The Naughty Victorians: An Erotic Tale of a Maiden's Revenge

Jennifer Jordan

Lady Bunt

**Victorian poetic justice** Inspired by the anonymous Victorian erotic novel "The Way of a Man with a Maid" (1908), the plot unfolds in 19th-century London, where Jack (Beerbohm Tree), a distinguished professor, conceals a secret room in the basement of his building, equipped with ingenious restraints designed to subject women to various bondage practices. His first victim is Alice (Susan Sloan), his former fiancée, who, after being captured and deflowered, undergoes a psychological transformation that allows her to avoid succumbing to the trauma, discovering an unexpected pleasure in the act of submission. The narrative then shifts toward a dark complicity where Alice becomes Jack's ally in luring new victims, culminating in a twist tinged with erotic revenge, which subverts the initial power dynamic. "The Naughty Victorians" undoubtedly stands out within the genre for its aesthetic ambition and theatrical pedigree. Unlike contemporary low-budget productions, this film stands out for its sumptuous production design and refined cinematography by Joe Mangine. The use of music by Gilbert and Sullivan underscores the film's picaresque comedy and social satire. While the original play is often described as misogynistic and cruel, Sickinger's direction softens the harsher edges of the material, transforming it into a period fantasy where the female presence takes on a prominence unusual for the genre. Director Robert Sickinger (1926–2013) was a seminal figure in American theater. Historically recognized as the founder of the Off-Loop theater movement in Chicago (the equivalent of New York's Off-Broadway), during his time at the Hull House Theatre he revolutionized the local scene by staging avant-garde works by authors such as Harold Pinter and Edward Albee. Under his tutelage, legends like David Mamet, Marilu Henner, and Mike Nussbaum were formed. Mamet, in fact, has cited Sickinger as a key influence on his career. His foray into adult films was brief but notable. After moving to New York and facing financial difficulties in commercial theater, he directed "The Naughty Victorians" using his real name, something uncommon in an industry dominated by pseudonyms.

2014