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Drama Cult Classic

Sex, secrets, and stylish interiors collide when a free-spirited cousin upends a designer's ordered world.

THE LAYOUT

1969 · 01:18:50 · NR · Drama

Pam and Wendy are partners in an interior-design business, and share a beautiful home with an impressive swimming pool. Trouble starts when Pam’s sadistic niece Ellen and her tawny-skinned roommate Maria come for a visit, threatening to expose Wendy’s affair with a married man, and Pam’s latent lesbianism.

Quick Answer
What is The Layout about?

The Layout is a 1969 American drama directed by Joseph W. Sarno about an interior designer whose carefully controlled life unravels when her uninhibited cousin arrives, sparking jealousy, new desires, and tangled relationships.

Key Facts
Director
Joseph W. Sarno
Writer
Joseph W. Sarno
Release
1969
Runtime
1h 18m
Genres
Drama

The SassyFlix Take

Joseph W. Sarno stirs up the drapes and the drama in this sultry slice of late-60s sexploitation. Between the chic home, the simmering jealousy, and an absolutely fearless cast, The Layout isn’t shy about pushing boundaries—or buttons.
From the Vault

Pam’s real trouble isn’t the paint swatches—it’s the houseguests.

Why Cult

Sexploitation Showcase

A classic example of late-60s American erotica, serving up voyeurism, group sex, and taboo-busting encounters with a stylish sheen.

Interior Design Gone Wild

Pam’s taste for decor is matched only by the chaos Ellen and her friends bring to her home, turning domestic bliss into a battleground of temptation.

Sapphic Awakenings

Latent lesbianism, voyeuristic trysts, and cousinly seductions: Sarno’s script doesn’t shy away from exploring female sexuality in all its forms.

Skinny Dipping Sessions

The impressive swimming pool isn't just for show—expect nude swims and aquatic mischief among the housemates.

About This Film

A woman with a knack for decorating homes has her emotional feng shui thrown into disarray in this sexploitation drama. Pam (Suzan Thomas) is a successful interior designer who shares her home with Wendy (Betty Whitman), the manager of her business affairs, but otherwise keeps the world at arm's length. While Pam has little interest in love, Wendy is secretly carrying on an affair with Robb (Howard Dale), a contractor who often works with Pam and satisfies Wendy's taste for rough sex. Pam's solitary personal life is shattered by the arrival of Ellen (Rene Howard), her younger cousin who has a freewheeling sex life. Ellen takes it upon herself to broaden Pam's erotic horizons, and she soon has the help of Emmy (Barbara Lance), Robb's neglected wife who has turned to women for satisfaction. The attentions of both Ellen and Emmy lead Pam away from her habits of pleasuring herself and into uncharted territory. The Layout was written and directed by Joe Sarno, who earned a cult following for his intelligent and personal approach to traditional sexploitation conceits.

Pam runs a successful interior design business, and shares her luxurious pad with her business partner Wendy. The sexually adventurous Wendy is carrying on an affair with Rob, their building contractor. Rob's wife decides to turn the tables by seducing the normally staid Pam, reminding her of their prepubescent experiments. Pam's cousin, with whom she also played naughty schoolgirl games, shows up to visit with her Honduran roommate in tow. Finding a lack of redblooded men in town and upset by Pam's haughty attitude, her cousin devises a surprise all-girl "coming out party" to expose her supposed hypocisy.

Film Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Layout about? +

The Layout follows Pam, a successful interior designer whose orderly life is disrupted when her uninhibited cousin Ellen arrives, igniting jealousy, secret affairs, and sexual exploration among her housemates.

When was The Layout released? +

The Layout was released in 1969.

Who directed The Layout? +

The Layout was directed by Joseph W. Sarno.

How long is The Layout? +

The Layout has a runtime of 78 minutes.

What genre is The Layout? +

The Layout is a drama with strong sexploitation and erotica elements.

Where can I watch The Layout? +

The Layout is available to stream on SassyFlix.