Vanity on Blu-Ray

[Leslie Dame]

IMDb: Most Popular (by votes) (Blu-ray)

1. The Last Dragon (1985)
2. Terror Train (1980)
3. Action Jackson (1988)
4. 52 Pick-Up (1986)
5. Never Too Young to Die (1986)
6. Neon City (1991)
7. Tanya's Island (1980)
8. Deadly Illusion (1987)
9. South Beach (1993)
10. Klondike Fever (1980)
11. Da Vinci's War (1993)
12. Memories of Murder (1990)
13. Kiss of Death (1997)

[hasslein]

I really hope to see Tanya’s Island some day

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by hasslein

I really hope to see Tanya’s Island some day

I keep hoping Vinegar Syndrome can rescue it. It never got a legitimate DVD release.

Tanya's Island - classic wild film trailer - YouTube

[slimdude]

I didn't know she starred in all of those movies.

[iamnoone]

It is amazing that "Tanya's Island" has still never had a legit release. I have no idea who owns it, but it was a heavily publicized US/Canadian production, had a big article in Cinefantastique magazine at the time, it was practically a Playboy layout in that mag as they showed D.D. Winters (Vanity) nude in many photos from the film, the amazing spfx ape was by Rick Baker and Rob Bottin, and it opened very wide in US theaters! Maybe the subject matter, sort of beastiality, caused a stir as it only played in more of the grungy downtown theaters in my city, but still, it was rated R and did well. We went to see it and thought it was a riot, in a good way.

No one really knew D.D. Winters was going to be Vanity, as far as I remember, but that didn't matter. The film itself is actually really pretty good. The jealousy of Winters' human boyfriend, who gives it his all and goes pretty much crazy in a wild performance, over the ape's lust over his girlfriend instead, is just off the roof. Wild! And it's directed by Alfred Sole ("Alice Sweet Alice"). Maybe this film and "Pandemonium" killed Sole's directing career, but I think 'Tanya's Island' is right up there with "Alice Sweet Alice" as far as quality goes, just in a much sleazier way. "Pandemonium" (aka "Thursday the 12th") is pretty dire, I know it has its fans, but..... wrong!

I hope Tanya's subject matter isn't keeping a legit version off the market. Why has this film been left behind for so long? Yes, boots exist, but this would be PERFECT for Vinegar especially, or any other genre label. And it would sell well. Maybe Vanity's estate has an injunction against it ever being seen again? As she became born again and so forth? I doubt she would have had the clout to get that upon filming it, but maybe once she was rich, she could buy back her rights to have it removed from being seen again?

What a shame.

[James Luckard]

Just a suggestion, it might be nice to rename the thread something like:

Denise Matthews (Vanity) on Blu-Ray

Later in life, she stopped using the stage name Vanity and actually renounced her entire entertainment career, for religious reasons. I'm not saying I agree with her choice, but it might be kind to put her preferred name first.

[whiteberry]

Vanity and Carl Weathers appeared in the Pointer Sisters' "He Turned Me Out" music video:

Pointer Sisters - He Turned Me Out - YouTube

This was the song played during the opening credits of Action Jackson.

[Jobla]

I hung out with Richard Sargent (the male lead in TANYA'S ISLAND) and a mutual friend up in Canada back in the 1970s. He had been Warren Beatty's stand-in for McCABE AND MRS. MILLER, so of course he resembled Beatty quite a bit.

At one point, the three of us walked into a restaurant, and every woman in the place turned and stared at us. That was a lot of fun, but the gals weren't staring at me or the mutual friend. Maybe they thought that Richard really was Warren Beatty!

[Leslie Dame]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Just a suggestion, it might be nice to rename the thread something like:

Denise Matthews (Vanity) on Blu-Ray

Later in life, she stopped using the stage name Vanity and actually renounced her entire entertainment career, for religious reasons. I'm not saying I agree with her choice, but it might be kind to put her preferred name first.

Well, even wikipedia and IMDb list Denise as Vanity so you might want to start there

That's the name she was known for during her entertainment years which I'm afraid can't be erased (or cancelled). R.I.P Denise.

[agenda]

No doubt about it; one of the most sexiest woman in the planet earth! Her performance in classic Action Jackson is definitely the high point in her career in show business and one of my favorite at the same time. Women's in the 80's was beyond this world, aaah.

[WaverBoy]

I’ve had a huge crush on Vanity for decades. One of the sexiest women I’ve seen onscreen. Yes, TANYA’S ISLAND desperately needs a Blu-ray release; I’d love to upgrade my boot DVD. Also, NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DIE is one of the most hilariously junky movies ever made; non-stop insanity. And THE LAST DRAGON is an ‘80s kitsch masterpiece, just brilliant, with a dynamite soundtrack.

RIP Denise.

[silverlakephil]

I wonder if Purple Rain would have been a different film if she didn't leave before production started and was replaced by Apollonia.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Just a suggestion, it might be nice to rename the thread something like:

Denise Matthews (Vanity) on Blu-Ray

Later in life, she stopped using the stage name Vanity and actually renounced her entire entertainment career, for religious reasons. I'm not saying I agree with her choice, but it might be kind to put her preferred name first.

You're right. When she was in the entertainment business, she was addicted to crack cocaine, and she almost died in the hospital of her medical complications due to her extensive drug use, and she took heed. Then she gave her life to God. She begin to use her real name: Deniece Matthews and became a born again Christian, and an Evangelist. A few years later, unfortunately she'd passed way from Kidney Failure, in the result of her drug abuse.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

I wonder if Purple Rain would have been a different film if she didn't leave before production started and was replaced by Apollonia.

No, I don't think Purple Rain would be any different, if Deniece Matthews (formerly known as Vanity) was cast in the role.

[dcruz13]

Always loved Denise's music, and I really enjoy some of these titles too

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by slimdude

No, I don't think Purple Rain would be any different, if Deniece Matthews (formerly known as Vanity) was cast in the role.

Even the Lake Minnetoka scene?!