Lady Chatterley's Lover

Since 1978, Icarus Films has been a leading distributor in North America of independent documentary, narrative, and experimental films from around the world and now represents a collection of over 1,000 titles. We value meeting the diverse needs of film lovers, educators, activists, and service providers, as well as challenging audiences, and programmers, with original creative films. Icarus Films is proud to be active in traditional and new media, and to work with new talent as well as old masters.

This is the first film of D.H. Lawrence’s controversial novel, which premiered in 1955, five years before the uncensored novel even appeared in print in the UK. Danielle Darrieux (in the peak years of her stardom) is Constance Chatterley, faithful wife to her war-wounded paraplegic husband (British actor Leo Genn), whose fortune flows from a local coal mine. Everyone but she seems concerned about her loss of sexual fulfillment, and the possibility of her bearing an heir, until she crosses paths with the estate’s new gamekeeper (Erno Crisa), and they launch into an affair that ruptures the tight social fabric around them.

While this film wouldn't be considered risqué by today's audiences, it was seen as scandalous at the time. Initially banned upon its release, the Supreme Court eventually ruled this was a violation of free speech, letting LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER screen in theaters. Restored in 2K, this film deserves its place in cinema history.

directed by: Marc Allégret
starring: Danielle Darrieux, Leo Genn, Erno Crisa
1955 / 104 min / 1.33:1 / French DTS-HD MA 2.0

Additional info:

• Region A Blu-ray
• Booklet with an essay by Michael Barrett
• English subtitles