| New York City Inferno | |
|---|---|
 Film title card | |
| Directed by | Jacques Scandelari[a] |
| Screenplay by | Jacques Scandelari Elliott Stein |
| Produced by | Jean-Pierre Salomon |
| Starring | Alain-Guy Giraudon Bob Bleecker |
| Cinematography | François About |
| Edited by | Pierre-Alain Beauchard |
| Music by | Jacques Morali Village People |
Production companies | Troika Films Verbois Films |
| Distributed by | Verbois Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | France |
| Languages | French, English |
New York City Inferno (alternately titledFrom Paris to New York andCock Tales in certain North Americanhome video releases) is a 1978 Frenchexperimentalgay pornographic film byJacques Scandelari. The film follows Jérôme (Alain-Guy Giraudon), aParisian man who has traveled toNew York City in search of his lover Paul (Bob Bleecker).New York City Inferno is directed by Scandelari, who also wrote the film's screenplay based on a concept byElliott Stein. The soundtrack is arranged byJacques Morali, and features officially-licensed songs by theVillage People.
In June 1977, Paul departsParis for a week-long vacation toNew York City, a trip taken in part to reflect on his strained relationship with his lover Jérôme. He writes to Jérôme daily, and in his last letter, states that he has decided to leave Jérôme and stay in New York permanently. In December, Jérôme travels to New York to search for Paul, and to determine why he has left Paris.
In New York, a cab driver with whom Jérôme subsequently has sex in ameat locker suggests that he visit Warehouse, a popular newBDSMgay bar inGreenwich Village. Over the course of his week-long visit, Jérôme visits the locations mentioned by Paul in his letters, including theMeatpacking District, theChristopher Street Pier, asex shop, and atattoo parlor. At each location hecruises for sex and is introduced to the city's thrivinggay scene; he meets a French woman getting her first tattoo, an activist with theNational Gay Task Force campaigning againstAnita Bryant, and multiple paramours.
Jérôme visits anoracle mentioned by Paul at a market inSpanish Harlem, who performs a ritual with Jérôme'ssemen. The oracledivines that Paul left Paris because he wished to bedominated, and that he will only return if Jérôme becomes themaster to Paul's new lover. He instructs Jérôme to visit Warehouse that Friday; Jérôme visits inleather garments, where he witnesses Paulcollared and leashed to his new lover at the center of anorgy. Jérôme and Paul make extended eye contact, and the film abruptly cuts to Jérôme and Paul departing New York together as Paul's lover looks on.
Rodger Gay, Keeson, Greg Christopher, Mark Lexington, Frank Bedford, Vic Sheridan, Steven Bank, Tommy Charles, and Victor Hudson are credited as additional actors.[2]
New York City Inferno was directed byJacques Scandelari, with a screenplay by Scandelari based on a concept fromElliott Stein. The film's soundtrack was arranged by record producerJacques Morali[2] and features licensed music from theVillage People,[3][4] specifically "I Am What I Am" and "Macho Man".New York City Inferno is Scandelari's second gay pornographic film, following his 1977 filmHomologues.[5] It is one of six films funded by French gay pornography producerNorbert Terry [fr] that were shot on location in New York City,[6] and was filmed in and around theMeatpacking District andGreenwich Village.[7]Principal photography on the film was completed in just four days.[8]
New York City Inferno was given anX rating by theCentre national du cinéma, which noted that the film's scenes contained "a certain element of cruelty."[9] The English language portions of the film were notsubtitled in the film's initial French release, though a translation of the scene featuring Jérôme and the National Gay Task Force activist was published in the French gay men's magazineSoft Men.[6]
CriticMaxime Lachaud [fr] has describedNew York City Inferno as an "unclassifiable work", comparing it tomondo cinema for its depictions ofunsimulated sex, itspseudo-documentary filming style, and its unvarnished portrayal of New York City gay life prior tothe 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic.[8] Lachaud offers specific praise for the film's "richness of tone and its almost experimental construction," calling it a "radical work of art at a time when homosexuality in France was still considered a crime."[8]
New York City Inferno has enjoyed contemporary success as acult film.[8][1] In 2014, it was chosen by directorJacques Audiard to be screened atL'Étrange Festival [fr].[1]