Alright, let's rewind the tape. Pop this one in the VCR, maybe adjust the tracking just so, and settle in for something... different. We're talking Prince's ambitious, baffling, yet undeniably stylish 1986 follow-up to the cultural behemoth that was Purple Rain (1984). Forget the Minneapolis sound stages; we're heading to the sun-drenched French Riviera for Under the Cherry Moon, presented in glorious, shimmering black and white. If you stumbled upon this cassette back in the day expecting Purple Rain Part II, you were in for a glorious, confusing surprise.
Riviera Dreams and Gigolo Schemes
The premise feels like something sketched on a cocktail napkin during a particularly extravagant party. Christopher Tracy (Prince, naturally) and his brother/partner-in-crime Tricky (Jerome Benton, bringing infectious energy from The Time) are American musician-gigolos living it up on the Côte d'Azur, charming wealthy older women out of their francs. Their sights land on the ultimate prize: Mary Sharon (Kristin Scott Thomas in her luminous film debut), a ridiculously wealthy heiress about to turn 21 and inherit a fortune. Christopher plans to woo her, secure the bag, and live happily ever after (or at least comfortably). Of course, genuine feelings complicate the hustle, and Mary's stern father (Steven Berkoff) is having none of it.
It’s a wisp of a plot, really, serving mostly as a framework for Prince to strut, flirt, philosophize in that uniquely Princely way, and showcase his undeniable charisma against stunning backdrops. This wasn't just filmed anywhere; the production really leaned into the luxurious French Riviera locations, giving the film an expensive, dreamy quality that pops even on a fuzzy VHS transfer. The decision to shoot in black and white, courtesy of the legendary cinematographer Michael Ballhaus (who'd later lens Goodfellas and Bram Stoker's Dracula), was audacious. It aimed for timeless European elegance, a stark contrast to the neon-drenched aesthetic dominating the mid-80s. Did it always work? Debatable. Did it look incredible? Absolutely.
Prince Takes the Helm
Here’s a juicy bit of Retro Fun Fact history: Prince wasn't the original director. Mary Lambert (who later gave us Pet Sematary) was initially hired, but creative differences led to her departure, and Prince himself stepped behind the camera for his directorial debut. Talk about ambition! You can feel his fingerprints all over this – the focus on fashion, the witty banter (often feeling improvised between him and Benton, whose chemistry is a highlight), the sudden shifts in tone from screwball comedy to melodrama, and, of course, the music. While Becky Johnston gets the screenplay credit, the film feels guided by Prince’s singular, sometimes inscrutable, vision. It’s less a tightly plotted narrative and more a vibe, an exercise in cool.
The performances are key to what makes Under the Cherry Moon watchable, despite its narrative quirks. Prince is mesmerizing, radiating star power even when delivering lines that occasionally veer into the absurd (the infamous "Wrecka Stow" scene, anyone?). Jerome Benton is his perfect foil, grounding Christopher's ethereal pronouncements with earthy humor. And then there's Kristin Scott Thomas. Plucked from relative obscurity, she holds her own remarkably well against the supernova that was Prince Rogers Nelson. It’s fascinating to see the poise and intelligence that would define her later career already present in her very first film role. Apparently, Prince fired the originally cast actress Susannah Melvoin (his then-fiancée) and personally chose Scott Thomas after seeing her photo – a move that certainly paid off for the film, even if it caused personal drama.
A Beautiful, Flawed Experiment
Let's be honest, Under the Cherry Moon was famously not a hit. It bombed at the box office (making only $10 million against a $12 million budget) and got savaged by critics, even snagging the Razzie Award for Worst Picture. Ouch. Yet, like so many fascinating failures, it developed a devoted cult following over the years, particularly among die-hard Prince fans. Why? Because despite its flaws – the uneven pacing, the sometimes nonsensical plot developments, the occasionally self-indulgent dialogue – it feels like pure, unfiltered Prince. It's stylish, romantic, funny (sometimes intentionally, sometimes not), and features an absolutely killer soundtrack ("Kiss," "Mountains," "Girls & Boys" – classic!).
Watching it now, especially thinking back to seeing it on VHS, feels like peering into a strange, beautiful dream Prince had. The black and white cinematography, which might have seemed pretentious then, now feels like a bold artistic swing. The 80s fashion excess somehow looks chicer through that monochromatic lens. It's a film completely out of step with its time, which is perhaps why it endures as such a curio. It doesn't have the raw, visceral punch of an 80s action flick, but its visual confidence and sheer artistic nerve demand attention. It’s the kind of movie you’d discover late at night on the shelf of a quirky video store, drawn in by the enigmatic cover, and emerge from slightly bewildered but strangely charmed.
Rating: 6/10
Explanation: This score reflects the film's undeniable visual flair, killer soundtrack, the magnetic performances of its leads (especially the Prince/Benton chemistry and Scott Thomas's debut), and its sheer audacious ambition. It loses points for the flimsy plot, uneven tone, and moments of unintentional comedy that undermine its dramatic aspirations. It's a fascinating failure, a beautiful mess, but a mess brimming with Prince's unique artistry.
Final Take: A gorgeous, goofy, utterly Princely confection that flopped hard but found its groove on tape; Under the Cherry Moon is essential viewing for fans and a bewitching oddity for anyone nostalgic for when mainstream stars took truly bizarre artistic risks. It’s a black-and-white dream you won’t easily forget, even if you can't always explain it.