Showgirls 4K: Limited Edition (VSU-006)(Exclusive)

• Booklet (42 pages) contains essays by Adam Nayman, Abbey Bender, and Elizabeth Purchell and KJ Shepherd.

• Commentary features "Showgirls" enthusiast David Schmader.
• Theatrical Trailer (1:59, HD)

Blu-ray Disc #2

• "You Gotta Gamble If You're Gonna Win" (14:25, HD) is an interview with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, who suggests "Showgirls" was meant to be campy, but slipped out of control. Boosted by the success of "Basic Instinct," Hollywood wanted another one from Eszterhas and director Paul Verhoeven, paving the way to "Showgirls," which encountered more than a few creative disagreements during development. Research into the Las Vegas lifestyle commenced, and the interviewee recalls his objection to the NC-17 rating, preferring a "deep R" instead. The initial critical and financial slaughter of "Showgirls" is recalled, along with its resurrection with gay audiences, turning it into a cult hit Eszterhas is proud of, at least parts of it.
• "All That Glitters" (11:55, HD) is a dual interview with cinematographer Jost Vacano and performance lighting designer Peter Morse. Vacano has tremendous respect for director Paul Verhoeven, but admits he was less delighted with the "Showgirls" script, working to see the film on the same level as the helmer. Morse began his career at the Sahara Tahoe Casino, only to end up back on the stage for "Showgirls" 30 years later, prepared to deal with the environment. The interviewees discuss their partnership and creative challenges with the Las Vegas makeover.
• "The Rhythm of Chaos" (16:11, HD) is a dual interview with editors Mark Helfrich and Mark Goldblatt, who were teamed to cut "Showgirls," learning more about the Paul Verhoeven Experience, with both men coming away with a great appreciation for the director's style. The helmer's decisions are another story, with Helfrich questioning the harshness of the picture, especially when it comes to Nomi. The interviewees recall the excitement of the project and their creative challenges, and they also remember the reaction to the final cut, feeling bad for actress Elizabeth Berkley, who was merely executing Verhoeven's vision.
• "Born to Dance" (19:00, HD) is an interview with actress Rene Riffel, who charts the development of her dance career, eventually going on auditions to attempt an acting career. During classes to develop her skills, Riffel was finally spotted, landing an agent. After near- misses with love and a music career, time with "Showgirls" eventually arrived, winning the part of Penny, impressing director Paul Verhoeven with her girl-next-door presence. The interviewee discusses nudity requirements and the use of her own song, which is played during the lap dance sequence, and she pushes the positivity of it all, learning a lot from the experience. Shockingly, there is no mention made of 2011's "Showgirls 2: Penny's from Heaven," which Riffel wrote and directed.
• "Free Lap Dance with Every Large Popcorn" (13:12, HD) is an appreciation piece featuring Midnight Mass co-hosts Peaches Christ and Michael Varrati.
• "More Vegas Than Vegas" (23:45, HD) is a 2016 interview with director Paul Verhoeven, who discusses early work that went into "Showgirls," keeping writer Joe Eszterhas busy before an opportunity arrived for the helmer to make "Crusades" with Arnold Schwarzenegger. When that project collapsed, Verhoeven was back to Vegas, claiming credit for the move toward an "All About Eve"-style story. The interviewee takes responsibility for the broadness of Elizabeth Berkley's performance, and the overall amplification of the movie, examining the Nomi character. Verhoeven goes just about everywhere in this interview, including references to Nazi Germany and the invasion of Iraq, ending up with a recollection of his time at the 1996 Razzie Awards, picking up a trophy as the worst director of the year.
• Behind-The-Scene Featurettes (SD) provide 12 EPK-style interviews and footage from the production of "Showgirls."
• "A 'Showgirls' Diary" (10:54, SD) is as close to a genuine piece of production observation as it gets, isolating a few days of filming, monitoring the mood of the set with help from Verhoeven's personal script notes and storyboards. It's fun to see the twitchy director at work, providing further proof that he's the one ultimately responsible for the tone of the picture.
• "Lap Dance Tutorial Featuring The World-Famous Girls of Scores" (5:08, SD) provides a step-by-step education in the ways of DIY sensuality and grinding.