UHD Release – 4/5
Emmanuelle
Director – Just Jaekin (The Story of O, Girls)
Starring – Sylvia Kristel (Dracula’s Widow, Red Heat), Alain Cuny (Don’t Touch the White Woman!, Cross of the Living), and Marika Green (Pickpocket, Rider in the Rain)
Release Date – 1974
Rating – 3.5/5
Tagline – “X was never like this”
I’ve been reviewing exploitation for sometime now. I started my writing career reviewing forgotten exploitation and action flicks. Over time I was introduced to sexploitation and found myself truly enjoying them for the most part. More genre fans would be open to them if they would get out of the mindset that these films are just porn. These movies are story rich and highly entertaining even if you fast forward through the softcore dry humping. Sometime ago I was sent the quintessential sexploitation film from my friends over at Umbrella Entertainment.
I reviewed the film at the time but it had been years since my last viewing so I was excited when Severin announced the release of their Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection. I had only seen the first two films and really wanted to revisit them while seeing the other two films in the set. I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send this set over. I want to thank Severin for letting me check it out.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows Emmanuelle who is married to a diplomat currently in Bangkok. She visits him and when they finally see each other after several months apart, he is sad to learn that she has not explored their open relationship. This soon changes after she meets several beautiful women and men who open her up to the world of sexual desire. **Spoiler Alert**
Sexploitation is a sub-genre that is often hated on by movie fans that tend to only watch popcorn flicks. They hear nudity and instantly form an opinion about a film without seeing it. These people are truly missing out. As I said earlier, these films are a lot of fun and if nudity makes you feel uncomfortable, you can just fast forward through these scenes. Emmanuelle is a fantastic movie that is a part of cinema history and one of the more popular sexploitation flicks. Personally, I enjoy it but it’s not one of my favorites but I can see why it became as popular and as important as it has.
The acting in this one is great. Sylvia Kristel is a gorgeous actress with a lot of talent in front of the camera which is why I think the Emmanuelle movies are so much fun. She’s a great actress on top of making the sex scenes extremely hot. Normally, I would fast forward through the sex scenes in sexploitation flicks but I can’t do it here. I have to watch. The supporting cast is a bit uneven but in all fairness, no one watches these films for the acting.
The story for this one is pretty straight forward and clearly written to be an erotic film. What stops this one from falling into obscurity as another skin flick lost to time is the character development and the performance from Kristel. It works and is just as enjoyable the second and third time around.
Finally, this one doesn’t have any of the red stuff many of you genre fans may want. Instead, it’s got plenty of skin and a lot of sexy scenes even for a film that is pushing 50. Overall, Emmanuelle is not a film you toss in because it has a thought provoking story with passionate performances. It’s a skin flick with a gorgeous leading lady and a lot of skin. It’s fun and should be seen especially if you did exploitation. This release from Severin is a must see!
Emmanuelle II
Director – Francis Giacobetti
Starring – Sylvia Kristel (Private School, Private Lessons), Umberto Orsini (The Damned, Solomon), and Frederic Lagache
Release Date – 1975
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “The erotic masterpiece”
I’m only assuming here but over the course of a decade or longer I think I’ve reviewed close to 100 sexploitation films thanks to companies like Mondo Macabro, Blue Underground, Vinegar Syndrome, Severin, Synapse/Impulse Pictures, and so on. These boutique labels really care about preserving cinema. While most have an eye for horror and exploitation, they do frequently release films that are on the sleazy side of cinema.
A few years back I was lucky enough to review an Emmanuelle double feature from my friends at Umbrella Entertainment. I can no longer find those reviews for some reason but I do remember really enjoying those films thanks to the salacious performance from Sylvia Kristel. A couple weeks ago I was sent the Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection by Severin to check out. This was a great reason to revisit these historic films in 4K. I want to thank Severin for sending it over!
**Spoiler Alert** The film once again follows Emmanuelle (Kristel) who travels to Hong Kong to find her husband. On the way she has sex with a woman who professes that she was once raped by several women and enjoyed it. She then meets a young man and his mistress. She quickly becomes close friends with them both and starts sleeping with her before she moves on to exploring Hong Kong where she will continue to explore her sexuality. **spoiler Alert**
A lot of the sequels I review never live up to the original film. However, Emmanuelle 2 is one of the few instances where the sequel is just as good. This is wild when you think about how this is the directors only film and it’s an erotic drama from the mid-70s. Most of these films rarely gain traction yet the original film spawned almost a dozen sequels. I remember liking Emmanuelle 2 when I first watched it several years back but I really appreciate it as a film after revisiting them both. Between the two films, this one is not as enjoyable but as a film it is leagues above the original.
The acting in this one is very well rounded. Sylvia Kristel once again shines as the sexy star of the film. Her character is what makes these movies so enjoyable and her performance here once again shines. The supporting cast delivers performances that are just as good making the acting in this one more consistent than the previous film.
The story for this one does expand on the previous film some but doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. What made the first film so much fun was the way in which Emmanuelle was reluctant at first to the sexual exploits she was in. In this follow up we have her more than willing to dive head first into these encounters while giving viewers a similar story as the first film where we follow her in a different country as she experiences new sexual situations for the first time. A little drama in this one would have went a very long way.
Finally, there is a lot of skin in this one with some gorgeous women baring it all for us to take in. There is no blood or gore for us horror fans but fans of exploitation will really dig it. Overall, Emmanuelle II has better acting and cinematography but the story doesn’t really give us something new. It’s still a fun watch but don’t expect something that will stick with you like the original.
Goodbye, Emmanuelle
Director – Francois Leterrier (The Hippies, The Bodyguard)
Starring – Sylvia Kristel (The Swing Girls, Sexy Boys), Umberto Orsini (The Bible Collection: Esther, Beyond Good and Evil), and Jean-Pierre Bouvier (The Divorce, Mail from the Sky)
Release Date – 1977
Rating – 3/5
When Severin sent me the Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection, I had already seen the first two films in the set. However, this collection features two Emmanuelle films that were new to me. I do enjoy the first two films and had a lot of fun revisiting them which only made me even more excited to see these final two! The next film in the set is the third Emmanuelle film from 1977 titled Goodbye, Emmanuelle or Emmanuelle III. I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows Emmanuelle (Kristel) who is once again in an exotic location with her husband living the swinging life. However, after Emmanuelle gets close with a filmmaker, her husband starts to become jealous and wants to keep her all to himself. **Spoiler Alert**
I know there is a lot of these Emmanuelle films but I wonder how many of them recycle the same stories? Goodbye, Emmanuelle doesn’t really bring us anything new but god damn was it still a lot of fun. I went into this one thinking it was going to be the turning point in the series but I was wrong. This is one of the instances where if it’s not broke then it doesn’t need fixed makes complete sense.
The acting in this one is more like the first film with Kristel really finds her groove as Emmanuelle. She carries every scene she is in with her sultry sex appeal and natural charisma in front of the camera. Sadly, the supporting cast is hit or miss in this one. In some of the scenes the cast delivers stiff dialogue with zero emotion while other scenes are decently acted by the same cast members. I don’t know if these scenes are rushed, poorly written, or the cast is just over it by that point. I can only assume but it’s clear something is off.
The story for this one is just the same rehashing of the first two films with a little change. We follow Emmanuelle and her husband in a different country as they get busy with different people. However, this time we have the addition of the jealousy angle that takes up a very small portion of the film. This little change does bring something new to the story but it’s nothing that truly stands out when you sit back and compare it to the other films.
Finally, this one offers up just as much skin as the previous films. Lots of beautiful women baring it all for sleazy movie fans to enjoy. Overall, Goodbye, Emmanuelle is a solid entry in the iconic Emmanuelle series. It’s not a revolutionary sequel but it’s still a fun watch. Check it out.
A Man for Emmanuelle
Director – Cesare Canevari (Killing of the Flesh, The Nude Princess)
Starring – Erika Blanc (Kill Baby… Kill!, A Dragonfly for Each Corpse), Adolfo Celi (The Phantom of Liberty, Madly in Love), and Paolo Ferrari (Nero Wolfe, Married to a Cop)
Release Date – 1969
Rating – 3/5
When I went into the Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection, I thought it was four films featuring Sylvia Kristel as the title character. However, that was not the case at all. The first three films in the set did feature Kristel in her iconic role but the fourth film really caught me off guard.
The final Emmanuelle film was actually the 1969 Italian drama A Man for Emmanuelle starring Erika Blanc as Emmanuelle. I became very interested in the film especially when I realized that it was not one of the films starring Kristel. Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows Emmanuelle (Blanc) who has her eye on someone. Instead of approaching them like a rational human being, she starts sleeping with everyone she crosses paths with regardless of gender. **Spoiler Alert**
I went into this one not knowing what to expect. Was this a film that would later inspire the Emmanuelle series that I know or would it just be a film that shares a common name? I don’t know the back story behind this one but I did like it as a film but it wasn’t near as sleazy and enjoyable as the Sylvia Kristel films.
The acting in this one is solid for the most part and pretty consistent which is something you can’t really say about the previous three films I reviewed. Blanc doesn’t really carry the scene like Kristel can but she is a hell of a lot better actress. The supporting cast does a solid job as well but it’s Blanc that’s the focus of the film.
The story for this one is nowhere near as sleazy as the first film but does have some sexy moments. With that being said, it does lack in the story department with what feels like an anti-sex message. We have a woman bouncing from sexual partner to sexual partner as she explores her sexual freedom. The further she goes into these encounters, the more her life is turned upside down. The film seems to have a completely different message than the subsequent Emmanuelle films.
Finally, the film doesn’t have the amount of skin as I was expecting but there is some. Those of you wanting a sleazy watch may be disappointed just like those of you wanting some blood and gore. Overall, A Man for Emmanuelle is nothing like I expected but it was still an enjoyable film. While it doesn’t live up to the Emmanuelle name, I can only assume that it inspired the now legendary franchise. Check it out especially if you dig the other films.
Special Features:
Disc1
Audio Commentary With Film Historian Elizabeth Purchell (Director’s Cut Only)
French Trailer
Disc 2:
Blu-ray (Films + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Film Historian Elizabeth Purchell (Director’s Cut Only)
A Slightly Scandalous Character – Interview With Actress Marika Green
Producing EMMANUELLE – Interview With Producer Yves Rousset-Rouard
Filming EMMANUELLE – Interview With Camera Operator Robert Fraisse
Fabric & Fantasy: Costume As Character Development – Video Essay By Fashion And Costume Historian Elissa Rose
The Channel – Actress Liane Curtis On Her Mother, Dubbing Artist Paulette Rubinstein
Interview With Marayat Rollet-Andriane (aka Emmanuelle Arsan) On The Set Of THE SAND PEBBLES (1966)
The Joys Of Emmanuelle, Part 1 – Interviews With Star Sylvia Kristel, Director Just Jaeckin And Producer Yves Rousset-Rouard
French Trailer
U.S. Trailer
Disc 3:
Blu-ray (Special Features)
Signed, Emmanuelle Arsan – Interview With Camille Moreau, Author Of Emmanuelle Arsan: Biography of a Pseudonym
Interview With Director Just Jaeckin For FILMO TV
A HARD LOOK (2000) – TV Documentary By Filmmaker Alex Cox
Emmanuelle In Ontario – Video Essay On The Canadian Censorship Battle By Journalist Eric Veillette
Disc 4
UHD (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Film Historian Elizabeth Purchell And Filmmaker Gillian Wallace Horvat
International Trailer
U.S. Trailer
Disc 5:
Blu-ray (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Film Historian Elizabeth Purchell And Filmmaker Gillian Wallace Horvat
Audio Interview With Director Francis Giacobetti
Producing EMMANUELLE 2 – Interview With Producer Yves Rousset-Rouard
Filming EMMANUELLE 2 – Interview With Cinematographer Robert Fraisse
Mondo Emmanuelle – Ethnography And Softcore With Dr. Jennifer Moorman, Assistant Professor Of Communication And Media Studies
Filming Report For Swiss TV
The Joys Of Emmanuelle, Part 2 – Interviews With Star Sylvia Kristel And Producer Yves Rousset-Rouard
International Trailer
U.S. Trailer
Radio Spots
Disc 6:
Soundtrack CD
Disc 7
UHD (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Film Writer/Professor Of Modern Culture And Media Dr. Veronica Fitzpatrick
International Trailer
U.S. Trailer
Disc 8:
Blu-ray (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Film Writer/Professor Of Modern Culture And Media Dr. Veronica Fitzpatrick
Beyond Emmanuelle: Sylvia Kristel’s Life And Career – Interviews With Jeremy Richey, Author Of Sylvia Kristel: From Emmanuelle To Chabrol, And Leila Wimmer, Senior Lecturer In Film Studies At London Metropolitan University
Audio Erotica – The Music Of The Emmanuelle Series With Soundtrack Journalist Daniel Schweiger
The Joys Of Emmanuelle, Part 3 – Interviews With Star Sylvia Kristel And Producer Yves Rousset-Rouard
International Trailer
U.S. Trailer
Radio Spots
Disc 9
UHD (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Film Historian Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
Trailer
Disc 10:
Blu-ray (Film + Special Features)
Introduction By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women
Audio Commentary With Film Historian Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
A Director À La Française – Interview With Director Cesare Canevari
Memoirs Of Emmanuelle – Interview With Actress Erika Blanc
A Man For Emmanuelle – Interview With Actor Sandro Pizzochero
Protagonist And Subject – Video Essay By Filmmaker Carl Elsaesser
Concerning Emmanuelle – Archival Interview With Cesare Canevari
Trailer
Disc 11:
Soundtrack CD
