are graphic to the point of gratuitousness but always grimly non-titillating. Budgetary limits cramp some of the mass street scenes, but generally the film is beautifully shot and ageless in feel. A far cry, certainly from Showgirls, for which Verhoeven was later responsible. --David Stubbs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Katie rocks, October 10, 2000

By A Customer

The pragmatism present in Dutch art and culture is presented magnificently in this early film by the future director of Showgirls. (In fact, Showgirls makes a lot more sense once you've seen this film.) This is Pretty Woman done correctly--and twenty years earlier at that. Katie's final goal in her journey through prostitution is not a prince charming, but economic freedom, independence, social standing and a sense of self. Beautiful cinematography by Jan De Bont, future director of Speed and Twister. Based on a true story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KATIE THE STREETWALKER....., June 17, 2003

By	Mark Norvell (HOUSTON) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Based on the true story of a woman named Neel Doff, this film is somewhat of a departure from Verhoeven's other films in that it's a period piece but his style and master's touch remain. Monique Van Der Ven plays Katie, an impoverished waif whose indominatable will to survive is this film's backbone. Van Der Ven is remarkable. All wide eyed innocence yet streetwise when necessary. The poverty of 1800's Amsterdam is vividly captured as Katie's knockabout family struggle with hunger---prompting Mama to prostitute first one daughter (who goes from pig to alcoholic pig) then Katie. Katie learns fast what money can do and she leaves her foul family to be the mistress of a social climbing user (Rutger Hauer). But her fate changes again...and again. This is tamer than some of Verhoeven's work. There is a rough but quick rape scene that's handled well and not exploitive and some frank nudity but all in all Verhoeven concentrates on telling Katie's story rather than sex. The ending is rather ambiguous but leaves you satisfied that Katie has indeed finally overcome her overwhelming obstacles. Rich in detail and period flavor, this film is sumptuous to look at and the acting is sublime---esp. Van Der Ven as Katie. Some strong scenes may make some viewers squirm but, as with pre-Hollywood Verhoeven, he's honest as a filmmaker. The DVD from good old Anchor Bay is glorious.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious and Sumptuous Early Verhoeven, January 5, 2004

By	M. Hencke "m hencke" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Awesome! Great performances, cinematography, score and of course direction. Brilliant and realistic period film about a young girl struggling through poverty stricken Europe in the late 1800's in the Netherlands. The ending may seem abrupt to some but it does thankfully end on a happy note.