Russ Meyer Restored! The King of Sleaze Returns Courtesy of Severin Films and MoMA — Watch the Trailer

Is it hot in here, or is it just the recently announced re-release of three classic sexploitation films from nudie maverick Russ Meyer?

With a legacy rivaling Roger Corman’s, Meyer burst onto the film scene in the 1960s, establishing himself as a B-movie maestro with a penchant for big action and even bigger…well…you know. He would eventually garner wide acclaim for cheeky comedies like “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” and “Beneath the Valley of the Dolls,” the latter of which was scripted by renowned film critic Roger Ebert. However, as a fierce independent, Meyer maintained ownership of all his films until his death in 2004, making it difficult to produce physical copies for wide distribution.

Severin Films is changing that. Partnering with the Russ Meyer Charitable Trust, they are now set to release new editions of “Vixen!,” “Supervixens,” and “Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens” on DVD, Blu-ray, and UHD. Restorations for each film were conducted by the Museum of Modern Art from Meyer’s original camera negatives.

In addition to these newly restored films, each disc is also chock full of special features to keep pervs and cinephiles alike entertained for hours on end. Made in 1968 on a shoestring budget of $70,000, “Vixen!” marked the first time a film was given an X rating by the MPAA. The film hit many hot-button themes of the time — including racism, communism, and draft-dodging. Included in the new release is archival audio commentary from Meyer himself, as well as star Erica Gavin, and a documentary about the film’s historic censorship battle in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Continuing in the tradition of “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The Honeymoon Killers,” Meyer’s “Supervixens” follows a gas station attendant sent on a cross-country odyssey after his hypersexual wife offends an impotent cop. In addition to an interview with well-known character actor Charles Napier (“The Silence of the Lambs,” “The Blues Brothers”) — who plays the cop — special features on “Supervixens” also include a 1988 interview with Meyer from Jonathan Ross’ “The Incredibly Strange Film Show.”

Re-teaming with Ebert as co-screenwriter, Meyer made “Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens” in 1979 as a horny version of Thornton Wilder’s landmark play, “Our Town,” replete with faith healers, war criminals, and bosom buddies. Its disc features commentary from the filmmaker, as well as an interview with the film’s star and Meyer’s inspiration, Kitten Natividad.

In a statement on these re-releases, Severin Films CEO and co-founder David Gregory said, “In addition to our unprecedented restorations, these Special Features collectively comprise a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of Russ Meyer’s legacy. The entire Severin Team is enormously proud of our ongoing efforts to honor Russ Meyer the man, the First Amendment warrior, and the American filmmaking legend.”

Watch the trailer for the restorations below.

The UHD and Blu-ray releases of the “Vixen” trilogy will be made available for pre-order at the Severin Films webstore beginning October 15, 2024.