The All-Purpose Stephen "Rinse Dream" Sayadian Thread

[Tom Clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom Clark]

“I know your watching me.”

How has this folder gone so long without a Rinse Dream thread?! Judging from all the posts in the Vinegar Syndrome thread clamoring for good releases of Nightdreams, Café Flesh and Dr. Caligari I'll wager we've got a number of fans here so why not a thread?

Clearly Nightdreams, Café Flesh and Dr. Caligari are considered Sayadian's “holy trinity” by most but seeing Party Doll a Go-Go! Get some love in the aforementioned Vinegar Syndrome thread made me smile. While its not as visually ambitious as his earlier films, it's a personal favorite. On paper, it probably shouldn't be as fascinating as it is but the utterly random mise en scí¨ne, delirious editing and berserk dialogue make it a prime example that no other director has subverted and contorted the clichéd popular consensus of what an adult video should be. The soundtrack is brilliant as well (although I wont hold my breath in hopes of it seeing a release anytime soon). That had to have been one of the most fun sets to be on, all the performers are clearly having a blast. “Take a number, you're at Party Doll a Go-Go!”

And what of Nightdreams 2 and 3? Or the two Untamed Cowgirls of the Wild West videos? Those last two are proving to be his most maddeningly difficult to see. Even coming across a scan of the box covers is a bitch. What little info is written about them online is vague at best, essentially stating what anyone could have probably guessed if they've seen his other stuff, that they're weird as fuck.

He's back in good health now so hopefully some new projects will see the light of day.

[Fundi Guest Find all posts View Profile Close Fundi]

I have only seen Café Flesh and Night Dreams out of all these films you mentioned. I liked them, but they were very weird that is true, my favorite of the 2 was Café Flesh. I did not see Party Dolls A Go Go, but it sounds fun. I like random off the wall wackiness. I think Café Flesh is pretty much a masterpiece, but Night Dreams, well it was just good, but the others I can't speak of, but I do hope to see someday if they are released. I worry all these porn films shot on video in the 80's will eventually be lost films, much like the silent films of the early 1900's. Hopefully I am wrong though.

[Tom Clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom Clark]

I have only seen Café Flesh and Night Dreams out of all these films you mentioned. I liked them, but they were very weird that is true, my favorite of the 2 was Café Flesh. I did not see Party Dolls A Go Go, but it sounds fun. I like random off the wall wackiness. I think Café Flesh is pretty much a masterpiece, but Night Dreams, well it was just good, but the others I can't speak of, but I do hope to see someday if they are released. I worry all these porn films shot on video in the 80's will eventually be lost films, much like the silent films of the early 1900's. Hopefully I am wrong though.

Well Party Doll a Go-Go! parts 1 and 2 was released as a double feature from VCA but its OOP. Not sure about the Nightdreams sequels but I think they have or at one point had DVD releases (probably also from VCA if they did) but don't quote me on that.

[Thomas Wood Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Thomas Wood]

Just to point out that Sayadian only co-wrote NIGHT DREAMS, Francis Delia was the actual director. Also, Jerry Stahl should get a lot of the credit for CAFE FLESH and NIGHT DREAMS. The trouble with Sayadian is his films were really one long film that were chopped in two parts and are very repetitive, they're good but saying the same dialogue with similar scenes gets annoying after awhile. Probably a result of his background as a photographer/designer and this is where Stahl should get credit for his scripts on those two.

NIGHT DREAMS 2 and 3 were released by VCA. Part of the problem with UNTAMED COWGIRLS OF THE WILD WEST was that Zane Entertainment released it and it was so unlike anything else that Zane was releasing at the time. I myself have seen part 1 but never could find part 2 at the stores I was going to at the time.

And, shot on video adult films will never become "lost" films, they become torrents.

[Tom Clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom Clark]

Just to point out that Sayadian only co-wrote NIGHT DREAMS, Francis Delia was the actual director.

According to Sayadian if you were to ask Delia he'd say that Sayadian directed it but yeah it was Delia actually operating and calling action while Sayadian was inches out of frame prepping the next set! I've always considered it a "Rinse Dream" film though.

[Rakesh R. Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rakesh R.]

Stephen Sayadian was also responsible for the stunning production design in a few episodes of the sexy and super stylish cult tv series "Silk Stalkings".

[Tom Clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom Clark]

Stephen Sayadian was also responsible for the stunning production design in a few episodes of the sexy and super stylish cult tv series "Silk Stalkings".

Not to mention the videos for Wall of Voodoo's "Mexican Radio" and their cover of the Beach Boys "Do It Again".

Also the layout promoting Frank Zappa's Thing Fish:

[Thomas Wood Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Thomas Wood]

Stephen Sayadian was also responsible for the stunning production design in a few episodes of the sexy and super stylish cult tv series "Silk Stalkings".

Not to derail this thread, but SILK STALKINGS (which I have never seen) had so many people working on it that also worked in the adult field that I've ever seen. Maybe because Stu Segall was the executive producer?

[Tom Clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom Clark]

Some examples of Sayadian's work on Silk Stalkings from the episode "Going to Babylon":

[Tom Clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom Clark]

AVN review of one of the Untamed Cowgirls videos.

"Gun Gab makes Lil Bit flow like Niagara." Someone needs to get these back in circulation ASAP.

[Tom Clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom Clark]

1990 LA Times article on Dr. Caligari!

[Alex K. Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Alex K.]

I'm not a big fan of New Wave Hookers or Night Dreams (I need to watch Cafe Flesh) but I really grew to like Dr. Caligari. One of the more obscure cult 80's films.

[Randy G Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Randy G]

Café Flesh is his best I think.

[Tom Clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom Clark]

I'm not a big fan of New Wave Hookers or Night Dreams (I need to watch Cafe Flesh) but I really grew to like Dr. Caligari. One of the more obscure cult 80's films.

New Wave Hookers was Gregory Dark.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Watched Cafe Flesh last night for the first time in probably a decade and it holds up really well. It's sort of anti-porn in that it's take on eroticism is decidedly cold and off, but it works. Very eighties, of course, but that sort of adds to its charm.