Private Club is a mid-70s French film that blends softcore sleaze with romantic drama, which regards a soon-to-be-wed Paris taxi driver who gets involved with an exclusive/secret sex club. It’s a decidedly tonal mixed affair, weaving together threads of drama, softcore action with light touches of comedy and mystery. Here from 88 Films is a recent, rather bare-bones Blu-ray release of the film.

Private Club (aka Club Privé Pour Couples Avertis, House of 1000 Pleasures) is from 1974. It was directed/ co-written by Lyon, Rhône, France born Max Pécas. Between the early 60s and late 80s he had twenty-nine features to his name- these took in the likes of downbeat drama, Sweet Violence (1962), exotic crime drama The Slave (1967), teen sex comedy Hot Dogs on Ibiza (1979), and crime thriller Brigade Of Death (1985).

The film opens with a montage of romantic encounters between thirty-something, moustached, neck-length curly-haired Marcel (Philippe Gasté), and the flowing long-haired brunette Lise (Chantal Arondel). They buy oranges (this appears later as a plot point), climb the Eiffel Tower, and have a romantic meal together.

Marcel is a Paris cabbie, and one day while chatting with his tubber and bearded fellow cabbie Charile( Michel Vocoret) - he gets a job with what he thinks is a rather sophisticated middle-aged woman. This is Corinne (Denyse Roland), who, fairly soon after getting in his car, asks if he minds if she gets changed- he says sure, she pulls off her trench coat to reveal her fully naked body. She tells him that she’s off to see her lover, who likes underwear, proceeding to put on a bra, panties, and stockings. She says her rich, but rather boring husband, is aware of what’s going on.

Fairly soon, they roll up at her requested address- she asks Marcel if he’ll join her for a drink, as her lover is not due for a bit.  But instead of going to a bar, she leads him into a tall building, going up to the penthouse, where a naked woman is lounging on the large balcony. And fairly soon, Corinne & Marcel are making the beast with two backs, on that most 1970s piece of garden furniture - a flowery/ shaded swing seat.

It becomes clear fairly soon that Corinne is involved with an exclusive club where executives come to live out their fantasies. Initially, Marcel is keen to revel in all the place has to offer- getting pleasured by two women, while watching what others are doing in other rooms by video cameras. That’s until he gets a rather unexpected/ not so nice surprise…and I’ll leave the plot detailing here.

Over its one hour and twenty-four minutes, the film very much shifts back and forth between being a romantic drama and a soft-core sleaze fest. Sometimes this works, other times it doesn’t- as one either cheapens the other, or it feels rather tonally awkward.

Cast-wise wise Gasté is fine as our lead, having an ok range to his acting.  Vocoret, as his cabbie buddy, is used for brief moments of comic relief. And Roland is as effective as the mysterious temptress.

On the sleazier side of things, we move fantasy-focused encounters- like pretending to be an Arabic prince, or the client of a shrink. There’s a what-the-hell in the woods account where groups of men appear to pleasure themselves as main cast members get it on. There’s a Knight's Templar run adult club, where cognac-soaked muff driving goes on.

On the drama side, there are a few well-orchestrated debates/ arguments regarding the meaning of lust and love. And will-they-stay-together melodramatics, with light touches of both mystery and comedy. All in all, Private Club is fine, with the whole thing being engaging enough in both the titillation and drama side of things.

This Blu-ray is very bare bones with just an image gallery. The scan offered up here looks good, with some nice bold colourings and decent clarity throughout.

So, if you enjoy where sleaze and drama meet, I’d say give Private Club a go. Sure, it won’t blow your socks off, but it’s an entertaining/engaging enough hour and twenty-four minutes.