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Comedy Cult Classic

A wealthy heiress crisscrosses the globe in 1920s style, searching for romance and sexual initiation.

BOLERO

An adventure in ecstasy.

1984 · 01:45:00 · R · Comedy / Drama / Romance · IMDB TMDB

Follows the tale of a young woman's sexual awakening and subsequent journey around the world in pursuit of her ideal lover. Encounters include an Arabian sheik and a Spanish bullfighter. Her friend and butler accompany her and help to arrange her couplings.

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Quick Answer
What is Bolero about?

Bolero is a 1984 American comedy-drama-romance film directed by John Derek about Ayre MacGillivery, a young heiress who embarks on a global quest to find the right man for her first sexual experience.

Synopsis

Set in the 1920s, Ayre "Mac" MacGillvary is a virginal 23-year-old young American who graduates from an exclusive British college. An orphan heiress to a vast fortune, Ayre is determined to find the right man for her first sexual encounter wherever he might be in the world. Rich enough not to venture forth alone, she brings along her best friend Catalina and the family chauffeur Cotton.

Ayre first travels to Morocco where she meets an ideal lover, an Arab sheik who offers to deflower her. He takes her away in his private airplane to an oasis in the desert, but during foreplay while rubbing her nude body with honey, he falls asleep almost immediately. Giving up on the sheik, Ayre goes on to Spain, where she meets the toreador Angel, and sets out to seduce him. Into this group comes Paloma, a 14-year-old local Gypsy girl whom Ayre and Catalina take under their wing. A minor subplot involves Catalina meeting and pursuing Ayre's lawyer, Robert Stewart, a kilt-wearing Scotsman whom Catalina chooses to deflower her.

After several days of courtship and flirting, Angel makes love to Ayre one morning and he manages to stay awake. Unfortunately, after Ayre has succeeded in her quest to lose her virginity, Angel is gored while bullfighting the next day.

The injury leaves Angel unable to perform in the bedroom, and so Ayre makes it her mission in life to see to his recovery. Along the way, she takes up bullfighting herself as a way of getting her despondent lover motivated to stop moping. During this, the Arab sheik flies to Spain to abduct Ayre, but she manages to convince him that she has already lost her virginity and he lets her go.

Eventually, Ayre is successful in aiding Angel to full recovery which leads to a climactic lovemaking session between them. The film ends with Ayre and Angel getting married at a local church.

 
Details & Specs
Director
John Derek
Writers
Mickey Knox, John Derek
Release
1984
Runtime
1h 45m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Also Known As
Bolero: An Adventure in Ecstasy

Why Cult

Honey Massage Misadventures

Witness a failed oasis seduction involving honey and an overly relaxed sheik, setting the tone for Ayre's unconventional journey.

1920s World Tour

Travel from Morocco to Spain alongside Ayre, her loyal friend Catalina, and their ever-present chauffeur as they chase romance across continents.

Bo Derek in the Lead

Bo Derek stars as Ayre MacGillivery, giving her signature touch to this tale of sexual awakening and global pursuit.

R-Rated Romantic Quest

An unabashedly adult exploration of desire and first times, with Ayre determined to arrange her own destiny (and her own couplings).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bolero about? +

Bolero follows Ayre MacGillivery, a young American heiress in the 1920s, as she travels the world seeking the right man to lose her virginity to, accompanied by her friend and chauffeur.

When was Bolero released? +

Bolero was released in 1984.

Who directed Bolero? +

Bolero was directed by John Derek.

How long is Bolero? +

Bolero has a runtime of 105 minutes.

What genre is Bolero? +

Bolero is a comedy, drama, and romance film.

Where can I watch Bolero? +

Bolero is available to stream on SassyFlix.