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Reviews
Emanuelle in America (1977)
I really have no idea what I just watched
This really seems like the directors had a bunch of ideas and then tried to work a story around it, and then after scripting and shooting the first half, they took an entirely different direction for the second. After about an hour of boring Cinemax style soft core porn with one out of left field bestiality scene, I was beginning to get bored. Then all of the sudden, the movie goes hardcore. It is quite strange because it seems all previous scenes went out of their way to keep the sex strictly Cinemax and then get as graphic as your average pornography. Ten minutes after that the movie takes another strange turn and edges ever so lightly into the world of snuff. It takes a lot to disturb me, but the images used in this part of the movie put even Ilsa to shame.
All of that is well and good for this renowned exploitation film, even with the strange contrast of the light opening half with the decidedly heavy second, HOWEVER we run into a huge problem with the story. The acting is passable for this type of flick, I didn't expect Oscar nomination worthy performances. The story, if you want to call it that, was definitely an afterthought, as Emanuelle is an undercover reporter. Just what her assignment is is never clear, it appears to be some kind of expose on sex clubs, and SPOILER SPOILER in the end is never resolved. As a matter of fact, I don't think any particular storyline here was solved. We are basically watching an excuse to see this one woman sleep with as many people as possible, and other people sleep with each other too. SPOILER END.
Overall I can't recommend this movie for exploitation fans. There are movies that manage to squeeze all of this action in with a real plot and a fun time. This movie became a chore to sit through up until the last act, and then the ending blew all the good will that came from it. Stick to your Ilsa and Pam Grier prison flicks for your fill of this type of fare.
The Big Bird Cage (1972)
Amazing Fun
In the 70s, a popular exploitation sub genre known as women in prison produced low budget schlock after low budget schlock. Somewhere in the shuffle, there were a few enjoyable gems. Pam Grier (The L Word, Jackie Brown) seems to have a lock on these, as her "Women in Cages," "The Big Doll House," "The Arena," and this one, "The Big Bird Cage" all seem to be the most fun. I'm sure Roger Corman is to thank for these hilarious movies as well.
There really isn't much to the plot. A bunch of broads are in a prison and used as slave labor. They are trying to get out. They have some in fighting and it usually involves mud. The guards are gay stereotypes. Pam Grier doesn't take any crap. Sound like your cup of tea?
If you go into this movie expecting "The Godfather," you may not enjoy it, but if you are looking for an enjoyable flick to catch, this is the one. Pam Grier and Sid Haig(The Devil's Rejects) steal the show here, as their over the top performances anchor the rest of the mostly there to exploit, but serviceable cast. If you like your women in prison exploitation films to be more bouncy fun and less disturbing torture, I highly recommend you start here. If only they still made flicks like this.