“Salon Kitty” is an Italian erotic-drama film released in 1976, directed by Tinto Brass. The movie is loosely based on the true story of a Nazi-run brothel in Berlin during World War II, where young women were trained to become prostitutes and spies.
The main cast includes Helmut Berger as Wallenberg, Ingrid Thulin as Madame Kitty, and Teresa Ann Savoy as Margherita.
Synopsis:
In Berlin during World War II, SS officer Wallenberg is tasked with setting up a brothel that serves as a front for a spy network. The brothel, called Salon Kitty, is run by Madame Kitty, who recruits young and attractive women to work as prostitutes and gather information from the clients. The women are subjected to rigorous training and indoctrination into the Nazi ideology. However, as the war progresses and the Nazis face defeat, the brothel becomes a dangerous place for the women as they are caught between the conflicting interests of the SS and the Gestapo.
Awards:
Nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival
Overall, “Salon Kitty” was controversial upon its release due to its explicit sexual content and its portrayal of Nazi Germany. The film was criticized for its gratuitous use of sex and violence, and for its glamorization of Nazi ideology. However, it has also been praised for its strong performances and its realistic depiction of the horrors of war.
| Directed by | Tinto Brass |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | Ennio De Concini Tinto Brass |
| Based on | Salon Kitty by Peter Norden |
| Starring | Helmut Berger, Ingrid Thulin, Teresa Ann Savoy, |
| Music by | Fiorenzo Carpi |
| Cinematography | Silvano Ippoliti |
| Edited by | Tinto Brass |
| Production companies |
Coralta Produzioni Internazionali Cinematografica S.r.l. Cinema Seven Film GmbH & Co. 1 KG Les Fox Productions Europa |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date | March 2, 1976 (Italy) |
| Running time | 130 minutes |
| Country | Italy West Germany France |
| Language | Italian, English, German |