1972 film
Bijou is a 1972 American gay pornographic film directed and edited by Wakefield Poole and starring Bill Harrison as a construction worker who witnesses a car accident and discovers an invitation to a club called Bijou in the purse of the victim.
Production.
Using some of the proceeds from his debut film "Boys in the Sand", director Wakefield Poole bought a Beaulieu 16 mm camera for $10,000. Poole recorded screen tests of each actor he wanted to use, and had each of them "seduce the camera", undress, and masturbate to climax.
Poole shot the film over four days at his apartment. The interiors of the Bijou club were filmed in his living room; the crew covered the walls and floors with black felt and built a platform in the center of the room that was covered with black velvet. Poole edited the film over the summer of 1972.
Release.
Poole first screened "Bijou" during a weekend in August 1972. The film opened in October, with a 24-week run at the 55th Street Playhouse.
Critical reception.
A contemporary review in "Variety" called the film "part ersatz Kubrick, part raunchy Disney". Al Goldstein, editor of "Screw", praised the film's "sophisticated direction, magnificent photography and editing". "Bijou" was named "Best Picture of 1972" by "Screw", though it shared the honor with the film "Deep Throat". According to Poole, Goldstein considered "Bijou" to be superior to "Deep Throat", but did not want to "honor faggotry over heterosexuality".
When asked by "Women's Wear Daily" what his favorite thing he did on his visit to New York was, French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent answered, "Seeing "Bijou"".
Home media.
In May 2014, the film was released on DVD by Vinegar Syndrome.
References.
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