The cult movie empire whose back catalogue includes the risqué films of Prince Andrew's former lover Koo Stark has collapsed into administration.
Redemption Films, based in Wigmore Street, Soho, was set up by Nigel Wingrove, Britain's answer to Hustler publisher Larry Flynt.
Administrators were called in today at the distributor of gothic horror movies, whose past titles range from Sinful Nuns Of St Valentine to Ms Stark's cult 1977 hit The Marquis De Sade's Justine.
Mr Wingrove set up Redemption in 1992 after directing Visions Of Ecstasy, the only film to have been refused a licence by censors on grounds of blasphemy. He also manages the Satanic Sluts, the burlesque dance group of Georgina Baillie, the granddaughter of Andrew Sachs who was at the centre of the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand telephone scandal.
Vantis administrators said it hoped “to complete a sale of the business in the next few days”.
Damn...I merely mention the name of Nigel Wingrove and now this goes and happens. Still, I've no doubt we will soon see him back in some meaningful capacity, but it's still a total bummer all the same. Tellingly, the report only mentions Redemption, so I don't know how or if other labels and ventures ostensibly under the same umbrella are affected. We shall see...
In the meantime, I notice that Wingrove and Marc Morris' 'The Art of the Nasty' has recently been re-released as a special edition. If you can't think of anything to ask for this Christmas, this could well be up your alley...I'm hoping 'Nasty' and and a copy of 'Hammer Glamour' will magically materialise in my metaphorical stocking this Christmas, otherwise the reindeer gets it!
(You will kindly note that I made it through the entire post without making some sort of pun involving The Satanic Sluts and 'assets'. Admirable restraint, even if I say so myself...)
