PROSTITUTES AND ESCORTS ON THE BIG SCREEN

Prostitution and escorting have existed since time immemorial. In some civilizations the matter has been treated as something divine since even women provided this type of service in temples. In other cultures such as India or Japan, the function of a "tawaif" (term for a prostitute or courtesan) was more to recite poetry, dance, sing and entertain but not so much to provide sexual services, although sometimes they did occurred. .

Nowadays, this type of practice has evolved from escorts: mostly women who dedicate themselves exclusively to accompaniment in exchange for fees, to classic prostitution, where sexual services are included in the remuneration.

Since the appearance of cinema, the first films and short films inspired by escorts and prostitutes did not take long to appear, since they always played a significant role due to their mixture of eroticism with the fantasy of the forbidden.

And although the walk through this hall of fame for escorts and prostitutes has been very extensive, we are going to take a walk through the most significant films, awarded and praised by critics and the public, of recent years.

We start with our Top Ten.

PRETTY WOMAN (1990)

Anyone who hasn't seen Pretty Woman is not from this planet. One of the first films of this type, shot in a comedy tone, to become popular worldwide, iconic both for the plot and for the actors who gave life to this story.

Julia Roberts plays a young escort named Vivian Ward who crosses the path of a Los Angeles businessman, Edward Lewis, played by Richard Gere, who hires her services to accompany him for a week. Naturally they fall in love and conflicts arise since there is a great social difference between them.

Paradoxically, she is the one who "purifies" Mr. Edward and tries to lead him on a good path in business. An American romantic comedy with a "naive" feel that hooked many.

However, the ending that we all know has nothing to do with the one proposed in the first instance by its director Garry Marshall, completely modified after the purchase of the script by Disney, turning it, of course, into another fantasy of princes and damsels in trouble.

Even Julia Roberts herself refused to play the protagonist until the initial ending was completely changed.

"Pretty Woman" was released in 1990 and was a complete success. Young people of that time quickly fell in love with this film that undoubtedly came to represent the triumph of modern cinema, marking an entire generation.

A total box office success that grossed $178 million in the United States and $463 million worldwide. Not a minor fact, its budget was surprisingly 14 million.

This American film of the twilight western genre was written by Davis Webb Peoples and directed, after acquiring the script, by Clint Eastwood. Winner of 4 Oscars, including best film and best director, it undoubtedly deserves a place on our list.

The plot has as its protagonists three gunmen, William Munny (Clint Eastwood), Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) and The Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett), who join together in the mission of finishing off the murderers of some prostitutes and collecting a succulent loot. , which the victim's companions offer as a reward to whoever brings the head of the outlaws.

A film that was very successful and surprised its viewers who are usually very critical of this film genre.

"Unforgiven", maintaining its very western essence, was able to adapt to the modern cinema of those times, and it also had a controversial and attractive central theme, prostitution.

Completely different from what people used to see, recreated from a very "masculine" perspective with a lot of action, guns and confrontations. The sensitivity mixed with raw violence, which also revealed the customs of the time in which it was inspired, make this a simply exceptional film.

L.A.Confidential deserves to be on our list in its own right. Not only because it is an incredible American film of the "neo noir" genre full of suspense and intrigue, but also because one of the greatest erotic myths in cinema, a woman who has decorated millions of adolescent folders, Kim Basinger, will play an ex prostitute in such a spectacular way that she ended up winning an Oscar for her role.

Based on the novel by James Ellroy. Curtis Hanson directs a script by Brian Helgeland (Oscar for best adapted screenplay) in a film whose plot is spectacular, complex and captivating.

In an impressive recreation of the city of Los Angeles in the fifties, the police force investigates what at first appears to be a triple homicide committed after an attempted robbery.

The boys in blue end up colliding head-on with a network of corruption, drug trafficking, prostitution and other shady businesses. Dismantling it will be a complex mission since its members reach the highest levels of power. With a shocking ending that leaves anyone speechless.

Starring Russell Crowe, who in the film plays Wendell Bud White, a police officer who, after the death of his mother, has dedicated himself to defending women and seeking justice and accompanied by Guy Pearce in one of his best roles. , who plays another of the lead detectives Edmund Jennings "Ed" Exley and by Kevin Spacey as Sergeant Jack Vincennes.

And as we anticipated before, Kim Basinger in the shoes of Lynn Bracken, a former prostitute who tries to rebuild her life and marry Wendell Bud White and who, in her own way, will also help solve the crime.

L.A. Confidential had a total of 9 Oscar nominations. The impressive period setting achieved and the interpretation of the characters makes it a film that you cannot stop seeing.

Prostitution, as we said before, is neither new nor current. At the end of the 19th century, hundreds of prostitutes were harassed in the United Kingdom and at least 5 of them were murdered by one of the most enigmatic murderers in history, Jack "The Ripper."

"From Hell" is an American thriller scripted based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore, although with a story very far from the comic. Directed by Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes. and starring a masterful Johnny Depp, accompanied by Heather Graham, Ian Holm.

Based on the life of Jack the Ripper, in Victorian London, Inspector Frederick G. Abberline (Johnny Depp) is in charge of investigating mysterious and horrible murders of prostitutes in the district of Whitechapel. One of the threatened women, Mary J. Kelly (Heather Graham) gets closer and closer to Inspector Frederik, ending both of them with a love relationship that provides a romantic plus to a film where blood, horror and conspiracies abound.

The work touches on topics such as Freemasonry, definitely very attractive to viewers, Johnny Deep plays a role at the level of what he has accustomed us to.

If you like spicy thrillers, chilling classics, without a doubt "From Hell" is a movie that you will enjoy.

And man does not live by American cinema alone. Our neighbors to the north also recreate a dark drama in which prostitution is present.

This French film is based on the original idea of Philippe Blasband and, under the masterful direction of Anne Fontaine, immerses us in an interesting, murky and twisted plot, where it tells the story of Catherine, the beautiful Emmanuelle Béart, playing an elegant and accommodated

However, Catherine suspects that her husband is unfaithful, so she decides to hire a professional prostitute named Nathalie X, Fanny Ardant, to conquer him and discover as much information as possible about this man.

Catherine frequently meets with Nathalie to give her details about sexual preferences and secrets that her husband did not share with her. However, not everything is as it seems in this French film that will not disappoint us with its twists and unexpected endings.

Movie not recommended for jealous and distrustful girlfriends or wives due to the amount of dark and perverse ideas it could give you.

DRESSED TO KILL (1980)

A horror thriller with strong erotic overtones that make it a very attractive film. Its director and screenwriter Brian de Palma excelled giving life to Dressed to Kill where he managed to reach that climax that keeps you trapped and tense at the same time.

The memorable performance of Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen and Keith Gordon, who received multiple nominations and awards, elevated De Palma to the altar of cult directors.

Kate Miller (Angie Dickinson) is a sexually frustrated housewife who is murdered in cold blood by a blonde woman. Her only witness is a young prostitute named Liz who they did not believe and accused of the murder.

Kate's son, Peter (Keith Gordon), never tires of seeking justice and does not believe that Liz is her murderer, ending up forming an alliance with her to discover the truth.

Doctor Robert Elliot (Michael Caine) is Kate's psychiatrist and he does his part to make this case even more interesting, a special character for the plot of this very intriguing film.

The high voltage is maintained throughout the film, it doesn't take long to feel your temperature rise.

Filmed in various locations in New York in the fall of 1979, with a spectacular soundtrack composed by Pino Donaggio.

If you have not yet seen a classic like Dressed to Kill, don't waste any more time, you will surely love it. 

PRINCESAS (2005)

The Patrio cinema portrays the world of prostitution in "Princesas", one of the best films in Spain of all time.

This Drama reveals a reality already known to everyone: The tension in the group of prostitutes between Spanish women and immigrants.

The perspective proposed by its director Fernando León de Araona is from within, with Caye (Candela Peña) and Zulema (Micaela Nevárez) as the protagonists of this story that touches our hearts.

The two women are dedicated to prostitution and lead a sacrificial and sometimes heartbreaking life. Humor and irony is what often saves the lives of these two girls who start out being competitive with each other but end up forming a close friendship. Both transmit to the viewer a strength worthy of admiration.

The best scenes in the lives of Caye and Zulema occur in the neighborhood hair salon they visit and it is perhaps the only place where they feel important and loved.

Topics such as discrimination are discussed and the focus is placed on the daily life of sex workers, without losing that touch of romanticism, irony and drama.

"Princesas" was the winner of three Goya Awards in the categories: Best Actress for Candela Peña and Micaela Nevárez and Best Song "Me Llaman Calle" by Manu Chao. 

TAXI DRIVER (1976)

Taxi Driver, a film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader, the brilliant lead role is by Robert De Niro with whom he established his career as an actor.

Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), a very lonely and unstable ex-combatant who suffers from insomnia and other problems left by his time in the war.
His work as a taxi driver leads him to provide his services in the shadiest areas of New York, where he encounters the most marginalized sector of society, plagued by prostitutes, drug addicts and criminals.

This is how she meets Iris, an underage sex worker who gets into the taxi fleeing her pimp.

Travis becomes attached to her and feels responsible to protect her.

However, one day a beautiful woman named Betsy (Cybill Shepherd) gets into the taxi, with whom Travis falls in love and does what is necessary to spend time with her.
However, Betsy is disappointed on the second date and no longer answers Travis' calls.

It is this rejection that upsets our protagonist even more, leading him to extreme training and the purchase of weapons.

The entire plot is marked by rawness and rootlessness,

The film grossed over $28 million, far exceeding its $1.3 million budget.

In 1994, it was deemed "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

LEAVING LAS VEGAS (1990)

This tremendous drama, directed by Mike Figgis and starring Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue, won the Oscar for best actor and received three other nominations.

Based on the autobiography of screenwriter John O'Brien, who committed suicide a few months before filming began.

The film is a story of both love and self-destruction and tells the story of Ben Sanderson (Nicolas Cage), a man who sinks into loneliness and depression after his wife decides to end their relationship.

Ben clings to drink because he doesn't believe he deserves happiness, which leads him to try to end everything, including himself.

Determined to put an end to his pathetic life, BBen moves to Las Vegas, where among the lights and excesses he becomes involved with a prostitute named Sera (Elisabeth Shue) who feels as alone as he does. They will soon begin a toxic and dependent relationship, where alcohol takes center stage.

Without a doubt this is a film to reflect on. Cage's stark, raw performance earned him the Oscar for best actor. The film also received three other nominations in the categories of actress, director and adapted screenplay.

                                                                                                     MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO (1991)


And after so many Escorts and Prostitutes, we are going to close our Top Ten with a movie about male accompaniment.

In this independent American film directed by Gus Van Sant and starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves, drama and realism reign.

My Own Private Idaho is based on John Rechy's 1963 novel "The City of Night," which portrays street prostitutes with extreme crudeness. Van Sant wrote the original script in the 1970s, when he lived in Hollywood. Later during the filming of another of his films, he met two young people who offered sexual services on the streets and was inspired by them to give life to the protagonists of this film.

Mike (River Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu Reeves) are two young men who make a living offering sexual services on the streets of Oregon. Although the reasons that led them to have that way of life are very different.

Scott is the son and rightful heir to the family fortune of the mayor of Portland, Oregon. His way of life is an act of rebellion towards his father, and he also plans that his stay in the streets and underworld will last until he is 21 years old, since from that moment on he will become the beneficiary of the important sum of inheritance money.

On the other hand and in contrast, Mike, who suffers from narcolepsy, is obsessed with finding his mother, whom he has not seen for many years. Together they establish a friendship that takes them to travel through Italy in search of Sharon (Mike's mother). The drama doesn't take long to arrive.

Gus Van San has managed to leave his mark on this highly recognized and award-winning film where we can find very original scenes. The actor River Phoenix won the Volpi Cup at the Venice festival, where the Film was presented.


This is the end of our article today where we have taken a very interesting tour throughout the history of prostitutes and escorts on the big screen..

From IbizaTops we hope you liked it. Remember that you can contact the best escorts and companions on our website. They won't be the iconic movie stars that impacted us in these films, but we can assure you that the best escorts are published in IbizaTopsand they get pretty close. Her glamour, beauty and friendliness will leave nothing to envy those of the stars of these films.

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