For Men Only/School for Sex [Blu-ray]

DVD, Sexploitation,

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"Before becoming the director of some of British cinema's most gruesome horror films (such as Frightmare, Schizo, and The Flesh and Blood Show), Pete Walker was a pioneer of the distinctively British sexploitation genre known as slap and tickle. As the codes of censorship began to relax in the mid-1960s, Walker was among the few enterprising filmmakers brazen enough to cater to the public's appetite for sexploitation, first as a burlesque club comedian, then as the producer of 8mm stag films for the collector's market (visually stark and gritty, but relatively tame by today's standards). Eventually, Walker made the transition to theatrical films, and his long and tumultuous career as a director was set in motion. An extended short, FOR MEN ONLY explores the naughty goings-on behind the scenes at the Puritan Magazine Group, a family-friendly publishing company that hides a tantalizing secret. In SCHOOL FOR SEX a smash hit when it appeared on the screens in London's West End a wealthy playboy (Derek Aylward) opens a finishing school for devious young women. This edition presents the standard UK cut, as well as more explicit nude scenes intended for release in more sexually liberated markets.

Bonus Features: Get Cheeky, with Pete Walker, an interview documentary by Elijah Drenner (9 min.), School for Sex trailer (3 min.), School for Sex alternate continental footage (13 min.), Glamour Loops: Rare black-and-white nudie films made by Pete Walker (64 min.)

“For Men Only” / “School for Sex” is a double feature of exploitation films by director Pete Walker (“Frightmare,” “Schizo,” “The Flesh and Blood Show”), a pioneer of the British sexploitation genre. The mid-1960s saw the easing of censorship codes, and Walker was quick to realize that there would be a market for a new, more sensually graphic kind of film. He began producing 8-millimeter stag films, fairly tame by today’s standards, and eventually decided to try his hand at theatrical features.

“For Men Only” (1967) takes place at the Puritan Magazine Group, a family-friendly publishing company that surreptitiously publishes “men’s magazines.” “School for Sex” (1969) is about a wealthy playboy who opens a finishing school for devious young women. In addition to the standard United Kingdom version, this release contains a sampling of more explicit nude scenes intended for more sexually liberated markets.

Rather than lascivious, these movies seem almost quaint as they gingerly test the waters of public taste. These days, both pictures would receive an R rating at most. Across the Atlantic, Hollywood’s Production Code was breaking down and studios were beginning to deal with more adult themes. Both films are interesting footnotes in the gradual liberation of the silver screen from censorship.

Bonus extras on the Blu-ray release include “Glamour Loops,” 64 minutes of rare black-and-white nudie films made by Pete Walker; “Get Cheeky With Peter Walker,” an interview documentary by Elijah Drenner; and a “School for Sex” trailer.