Exit To Eden (film)
Encyclopedia
Exit to Eden is a 1994 American comedy
-thriller loosely based on the Anne Rice
novel of the same name
, directed
by Garry Marshall
and adapted to the screen by Deborah Amelon and Bob Brunner. The original music score was composed by Patrick Doyle
.
Dana Delany
stars as Lisa Emerson (named Lisa Kelly in the book) and Paul Mercurio
plays Elliot Slater. Half of the film consists of a new comedic
detective
story line written by the director. Several new characters were also created, including Dan Aykroyd
and Rosie O'Donnell
as police officers pursuing diamond thieves to the Eden resort.
) is a young, attractive, Australian professional photographer living in Southern California. Having always been uncomfortable with his sexual proclivities, which tend toward the BDSM
realm, he signs up for a dominatrix
-themed vacation on a private tropical island known as "Eden" in the hopes of working through his discomfort.
Unbeknownst to him, prior to embarking on his journey of sexual discovery, he has unwittingly photographed an international jewel thief of whom no other photos exist. The jewel thief Omar (Stuart Wilson) and his criminal partner Nina (Iman
) are intent on recovering the film in order to retain Omar's anonymity.
They follow the photographer to the island resort run by the dominatrix
Mistress Lisa (Dana Delany
), posing as vacationers. Following a tip that Omar is on the island, undercover police officers Fred (Dan Aykroyd
) and Sheila (Rosie O'Donnell
) also arrive, Sheila in the guise of a vacationer and Fred as a handyman.
Comedic antics ensue amid the activities of scantily clad guests and employees, acting out their dominant and submissive fantasies
.
In the course of Elliot's experiences as Mistress Lisa's personal submissive, the two begin to fall in love. The action comes to a climax on a quick trip to New Orleans, where Lisa reluctantly admits her feelings for Elliot, all the while tailed by Omar, who attempts to kill them.
Fortunately, Fred and Sheila save the day, sending Omar and Nina to jail, and receive commendations for solving the case.
s used and shown in detail were created by Janette Heartwood. This was the last of Edward K. Milkis's films before his death in 1996.
It was generally panned by critics, however, who expressed disappointment and confusion about the combination of the original story and the comedic elements.
One controversy for the film occurred when it was banned
by the Saskatchewan Film and Video Classification Board
Of Canada. Critics were puzzled by the banning, as Saskatchewan
was the only jurisdiction known to have kept the film out of theatres. After a brief media flurry, the Board repealed the ban.
The film maintains a 6% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes
based on 16 reviews. Roger Ebert
gave the film 1/2 star out of four possible stars.
O'Donnell won the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress for this film (also for The Flintstones
and Car 54 Where Are You?) and earned nominations for Aykroyd as Worst Supporting Actor (also for North
) and both O'Donnell and Aykroyd as Worst Screen Couple.
tape (NTSC) in May 1995, on DVD
(NTSC Region 1) in April 2002 and on (PAL Region 2) in 2003 (German Version "Undercover Cop" with German and English language sound). The U.S. DVD is currently out of print
, and as of March 29, 2010, neither HBO nor Focus Features
, the latter of whom has begun to acquire some of Savoy's movies, has announced any plans to release a new DVD of the film. For these reasons, copies of the original DVD can be found online being sold for very high prices.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
-thriller loosely based on the Anne Rice
Anne Rice
Anne Rice is a best-selling Southern American author of metaphysical gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history...
novel of the same name
Exit to Eden
Exit to Eden is a novel by Anne Rice, initially published in 1985 under the pen name Anne Rampling, but subsequently under Rice's name.The novel explores the subject of BDSM in romance novel form. The novel also brought attention to Rice's published works that differed from the type of writing she...
, directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Garry Marshall
Garry Marshall
Garry Kent Marshall is an American actor, director, writer and producer. His notable credits include creating Happy Days and The Odd Couple and directing Nothing In Common, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Valentine's Day, and The Princess Diaries.-Early life:Marshall was born in the New York City...
and adapted to the screen by Deborah Amelon and Bob Brunner. The original music score was composed by Patrick Doyle
Patrick Doyle
Patrick Doyle is a Scottish musician and film score composer. A longtime collaborator of actor/director Kenneth Branagh, Doyle is known for his work scoring such critically acclaimed films as Henry V , Sense and Sensibility , Hamlet , and Gosford Park , as well as noteworthy blockbusters as Harry...
.
Dana Delany
Dana Delany
Dana Welles Delany is an American film, stage, and television actress, producer, host and health activist.After various roles in the early career, Delany garnered her first leading role in 1987 in the short-lived NBC sitcom Sweet Surrender and achieved wider fame in 1988–1991 as Colleen McMurphy...
stars as Lisa Emerson (named Lisa Kelly in the book) and Paul Mercurio
Paul Mercurio
Paul Joseph Mercurio is an Australian actor, dancer and TV presenter. Mercurio is well-known for his lead role in Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom . His father was the character actor Gus Mercurio.- Biography :...
plays Elliot Slater. Half of the film consists of a new comedic
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
story line written by the director. Several new characters were also created, including Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
and Rosie O'Donnell
Rosie O'Donnell
Roseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
as police officers pursuing diamond thieves to the Eden resort.
Plot
Elliot Slater (Paul MercurioPaul Mercurio
Paul Joseph Mercurio is an Australian actor, dancer and TV presenter. Mercurio is well-known for his lead role in Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom . His father was the character actor Gus Mercurio.- Biography :...
) is a young, attractive, Australian professional photographer living in Southern California. Having always been uncomfortable with his sexual proclivities, which tend toward the BDSM
BDSM
BDSM is an erotic preference and a form of sexual expression involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power role-play. The compound acronym BDSM is derived from the terms bondage and discipline , dominance and submission , and sadism and masochism...
realm, he signs up for a dominatrix
Dominatrix
Dominatrix or mistress is a woman or women who takes the dominant role in bondage, discipline and sadomasochism, or BDSM. A common form of address for a submissive to a dominatrix is "mistress", "ma'am", "domina" or "maîtresse"...
-themed vacation on a private tropical island known as "Eden" in the hopes of working through his discomfort.
Unbeknownst to him, prior to embarking on his journey of sexual discovery, he has unwittingly photographed an international jewel thief of whom no other photos exist. The jewel thief Omar (Stuart Wilson) and his criminal partner Nina (Iman
Iman (model)
Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid , professionally known as Iman , is a Somali-American fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. A pioneer in the field of ethnic cosmetics, she is also noted for her charitable work. She is married to David Bowie.-Early life:Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Iman is the daughter...
) are intent on recovering the film in order to retain Omar's anonymity.
They follow the photographer to the island resort run by the dominatrix
Dominatrix
Dominatrix or mistress is a woman or women who takes the dominant role in bondage, discipline and sadomasochism, or BDSM. A common form of address for a submissive to a dominatrix is "mistress", "ma'am", "domina" or "maîtresse"...
Mistress Lisa (Dana Delany
Dana Delany
Dana Welles Delany is an American film, stage, and television actress, producer, host and health activist.After various roles in the early career, Delany garnered her first leading role in 1987 in the short-lived NBC sitcom Sweet Surrender and achieved wider fame in 1988–1991 as Colleen McMurphy...
), posing as vacationers. Following a tip that Omar is on the island, undercover police officers Fred (Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
) and Sheila (Rosie O'Donnell
Rosie O'Donnell
Roseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
) also arrive, Sheila in the guise of a vacationer and Fred as a handyman.
Comedic antics ensue amid the activities of scantily clad guests and employees, acting out their dominant and submissive fantasies
Fantasy (psychology)
Fantasy in a psychological sense is broadly used to cover two different senses, conscious and unconscious. In the unconscious sense, it is sometimes spelled "phantasy".-Conscious fantasy:...
.
In the course of Elliot's experiences as Mistress Lisa's personal submissive, the two begin to fall in love. The action comes to a climax on a quick trip to New Orleans, where Lisa reluctantly admits her feelings for Elliot, all the while tailed by Omar, who attempts to kill them.
Fortunately, Fred and Sheila save the day, sending Omar and Nina to jail, and receive commendations for solving the case.
Cast
- Dana DelanyDana DelanyDana Welles Delany is an American film, stage, and television actress, producer, host and health activist.After various roles in the early career, Delany garnered her first leading role in 1987 in the short-lived NBC sitcom Sweet Surrender and achieved wider fame in 1988–1991 as Colleen McMurphy...
as Lisa Emerson - Paul MercurioPaul MercurioPaul Joseph Mercurio is an Australian actor, dancer and TV presenter. Mercurio is well-known for his lead role in Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom . His father was the character actor Gus Mercurio.- Biography :...
as Elliott Slater - Rosie O'DonnellRosie O'DonnellRoseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
as Sheila Kingston - Dan AykroydDan AykroydDaniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
as Fred Lavery - Hector ElizondoHector ElizondoHéctor Elizondo is an American actor. Elizondo's first major role was that of "God" in the play Steambath, for which he won an Obie Award...
as Dr. Martin Helifax - Stuart Wilson as Omar
- ImanIman (model)Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid , professionally known as Iman , is a Somali-American fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. A pioneer in the field of ethnic cosmetics, she is also noted for her charitable work. She is married to David Bowie.-Early life:Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Iman is the daughter...
as Nina Blackstone - Stephanie NiznikStephanie NiznikStephanie Lynne Niznik is an American film, television, and theatre actress most famous for her role as Nina Feeney on Everwood.Besides Everwood, Niznik's television roles include guest roles on Dr...
as Diana - Sandra TaylorSandra TaylorSandra Taylor , also known as Sandi Korn, is an American model and actress.Under the name Sandi Korn, she was the March 1991 Penthouse Pet of the Month...
as Riba - Sean O'BryanSean O'BryanSean O'Bryan is an American film and television actor.-Career:O'Bryan has guest-starred on such television series as MacGyver, Cold Case, Quantum Leap, Murder, She Wrote, Chicago Hope, Roseanne, Six Feet Under, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Bones, and the middle. He...
as Tommy - Laura HarringLaura HarringLaura Harring is a Mexican-American actress and former Miss USA . She is known for her role as Rita in Mulholland Drive.-Early life:...
as M.C. Kindra - Deborah PrattDeborah PrattDeborah M. Pratt is an American actress, writer and television producer. She was a co-executive producer and a writer on the Quantum Leap TV series which was created by her then-husband, Donald Bellisario, and acted in television series including Quantum Leap, Magnum, P.I. and Airwolf...
as Dr. Williams - Laurelle Brooks Mehus as Heide
Production
The whipWhip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
s used and shown in detail were created by Janette Heartwood. This was the last of Edward K. Milkis's films before his death in 1996.
Reception
The film garnered attention during its release because of the BDSM themes, full frontal female nudity and because of the high profiles of the director, the cast members, and the author. Promotional materials for the film included photos of Delany in dominatrix attire.It was generally panned by critics, however, who expressed disappointment and confusion about the combination of the original story and the comedic elements.
One controversy for the film occurred when it was banned
Ban (law)
A ban is, generally, any decree that prohibits something.Bans are formed for the prohibition of activities within a certain political territory. Some see this as a negative act and others see it as maintaining the "status quo"...
by the Saskatchewan Film and Video Classification Board
Saskatchewan Film and Video Classification Board
The Saskatchewan Film and Video Classification Board is a board of the Saskatchewan Department of Justice responsible for providing film and video classification documents to movie theatres in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan...
Of Canada. Critics were puzzled by the banning, as Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
was the only jurisdiction known to have kept the film out of theatres. After a brief media flurry, the Board repealed the ban.
The film maintains a 6% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
based on 16 reviews. Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
gave the film 1/2 star out of four possible stars.
O'Donnell won the Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress for this film (also for The Flintstones
The Flintstones (film)
The Flintstones is a 1994 American live-action comedy film based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon television series of the same name about a Stone-Age man, his family and his best friend. The film was directed by Brian Levant, written by Tom S. Parker, Jim Jennewein and Steven E...
and Car 54 Where Are You?) and earned nominations for Aykroyd as Worst Supporting Actor (also for North
North (film)
North is an American 1994 comedy film directed by Rob Reiner, and starring Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Dan Aykroyd, Reba McEntire, and Alan Arkin...
) and both O'Donnell and Aykroyd as Worst Screen Couple.
Home format
The film was released on VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tape (NTSC) in May 1995, on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
(NTSC Region 1) in April 2002 and on (PAL Region 2) in 2003 (German Version "Undercover Cop" with German and English language sound). The U.S. DVD is currently out of print
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
, and as of March 29, 2010, neither HBO nor Focus Features
Focus Features
Focus Features is the art house films division of NBC Universal's Universal Pictures, and acts as both a producer and distributor for its own films and a distributor for foreign films....
, the latter of whom has begun to acquire some of Savoy's movies, has announced any plans to release a new DVD of the film. For these reasons, copies of the original DVD can be found online being sold for very high prices.
External links
- Exit to Eden at TV TropesTV TropesTV Tropes is a wiki which collects and expands on various conventions and devices found within creative works. Since its establishment in 2004, the site has gone from covering only television and film tropes to also covering those in a number of other media such as literature, comics, video-games,...