Red Shoe Diaries
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Red Shoe Diaries is a dramatic series that aired on the American cable television network Showtime from 1992 to 1999. Most episodes were directed by either Zalman King or Rafael Eisenman or both.
The episodes always open with a quick montage of a newspaper personals section ad under 'Red Shoes' seeking women to mail in their personal diaries with stories of love, passion and/or betrayal. The presenter/host Jake Winters (David Duchovny) is then shown walking on desolate train tracks reading a letter from his post office box out loud that begins with dear red shoes...
Storylines usually have a thin plot revolving around some intrigue and the sexual awakening of a girl or woman who often also narrates. Well photographed, artful, sensuous love scenes with nudity as well as sultry, moody music are characteristic of most episodes. There is no story arc or characters connecting the different stories other than Jake Winters introducing each episode.
This series was considered by some to be softcore pornographic television when introduced and this may have added to its initial appeal or lack thereof as the case may be.
The Showtime series led to two spin-off movies:
- Red Shoe Diaries - The Movie (1992). Zalman King, Director. Starring: David Duchovny, Brigitte Bako and Billy Wirth. This movie was released after the Showtime cable TV series started, but it is a prequel to them. The movie's plot is more substantial than that of the cable TV episodes; the storyline covers the developments that lead to Jake Winters runnig the 'Red Shoes' personal ad. The movie starts with a funeral for his wife; later, as he is packing her things, he reads her diary and discovers that she was unfaithful to him.
- Wild Orchid (1990). Zalman King, Director. Starring: Mickey Rourke and Jacqueline Bisset. The story for this movie is in no way connected to the Showtime cable TV series and is therefore not covered here.
The Red Shoe Diaries episodes still run from time to time on Showtime and are also available for sale on DVD.
List of Episodes
- Forbidden Zone (2002)
- As She Wishes (2001)
- Swimming Naked (2001)
- Luscious Lola (2000)
- Girl on a Bike (2000)
- The Game (2000)
- Luscious Lola (2000)
- Night of Abandon (1997)
- Temple of Flesh (1997)
- Farmer's Daughter (1997)
- Burning Up (1997)
- Slow Train (1996)
- Four on the Floor (1996)
- How I Met My Husband (1996)
- Weekend Pass (1995)
- Auto Erotica (1994)
- Hotline (1994)
- Another Woman's Lipstick (1993)
- Double Dare (1993)
- Some Things Never Change (1992)
- Strip Poker (1992)
- Temple of Flesh
not known if this list is complete