Zandalee
Encyclopedia
Zandalee is an American
erotic thriller
, and romantic tragedy which was shot entirely in New Orleans, released in 1991
, starring Nicolas Cage
, Judge Reinhold
, Erika Anderson
, Joe Pantoliano
, Marisa Tomei
, Viveca Lindfors
, Aaron Neville
and Steve Buscemi
. The film was directed by Sam Pillsbury
.
Originally rated NC-17
by the Motion Picture Association of America
, Zandalee had its rating surrendered before release. There is both the original "unrated and
uncut" version and an "R rated" version. The international version has a few more scenes which help explain the characters a bit better than the U.S. versions. Some versions have enhanced color as well.
Although the movie played theatrically in some countries, it was released straight to video in the United States. The film shares thematic elements with a novel and play by Émile Zola
entitled Thérèse Raquin
.
Zandalee was released in the USA on July 18, 1991 as a video premiere. Other countries releasing the film were Germany, on May 9, 1991, the United Kingdom on May 10, 1991, Hong Kong on May 16 , 1991, the Netherlands on November 15, 1991 and Australia on Feb. 13th, 1992.
) is frustrated and feeling unfulfilled with her marriage to Thierry Martin (Judge Reinhold
), and eventually gets tangled in a passionate, sensual and torrid affair with her husband's mysterious and free spirited old friend Johnny Collins (Nicolas Cage
).
Zandalee and Thierry’s marriage has hit a snag and seems to be eroding. Zan needs to explore, while Thierry wants to withdraw, and has become more and more distant and impotent in their relationship. He used to be a poet, but now has taken over the family’s communications business after the death of his father. As time goes on, Thierry has to sell the business and become basically a (vice president) figurehead. He is emotionally adrift as his dreams give way to disillusionment.
Johnny Collins, an artist by trade, has been working for Thierry’s business to help support his paintings. His only religion is self-gratification. Sensing Zandalee’s frustration and vulnerability, Collins takes advantage and moves in by seducing her. Their sexual liaisons occur in various places. Thierry soon suspects the two are having an affair.
As the affair intensifies, Johnny asks Zandalee to leave her husband. Zandalee never abandons her true love Thierry, and ends the affair. She and Thierry re-commit themselves to each other, but Johnny, now obsessed with her will not be brushed off that easily. He tracks them to their vacation spot in the Bayou. All of this puts the three on a destructive collision course with a tragic sequence of events.
Joe Pantoliano portrays Zan's gay confidant, musician Aaron Neville plays Jack the bartender and Viveca Lindfors is Thierry's grandmother Tatta, the original hipster.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
erotic thriller
Erotic thriller
The erotic thriller is a film and literary sub-genre which consists of a mixture between erotica and thriller. The genre increased in North American popularity from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, before declining in marketability.-1980s:...
, and romantic tragedy which was shot entirely in New Orleans, released in 1991
1991 in film
The year 1991 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York* Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became one of the landmarks for science fiction action films with its groundbreaking visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic.*November...
, starring Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
, Judge Reinhold
Judge Reinhold
Judge Reinhold is an American actor, perhaps best known for co-starring in movies such as Beverly Hills Cop, Ruthless People, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and The Santa Clause trilogy.-Early life:...
, Erika Anderson
Erika Anderson
Erika Anderson is an American actress who has starred in film and on television. Anderson grew up in Tulsa Oklahoma. The daughter of a sculptor, she attended Hale High School and the University of Tulsa with a Telecommunications major and Theater minor. While in school, she worked as a disc jockey...
, Joe Pantoliano
Joe Pantoliano
Joseph Peter "Joe" Pantoliano is an American film and television actor. He played the character of Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos, Bob Keane in La Bamba, Cypher in The Matrix, Teddy in Memento, Francis Fratelli in The Goonies, Guido "the Killer Pimp" in Risky Business, and Jennifer Tilly's...
, Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei is an American stage, film and television actress. Following her work on As The World Turns, Tomei came to prominence as a supporting cast member on The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World in 1987...
, Viveca Lindfors
Viveca Lindfors
Elsa Viveca Torstensdotter Lindfors , better known under her professional name of Viveca Lindfors, was a Swedish stage and film actress.-Life and career:...
, Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville
Aaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
and Steve Buscemi
Steve Buscemi
Steven Vincent "Steve" Buscemi is an American actor, writer and film director. An associate member of the renowned experimental theater company The Wooster Group, Buscemi has starred and supported in successful Hollywood and indie films including New York Stories, Mystery Train, Reservoir Dogs,...
. The film was directed by Sam Pillsbury
Sam Pillsbury
Sam Pillsbury is an American film director and producer.Connecticut-raised Sam Pillsbury emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 14. Aged 23, he began working at the Government-owned National Film Unit, joining a group of emerging filmmakers who were investigating new subjects and styles.Pillsbury...
.
Originally rated NC-17
MPAA film rating system
The Motion Picture Association of America's film-rating system is used in the U.S. and its territories to rate a film's thematic and content suitability for certain audiences. The MPAA system applies only to motion pictures that are submitted for rating. Other media may be rated by other entities...
by the Motion Picture Association of America
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
, Zandalee had its rating surrendered before release. There is both the original "unrated and
uncut" version and an "R rated" version. The international version has a few more scenes which help explain the characters a bit better than the U.S. versions. Some versions have enhanced color as well.
Although the movie played theatrically in some countries, it was released straight to video in the United States. The film shares thematic elements with a novel and play by Émile Zola
Émile Zola
Émile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
entitled Thérèse Raquin
Thérèse Raquin
Thérèse Raquin is the title of a novel and a play by the French writer Émile Zola. The novel was originally published in serial format in the journal L'Artiste and in book format in December of the same year.-Plot introduction:Thérèse Raquin tells the story of a young woman, unhappily married to...
.
Zandalee was released in the USA on July 18, 1991 as a video premiere. Other countries releasing the film were Germany, on May 9, 1991, the United Kingdom on May 10, 1991, Hong Kong on May 16 , 1991, the Netherlands on November 15, 1991 and Australia on Feb. 13th, 1992.
Synopsis
Zandalee Martin (Erika AndersonErika Anderson
Erika Anderson is an American actress who has starred in film and on television. Anderson grew up in Tulsa Oklahoma. The daughter of a sculptor, she attended Hale High School and the University of Tulsa with a Telecommunications major and Theater minor. While in school, she worked as a disc jockey...
) is frustrated and feeling unfulfilled with her marriage to Thierry Martin (Judge Reinhold
Judge Reinhold
Judge Reinhold is an American actor, perhaps best known for co-starring in movies such as Beverly Hills Cop, Ruthless People, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and The Santa Clause trilogy.-Early life:...
), and eventually gets tangled in a passionate, sensual and torrid affair with her husband's mysterious and free spirited old friend Johnny Collins (Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is an American actor, producer and director, having appeared in over 60 films including Raising Arizona , The Rock , Face/Off , Gone in 60 Seconds , Adaptation , National Treasure , Ghost Rider , Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans , and...
).
Zandalee and Thierry’s marriage has hit a snag and seems to be eroding. Zan needs to explore, while Thierry wants to withdraw, and has become more and more distant and impotent in their relationship. He used to be a poet, but now has taken over the family’s communications business after the death of his father. As time goes on, Thierry has to sell the business and become basically a (vice president) figurehead. He is emotionally adrift as his dreams give way to disillusionment.
Johnny Collins, an artist by trade, has been working for Thierry’s business to help support his paintings. His only religion is self-gratification. Sensing Zandalee’s frustration and vulnerability, Collins takes advantage and moves in by seducing her. Their sexual liaisons occur in various places. Thierry soon suspects the two are having an affair.
As the affair intensifies, Johnny asks Zandalee to leave her husband. Zandalee never abandons her true love Thierry, and ends the affair. She and Thierry re-commit themselves to each other, but Johnny, now obsessed with her will not be brushed off that easily. He tracks them to their vacation spot in the Bayou. All of this puts the three on a destructive collision course with a tragic sequence of events.
Joe Pantoliano portrays Zan's gay confidant, musician Aaron Neville plays Jack the bartender and Viveca Lindfors is Thierry's grandmother Tatta, the original hipster.