Rating: 
Summary: Chic but limited take on perversion and decadence.
Review: An artfully photographed collage of decadence through they eyes of director Walerian Borowcyck. Not a classic but rather a small art film most memorable for it's final sequence-designer Paloma Picasso (none other than Pablo's daughter!) as an aristocrat with a healthy "taste" for blood. Foreign film fans with a moderate interest in chic kinkiness will find this rare film amusing but those who want a better look at director Borocyzck may want to check out "Story of Sin" should it ever come to video or DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Big build-ups, but no resolution....
Review: I believe it has been mentioned that this film, while an adequate entry in its genre, does not quite deliver the goods. This is profoundly accurate, and describes the film to a T. The director--I'm not even going to bother trying to spell his name from memory--has proven that he CAN deliver the goods (a la "The Beast"), but here his stories fall short of the money shot, as it were. It gives one a case of what I call "mental blue balls": The copious nudity and gynocological close-ups are here, but that is it. Where a full-on sex scene would have brought each story to its logical conclusion, we are left hanging with an "after the fact" sort of setting.
The implied oral in the first vignette is seen fleetingly, and from a distance at times, and ultimately comes off as forgettable; the vegetarian delight in the second act is understandably made low key, so that's forgivable; the third act is loaded with skin, but the Countess and her assistant's seduction scene never even got started, and would have been perfect; and lastly the orgy with the pope and his kids is woefully down-played and short. It's almost as if the director had developed a conscience or something by that time. The girl in that act is outrageously sexy, and is on display quite a lot, but instead of the perfect sex scene--which would have been similar to the finale of "the Beast", but with a pope instead of a wolf or whatever--we get quick shots of basically nothing. All the action there seems to happen off-screen.
This genre demanded better, and the director was capable of it, but for some reason kept pulling back at key moments which really reduced the overall value of the film, I think.
It's interesting to note that "La Bete" was originally part of this series, but was withdrawn instead to have it's own full length feature. So I'm really left wondering "WTF?", since it fulfills its mission so much better than this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Immorally a waste of $$
Review: I purchased this not expecting much, which is to be expected if your into these types of films, but i do enjoy eroticy. There was nothing to enjoy about this one. I find it hard to believe that even those who like "artsy erotic" would enjoy this. constant panning of the camera & quick scene changes were very frustrating. Such as the young lovers on the beach, I was shown more of the beach, cliffs & waves than I was shown of the characters, and then it was just quick shots too "up close" or
from too far away. Big disappointment!
Rating: 
Summary: Should be retitled BORING TALES
Review: If you purchase this expecting something titilating/sexy/erotic you're going to be disappointed. IMMORAL TALES is an art film with four stories in it. They are:THE TIDE: A young French couple talk philosophy and have sex on a beach. Pretentious and boring. Honestly, do you know anybody who gets randy talking about Plato and the like? THERESE THE PHILOSOPHER: Oh no. More philosophical garbage, but in an unexpected twist, Therese strips naked and makes love to a courgette. Interesting, but like its predecessor, pretentious. ERZSEBAT BATHORY: More self absorbed arty-farty twaddle in this tale of Countess Elizabeth Bathory and her lining up young virgins to have slaughtered for her blood bath. Lots of female nudity and a couple of good shower scenes but... blah. LUCREZIA BORGA: A priest indulges his sexual fantasies, and the tale ends with him baptizing a baby for its unknowing parents. I guess this tale's trying to put some message across about how purity and sex are linked... but I'm not an intellectual so I'll leave that to some other reviewer. Was I shocked? No. Was I entertained? Bored? Yes. Really the only redeeming features are in my review: Gore, nudity & sex with vegetables. Whatever tickles your fancy, I guess.
For a shocking movie that makes you think, I recommend Pasolini's SALO: THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM over BORING TALES.
Rating:
Summary: Contes Immoraux: imported erotic, circa 1974
Review: In the 1970's foreign "erotica" was popular in the U.S. as the art film and adult film audiences began to merge. Director Walerian Borowczyk was actually a Polish-born animator who found a more lucrative career in France turning out "classy" sexploitation film. "Immoral Tales" is a collection of four stories: "The Tide," set in the present, finds two young cousins (Pascale Christophe and Lise Danvers) stranded on the beach by the rising tide and taking advantage of the seclusion for some forbidden fun. "Therese Philosophe," set in the 19th-century, has a young girl (Charlotte Alexander) locked in her bedroom where she finds pleasure in the various everyday objects around her. "Erzebet Bathory" is a rather tame look at the sixteenth-century evil woman, played by Picasso's daughter Paloma, who bathed in the blood of virgins. Finally, "Lucrezia Borgia" depicts an incenstuous orgy involving Lucrezia (Florence Bellamy), her brother Ceasar (Lorenzo Berinizi) and their father, Pope Alexander IV (Jacopo Berinzini). Yes, this is pretty much as bad as it sounds, although Paloma Picasso is a very beautiful woman. Ultimately, "Immoral Tales" comes off more as counter-culture schlock than continental eroticism. It is also depressing to think that Europeans thought this kind of stuff would go over big time in the United States. This DVD is letterboxed and includes the theatrical trailer.
Rating:
Summary: Contes Immoraux: imported erotic, circa 1974
Review: In the 1970's foreign "erotica" was popular in the U.S. as the art film and adult film audiences began to merge. Director Walerian Borowczyk was actually a Polish-born animator who found a more lucrative career in France turning out "classy" sexploitation film. "Immoral Tales" is a collection of four stories: "The Tide," set in the present, finds two young cousins (Pascale Christophe and Lise Danvers) stranded on the beach by the rising tide and taking advantage of the seclusion for some forbidden fun. "Therese Philosophe," set in the 19th-century, has a young girl (Charlotte Alexander) locked in her bedroom where she finds pleasure in the various everyday objects around her. "Erzebet Bathory" is a rather tame look at the sixteenth-century evil woman, played by Picasso's daughter Paloma, who bathed in the blood of virgins. Finally, "Lucrezia Borgia" depicts an incenstuous orgy involving Lucrezia (Florence Bellamy), her brother Ceasar (Lorenzo Berinizi) and their father, Pope Alexander IV (Jacopo Berinzini). Yes, this is pretty much as bad as it sounds, although Paloma Picasso is a very beautiful woman. Ultimately, "Immoral Tales" comes off more as counter-culture schlock than continental eroticism. It is also depressing to think that Europeans thought this kind of stuff would go over big time in the United States. This DVD is letterboxed and includes the theatrical trailer.
Rating:
Summary: Contes Immoraux: imported erotic, circa 1974
Review: In the 1970's foreign "erotica" was popular in the U.S. as the art film and adult film audiences began to merge. Director Walerian Borowczyk was actually a Polish-born animator who found a more lucrative career in France turning out "classy" sexploitation film. "Immoral Tales" is a collection of four stories: "The Tide," set in the present, finds two young cousins (Pascale Christophe and Lise Danvers) stranded on the beach by the rising tide and taking advantage of the seclusion for some forbidden fun. "Therese Philosophe," set in the 19th-century, has a young girl (Charlotte Alexander) locked in her bedroom where she finds pleasure in the various everyday objects around her. "Erzebet Bathory" is a rather tame look at the sixteenth-century evil woman, played by Picasso's daughter Paloma, who bathed in the blood of virgins. Finally, "Lucrezia Borgia" depicts an incenstuous orgy involving Lucrezia (Florence Bellamy), her brother Ceasar (Lorenzo Berinizi) and their father, Pope Alexander IV (Jacopo Berinzini). Yes, this is pretty much as bad as it sounds, although Paloma Picasso is a very beautiful woman. Ultimately, "Immoral Tales" comes off more as counter-culture schlock than continental eroticism. It is also depressing to think that Europeans thought this kind of stuff would go over big time in the United States. This DVD is letterboxed and includes the theatrical trailer.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone seems to have missed several points
Review: In the Lucretia Borgia short, I have noticed that several reviewers (here and on other web sites) referred to the orgy as being with a "priest." Make no mistake, Lucretia is getting it on with her DAD (the Pope) and her BROTHER, after daddy has sent her husband off to be murdered! These allegations were never proven in real life, but they make an amusing story. The baby being baptized at the end is her offspring, presumably with her own father (the baby's father AND grandfather rolled into one!) As far as the four stories tying together, one of the factors that connects them is the underwear. They make a big point of showing historically authentic underwear, which should make this film interesting to costume enthusiasts as well as perverts. Each one depicts (loosely) a real life story or series of events, each farther back in history. As a music history major in college (way back when), I can tell you the music is also authentic -- anyone basically familiar with the pre-baroque repertoire will recognize several well-known performances. The "Hayaducki" by Nikolai von Krakau was a delightful choice, as was the Machaut Mass for the papal orgy scene. This film is not for the even vaguely prudish or squeamish, but if you can dig a real life lesbian "vampire" in a bathtub of blood, and an incestuous, murderous orgy with the Pope and his two kids, this is the film for you!! Plus, Paloma Picasso has really beautiful eyes, which are prominently featured in several closeups. Those shots alone, which were truncated in the VHS copy I've enjoyed these last 20 years, were enough to make me want to get the widescreen version in DVD. Personally this is one of my all time fav's.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone seems to have missed several points
Review: In the Lucretia Borgia short, I have noticed that several reviewers (here and on other web sites) referred to the orgy as being with a "priest." Make no mistake, Lucretia is getting it on with her DAD (the Pope) and her BROTHER, after daddy has sent her husband off to be murdered! These allegations were never proven in real life, but they make an amusing story. The baby being baptized at the end is her offspring, presumably with her own father (the baby's father AND grandfather rolled into one!) As far as the four stories tying together, one of the factors that connects them is the underwear. They make a big point of showing historically authentic underwear, which should make this film interesting to costume enthusiasts as well as perverts. Each one depicts (loosely) a real life story or series of events, each farther back in history. As a music history major in college (way back when), I can tell you the music is also authentic -- anyone basically familiar with the pre-baroque repertoire will recognize several well-known performances. The "Hayaducki" by Nikolai von Krakau was a delightful choice, as was the Machaut Mass for the papal orgy scene. This film is not for the even vaguely prudish or squeamish, but if you can dig a real life lesbian "vampire" in a bathtub of blood, and an incestuous, murderous orgy with the Pope and his two kids, this is the film for you!! Plus, Paloma Picasso has really beautiful eyes, which are prominently featured in several closeups. Those shots alone, which were truncated in the VHS copy I've enjoyed these last 20 years, were enough to make me want to get the widescreen version in DVD. Personally this is one of my all time fav's.
Rating:
Summary: Soft porn fumblings, dressed up as 'ART'.
Review: Not content with giving cinema audiences of the 70's the definitive depiction of bestiality with his film The Beast, director Walerian Borowczyk mines greater taboos with this collection of Euro sleaze, The Immoral Tails. The film is a compendium piece, comprising of four stories that depict a sexual coming of age for their female protagonists, often with violent and sinister repercussions, with the film boldly moving backwards through history, from contemporary 70's France to 16th century Romania.
Though the film is steeped in rich composition and glowing sepia-printed photography that captures the lush surroundings and glorious, evocative production design, the actual stories themselves, offer little beyond mindless titillation. Borowczyk often feels compelled to linger over every minute detail of his cast's all too often exposed flesh, with gratuitous close-ups of genitalia becoming all the more prevalent as the stories themes (including humdingers like incest, rape and vampirism!!) and wanton shock tactics intensify from story to story.
There is no narrative arc, no real character definition, and, despite the aforementioned merits (the cinematography, music and composition), much of the film has a flat, stagy quality to it, suffering from miss-timed editing and, similar to other films of this period, notably Passolini's SALO and the Penthouse-produced sleaze-epic Caligula, superfluous use of 'zoom' lenses. True, it probably is a little impractical to search for deeper meaning or symbolism in a film called Immoral Tails (a film that famously featured seventeen naked girls shot from behind, adorning the poster art!) but somehow, the film has developed a reputation as an under-ground 'art-house' classic that will, regardless of merit, inspire lovers of challenging cinema to misguidedly check it out.
Many have argued that the film's themes and, in particular, one standout story 'Erzsebet Bathory' (which tells the allegedly true story of a sixteenth-century countess who was known to round up hundreds of young women from the neighbouring countryside's and enslaving them in her castle... before murdering them and bathing in their blood!) acts as a shocking indictment of World War II Nazism, with the images of ritualistic cleansing and showering under the watchful eyes of controlling militia drawing shocking parallels with the fascist death camps of the 30's and 40's. This is, of course, codswallop and, if such a meaning was to be imposed on what is, essentially, a misogynistic, lesbian shower scene, then I find Borowczyk's motivation suspect and injudicious.
The Immoral Tails is, in my opinion, little more than a throwback to the whole 70's Euro-sleaze phenomenon that brought us films like SALO, The Damned, The Night Porter, Emmanuelle, Ai No Corrida and Les Hommes de Joie Pour Femmes Vicieuses. This is the least interesting of the whole 'movement', with Borowczyk creating a film that, by today's standards, would be too dull to even qualify as porn.
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