Emmanuelle (1974)

Director:

Just Jaeckin

Writers:

Emmanuelle Arsan (novel)
Jean-Louis Richard (writer)

Release Date:

3 December 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

X was never like this.

Plot:

Emmanuelle is a beautiful young model and lives in Bangkok together with her husband Jean, who's several years older...

Plot Keywords:

Emmanuelle | Trip | Extramarital Affair | Couples | Erotic

Cast

Alain Cuny	...	Mario
Sylvia Kristel	...	Emmanuelle
Marika Green	...	Bee
Daniel Sarky	...	Jean
Jeanne Colletin	...	Ariane
Christine Boisson	...	Marie-Ange
Samantha
Gabriel Briand		(as Gaby Brian)
Gregory

Also Known As:

Emmanuelle (USA)

Runtime:

105 min | Argentina:98 min | USA:89 min (R-rated version) | USA:95 min | South Korea:85 min | West Germany:93 min (cut version)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Iceland:16 | West Germany:18 (cinema release) (re-rating) (cut) | West Germany:(Banned) (original rating) (cinema release) | West Germany:Not Rated (video rating) | USA:Unrated (rating surrendered) | UK:18 (video re-rating) (2007) (uncut) | Portugal:M/18 | USA:X | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-18 | France:-16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:(Banned) (original rating) | Ireland:18 (re-rating) | Italy:VM18 | Japan:R-18 | Netherlands:16 (re-rating) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (cut) | USA:X (MPAA: 1974, 1984)

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

Trinacra Films

Trivia:

The film was originally denied permits to film in Thailand, in part due to its sexual content. The filmmakers only managed to do so by presenting an earlier, family-oriented version of the script they had no intention of shooting, and later pretending that they were merely shooting a documentary film of the local sites.

Quotes:

Mario: Love between couples should be outlawed. Every act of love must include a third person.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Dark Side of Porn: Hunting Emmanuelle (#2.3)" (2006)

I won't bother thinking up a pun to go with Bangkok...

Going into this film, the only thing that I was really worried about was that it might be boring. It's not that I particularly have anything against pornography; but what's taboo now and what was taboo over three decades ago are different things, and besides that; you can only watch people having sex for so long before it begins to get dull. However, I was wrong; the film isn't boring, and while the focus is usually on sex; there actually is a story, and it actually is quite interesting! The film is unlikely to appeal to people that are interested in the more perverted side of sex as the film doesn't feature anything above lesbian sex, but the tender way that the story is presented as well as the French style give it a very erotic feel throughout. The plot, as you might expect, focuses on the character 'Emmanuelle', a young woman that lives with her husband; an older man, in Bangkok. They share a sort of teacher-pupil relationship, and they're also very liberal where adultery is concerned, as neither one cares too much about the other's antics with other people.

This film inspired a barrage of slightly less tasteful sequels, as well as a range of Italian films, many of which were directed by sleaze God Joe D'Amato. I don't think the filmmakers intended Emmanuelle to be associated so closely with sleaze, and actually at times; it doesn't really feel like a porn film; more of a drama with sex. I've got no idea how many taboos this film broke upon it's release over three decades ago, but the fact that it doesn't really break many today does it a favour where class is concerned as the film never feels too dirty, and this bodes well with the high class of the lead characters and setting. Sylvia Kristel takes the lead role, and is believable as a sexually naive young woman. She is joined by a number of eye-pleasing actresses, including Christine Boisson and Marika Green, and all get to take their clothes off in several scenes. The settings in which it all takes place are pleasing also, and the film is of a much higher class than a lot of nowadays porn. I'm surprised that Emmanuelle still has a notorious reputation, as it's only soft-core at best; but it's definitely worth seeing, if only to see how much things have changed!