Some Call It Loving is the first Blu-ray/DVD release from Etiquette Pictures, the new label from the wonderful people at Vinegar Syndrome. This is a wonderful release that showcases exactly what Etiquette plans to represent going forward. If there’s an issue to be had here, its how exactly Etiquette plans to top this going forward with future releases.

Released in 1973, Some Call It Loving was written and directed by James B. Harris and based off John Collier’s short story, “Sleeping Beauty.” The story follows a woman (Tisa Farrow) who has been asleep for 8 years as part of a carnival attraction. For just $1 lucky lads can line up and kiss the woman in an attempt to see if they have what it takes to wake the beauty from her slumber. Zalman King plays Robert Troy, a wealthy jazz musician who becomes fascinated by the sleeping beauty. After some negotiating, Troy agrees to buy the sleeping beauty.

Once home Troy waits for the beauty to awaken. After a day or two the sleeping beauty awakes and simply says, “Hello.” Some Call It Loving downplays everything. Troy’s world is a bizarre and unique place filled with fantasy and games, but it’s treated very nonchalant, like it’s all very commonplace. Immediately after the beauty awakes and exchanges greetings with Troy the film cuts to Scarlett (Carol White) and Angelica (Veronica Anderson), two girls that live with Troy, dressed as nuns putting on a performance for Troy and the beauty, who we learn is named Jennifer. The performance is almost like a comedy routine or variety act. Just as it’s about to kick it up a notch to something a bit more provocative, Troy cuts the girls off. Despite Jennifer’s wish to continue watching, Troy suggests that she’s already seen enough for the day and puts her to bed.

The entire film plays out this way. No matter what strange things happen, Jennifer questions none of it. She goes on to explain that after being asleep for so long it’s difficult sometimes to distinguish dreams from reality. Jennifer’s thought is, “Since I’m here, I’m supposed to be here.” Harris plays with this idea throughout the movie. We never really are sure what’s a dream, what’s reality and what’s a game that is being played.

Sadly it was largely ignored in the US upon it’s initial release. I think this bending of reality might explain part of that. I don’t think people knew what to make of it other than it was an odd piece of arthouse cinema directed by Stanley Kubrick’s producer and starring Mia Farrow’s little sister. That’s a shame because the film deals with a fairly taboo subject and creates beautiful film.

Some Call It Loving is a love story about role playing. At no point does Harris come out and directly tell the audience this, but he hints at it in subtle and not so subtle fashion throughout. There are two big scenes that really lend to this. The first is when Scarlett and Angelica are performing as nuns. After Troy puts Jennifer to bed, he returns to Scarlett and Angelica who are frozen in the exact poses they were in when he cut them off. He turns the music back on and the girls continue exactly where they left off as the game continues. The second moment is actually two scenes. The first occurs early in the movie when Troy and Scarlett are at the dinner table. Angelica comes at serves them dressed as a maid. Later the same exact scene plays out with Jennifer replacing Angelica in the maid role.

This playing with dreams and reality is a bit of a double edged sword. While it does add a bit more intrigue and even style into the storytelling, allowing the viewer to take a bit more control, it also lends to making things a little complicated and clunky at times. Even with that being said, Harris made the right move. With this approach he was able to make a highly sexualized movie without being so in your face about it.

Farrow has an innocence about her that is quite perfect for the role. To be sleeping beauty one must have an innocent perfection. Being 22 at the time made this very easy for Farrow to pull off. It’s helped by the fact that her co-stars, King and White, are both 10 years older than her.

Richard Pryor’s performance as Jeff cannot go unnoticed. Jeff is an unstable man that hangs out at the jazz club where Troy performs. We’re never quite sure what Jeff’s issue is, but it’s clear that there has been some drug and alcohol abuse. Despite the obvious differences between the two, Jeff and Troy are best friends. Troy does his best to take care of Jeff. He buys him his medicine and tries to keep an eye on him to make sure he’s doing alright. I don’t know if people truly realize how good of an actor Pryor was, but Some Call It Loving is a shining example of his talents.

The wonderful cinematography of Mario Tosi must also be noted. BD fans will of course know Tosi’s work from Carrie. Here Tosi delivers a gorgeous looking film, highlighted by Etiquette’s splendid Blu-ray release.

What fascinates me most about Some Call It Loving is the impact I think it had on star Zalman King. This was a fairly early acting role for King, who up until this point had mostly done TV shows and it was years before he would get into writing and directing. When looking at this movie, it really seems to be the template for what would later become the bulk of King’s work. Things like Red Shoe Diaries seem to take influence from Some Call It Loving. I wonder if this is what launched King down that path, or would he have eventually gotten there?

Like with most Vinegar Syndrome releases, this first release from Etiquette Pictures is pretty loaded in the extras department. The packaging features a reversible cover with the original French art on the backside. The disc itself features two video featurettes, one with Harris and one with Tossi, a commentary track with Harris for the feature film and outtakes. For a debut release, you really can’t ask for much more.

Some Call It Loving is available from Etiquette Pictures now.