Three films by Russ Meyer, the sexploitation director film critic Roger Ebert described as “the ultimate auteur,” are coming to physical media in December.
The estate of the pioneering independent filmmaker has reached an agreement with media company Severin Films to distribute three of his signature films, “Vixen,” “Supervixens” and “Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens,” on home video for the first time in decades. Working in collaboration with Janice Cowart and The Russ Meyer Trust, Severin’s discs — available in 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD — mark the first remastering of Meyer’s films from the original camera negatives since the early 1980s, and each will be accompanied by both new and archival special features curated exclusively for these releases.
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“As a filmmaker, distributor and First Amendment warrior, Russ Meyer is one of the last great icons of American cinema,” David Gregory, co-founder and CEO of Severin Films said in a statement. “We’re grateful for the support of The Russ Meyer Trust as we begin what we hope will be an ongoing and bountiful partnership. The Severin Films team is enormously proud of our work in restoring these legendary titles for a new generation of fans and look forward to bringing Russ’ classic catalog back to the bosom of cinéastes everywhere.”
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Meyer began his career as a director in 1959 with “The Immoral Mr. Teas,” a comedy that grossed more than $1 million against its $24,000 budget, and earned him the title of “King of the Nudies.” Within five years, he transitioned into more serious filmmaking with projects like “Mudhoney” and “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!,” which would go on to become cult classics. He would eventually direct “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,” a parodic sequel to “Valley of the Dolls” written by Roger Ebert, who became a close friend and collaborator throughout the rest of Meyer’s life. During his more than 50-year career, he directed over 20 films and a dozen shorts.
Though Meyer famously retained all rights to the films he produced, the fate of the writer/producer/director/cinematographer/distributor’s landmark catalog became uncertain after he passed away in 2004, and in the interim remained virtually unseen and unattainable by modern audiences. Severin Films approached The Russ Meyer Charitable Trust in 2023 by reaching out to his longtime executive assistant Janice Cowart — by then the last remaining trustee responsible for herculean preservation efforts in the years following Russ’ death — with a passionate pitch to restore and release many of his films.
Severin promised to spare no expense, archeological effort or technical wizardry to present these works via the gold standard they richly deserve and celebrate Meyer’s extraordinary legacy. “Vixen,” “Supervixens” and “Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens” mark the inaugural three films in this partnership. Their artwork will feature the same red “Bosomania” frames used on earlier releases of the film, in tribute to the iconography Meyer created while still alive.
“Russ Meyer’s biggest requirement was quality,” Cowart said. “RM Films is overjoyed that Severin Films took on this gargantuan effort to meet Russ’ expectations, and we are delighted his films will once again be available.”
“Vixen,” “Supervixens” and “Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens” will be available for sale on the Severin Films website Dec. 3.
