The Secret Sex Lives of Romeo and Juliet

The Secret Sex Lives of Romeo and Juliet is a 1969 movie directed by Peter Perry Jr. and William Rotsler. Featuring a star cast that includes Harvey Shain, William Rotsler, and Dee Lockwood, it is a well-known entry in the adult film industry of the 60s and 70s. This film, despite holding roots in the legendary Shakespearean tragedy, offers an entirely unconventional and unexpected adaptation of the immortalised romance of Romeo and Juliet.

While the title may seem to suggest an exclusively risqué theme, the movie expands beyond lowbrow entertainment and attempts to articulate an entertaining narrative with a hefty dose of bawdy humor, carnal hilarity, and slapstick parody, all served with an audacious dose of 60s psychedelic erotism. A fusion of comedy and drama, The Secret Sex Lives of Romeo and Juliet pitches itself as an erotic melodrama, coaxed with elements of humor and burlesque aspects, so far removed from the solemn beauty of the Bard's original masterpiece.

In this rather unconventional portrayal, the painterly and brooding city of Verona takes a backseat, while the spotlight is thrown on the private lives of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Harvey Shain enthusiastically steps into the breeches of the lovesick Romeo while Dee Lockwood brings to life an unabashedly sensual Juliet, far detached from the innocent maiden of the original narrative. This film indeed reimagines Shakespeare's tragedy in shades of eroticism and takes ample artistic liberties in interpreting the intimate lives of the romantic couple.

Despite the overtly sexual tmade, the movie crackles with an energy that veers towards the comic and the farcical, instead of descending into the abyss of cheap sleaze and vulgarity. An implicit mockery of the melodramatic love story, laden with laughs and satire, this film comfortably hops onto the trend of cheeky skin flicks of the 60s, steering clear of any pornographic pretensions.

Known for his fanciful and unconventional storytelling, director Peter Perry Jr. resplendently showcases the sexual curiosity and desires of Romeo and Juliet, much embellished with 60s modishness. Stripping the sorrows off the timeless tale, the film proffers a much more humorous narrative spun around the passionate rendezvous of the famous lovers, thus reimagining the tragedy as a playful erotic comedy.

William Rotsler, who also co-directs, essays the influential role of Mercutio, metamorphosing the character from Romeo's witty, sardonic friend into an ardent seducer. The film further pushes the envelope of bawdy comedy with its team of seasoned actors in minor but essential roles that add to the movie's overall comedic charm and audacious sensual appeal.

Lavishly mounted with the elements of the late 60s - inspired costumes and sets, the film capitalizes on its period setting to feed the sensual quirks and caprices. The era's zeitgeist is captured in film's broad comic sketches, replete with modish hedonistic charm that augments the parody.

Although The Secret Sex Lives of Romeo and Juliet may not be everyone’s cup of tea due to its explicit adult themes, viewers with a taste for bold, adventurous flicks might find this movie a praiseworthy example of 60s risque cinema, providing a narrative that is simultaneously erotic, comic, and defiantly audacious.

In sum, The Secret Sex Lives of Romeo and Juliet is more than just a title that promises scandalous content. It grapples with the sensual aspect of an iconic love story, but with a comic twist. This 1969 film eulogizes the ardor between Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers but does its best to subvert the solemnity surrounding their tale, thus rendering a unique romp of passion and humor.