Fanny Hill, Minus The Rude Bits

Last night I watched the BBC’s impressive adaption of John Cleland’s famous dirty novel, Fanny Hill. The film was written by Andrew Davies, the genius who had us all swooning over Mr Darcy in a wet shirt in Pride and Prejudice, so naturally, it made for a very entertaining and amusing hour and a half.

Nonetheless, the experience was also rather disconcerting. The BBC’s costume dramas usually inhabit stuffier, more literary realms, inviting the viewer in for an evening of high tea and good manners. This movie was quite removed from all that, even if there were some mighty spiffing accents on show.

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Indeed, Davies was obviously and gleefully aware of the change in tone, inserting has he did a dance scene not unlike your standard Elizabeth/Darcy number – except that it degenerates into a half-naked orgy. It’s quite delicious, to be honest.

And yet I couldn’t help wishing that there’d been more sex. While not shying away from the various liaisons, most of the erotic encounters lasted only a few seconds before dissolving into the next scene.

This film, I thought, could have been the best porn film ever. If only they’d showed a bit more explicit detail. If only we’d discovered exactly what kind of erotic arts Mr H taught Fanny.

If only that rigid dividing line between smut and mainstream didn’t exist!

Ah well. I would still recommend it if you’re after a bit of bodice-ripping fun. Fanny is an admirable hero, a woman with guts and intelligence who refuses to be a victim. Quite the feminist tale, really, and it makes prostitution seem like a rather alluring profession.

There’s a short, non-rude scene from the film at Youtube, here.