Black Emanuelle/White Emanuelle
Director:
Brunello Rondi
Cast:
Laura Gemser….Emanuelle
Annie Belle…..Pina
Gabriele Tinti….Carlo
Al Cliver….Horatio
Severin Films presents Black Emanuelle/White Emanuelle. Screenplay by Brunello Rondi. Running time: 94 minutes. Rated R. Theatrical release: August 6, 1976.
Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade
Director:
Joe D’Amato
Cast:
Laura Gemser….Emanuelle
Ely Galleani…..Susan Towers
Gabriele Tinti….Francis Harley
Venantino Venantini….Giorgio Rivetti
Severin Films presents Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade. Screenplay by Joe ‘Amato. Running time: 89 minutes. Rated R. Theatrical release: April 20, 1978.
Black Emanuelle 2
Director:
Bitto Albertini
Cast:
Sharon Lesley….Emanuelle Richmond
Dagmar Lassander…..Susan
Angelo Infanti….Paul
Don Powell….Emanuelle’s Father
Severin Films presents Black Emanuelle 2. Screenplay by Bitto Albertini. Running time: 92 minutes. Rated R. Theatrical release: July 31, 1976.
Severin Films presents Black Emanuelle’s Box, Volume 2. Three movies on three DVDs with a soundtrack CD. DVD released Nov. 13, 2007.
The Show
The Black Emanuelle series takes us back to a time when there were creepy theaters in sketchy neighborhoods that needed films to appeal to their local denizens. What did these citizens of the combat zone find on the silver screen? A twisted genre that liberally mixed uninhibited sex with grotesque violence. They kept the sex just to the R-rated side of the X rated line. Along with the Ilsa series and Story of O knock-offs, was born the marquee character of Emmanuelle. The first film was about a wife (Sylvia Kristel) exploring extreme sexuality in Thailand. Very quickly producers in Italy launched a similar movie series with their character named Emanuelle. Laura Gemser, who had a small part in Emmanuelle 2, was given the lead in Black Emanuelle. Black Emanuelle’s Box, Volume 2 collects a pair of her early movies in the role. We also get a taste of an actress that was being groomed to be her rival for the title character.
Black Emanuelle / White Emanuelle doubles the pleasure seekers. The Black Emmanuelle is Gemser. This is kinda a misnomer. While she does have dark skin, she’s from Indonesia. The White Emanuelle was played by Annie Belle, a French actress. Belle had just starred in Laure which was directed, written and co-starred Emmanuelle Arsan, the real Emmanuelle. She’s really white with close cropped bleach blond hair. You doâ’t confuse the actresses during their numerous lesbian moments. What’s the excuse for these two women to get naked in Black Emanuelle / White Emanuelle? Gemser goes to Egypt to pose naked in the desert. She encounters a religious cult that’s has a clothing optional policy at services. Belle arrives at the cult and finds herself worshipping Gemser. Far as uncomfortable moments, there’s rough sex, Gemser poses with the bodies of dead kids and a goat sacrifice.
Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade is a title that explains the entire film. Gemser discovers an underground world where hot young women are sold to rich, old men. Gemser infiltrates an estate where this action goes down. There’s plenty of Gemser showering with other women moments. The cringe moment involves a knifing and rape in a bowling alley. This is not nearly as distasteful as Gemser’s Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals.
Black Emanuelle 2 brings Sharon Lesley into the role. The producers introduce her to film lovers by having her naked, roped up in a dungeon and whipped. Turns out it’s a strange fantasy. Lesley is being treated at a psyciatric hospital for amnesia and masochistic thoughts. She wants to get better so she can return to her life as a supermodel. Being constantly naked seems to be part of her treatment. There’s a nice scene with her an another female patient involving body paint. The discomfort level is pretty low for a Emanuelle movie. While Lesley looks good in the role, this was the only movie she ever made.
Filmmaker Damien Lahey would ramble for hours about the greatness of Laura Gemser. She was one of those special talents in a very disturbing genre. Most of her Emanuelle movies aren’t meant for the timid with their savage moments of cannibalism, rape and bestiality. For those curious about Gemser’s allure, Black Emanuelle’s Box, Volume 2 is a good start since the two films tilt more towards the sex than violence.
The DVDS
VIDEO:
Black Emanuelle / White Emanuelle is 2.35:1 anamorphic. Black Emanuelle 2 and Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade are 1.85:1 anamorphic. The transfers are rather clean, but have that mid-70s film aesthetic.
AUDIO:
The soundtracks are in Mono. Black Emanuelle / White Emanuelle has an Italian track. The film’s English soundtrack is incomplete and English subtitles appear when they have to go to the Italian track.
EXTRAS:
Black Velvet: Interview with Stars Annie Belle and Al Cliver (18:25) has them discuss their career. There’s an audio interview with Laura Gemser included. It’s subtitled since everyone talks in Italian. Gemser declares she was more embarrassed doing the lesbian love scenes than simulating sex with men.
Theatrical Trailer (3:46) shows Emanuelle posing next to historic sites. There’s no teasing in this trailer for Black Emanuelle/White Emanuelle.
Diva 70: The Life of Dagmar Lassander (15:57) is a recent interview with the prolific actress. She recollects her time as an extra busy actress doing numerous small parts in various films. She would be on three different film sets in a day at the same time. Her tales of acting in Rome involve a sadistic director. She speaks of her time acting for Mario Bava. Very little talk about her time on the set of Black Emanuelle. She speaks in Italian so her answers are subtitled in English.
Theatrical Trailer (2:27) announces that Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade is bringing Gemser to America and Africa.
Theatrical Trailer (3:24) lets us know that there will be nudity in Black Emanuelle 2. Sharon Lesley didn’t mind showing off her bosoms to the camera.
After Hours with Joe D’Amato (12:20) is the director chatting with a few folks in a kitchen. The video was shot in 1994. Joe speaks English. He discusses the nature of his career.
Getting Down with Black Emanuette Volume 2 (1:10:20) is a CD containing the soundtracks to Emanuelle in America, Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals and Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade. Put this in your stereo and your life will instantly transform into a Cinemax After Dark film. Only play this around sexy people cause clothes will magically disappear when the strings spice up the night.
Black Emanuelle’s Box, Volume 2 |
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