Emanuelle in America (1977)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Joe D'Amato

Writers:

Ottavio Alessi (story)
Maria Pia Fusco (writer)

Release Date:

1977 (UK)

Genre:

Adult | Drama | Horror

Tagline:

No one is ever the same after . . . Emanuelle

Plot:

An American journalist travels throughout the world in search of a good story by joining a modern-day...

Plot Keywords:

Government Corruption | Female Frontal Nudity | Third Part | Female Rear Nudity | Journalist

Cast

Laura Gemser	...	Emanuelle
Gabriele Tinti	...	Alfredo Elvize, Duke of Mount Elba
Roger Browne	...	The Senator
Riccardo Salvino	...	Bill
Lars Bloch	...	Eric van Darren
Paola Senatore	...	Laura Elvize
Maria Piera Regoli	...	Diana Smith
Giulio Bianchi	...	Tony
Efrem Appel	...	Joe
Matilde Dall'Aglio
Carlo Foschi
Maria Renata Franco
Giulio Massimini
Stefania Nocilli	...	Janet the model

Also Known As:

Brutal Nights
Emanuelle in America (International: English title)

Runtime:

100 min | France:80 min | Brazil:92 min | Germany:92 min | Italy:90 min | UK:82 min (heavily cut)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 (heavily cut) | West Germany:Not Rated (original release) (heavily cut) | Germany:Not Rated (re-release) | USA:Not Rated | France:-16 | Italy:VM18 | Australia:R | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-18

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

New Film Production S.r.l.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Joe D'Amato at Eurofest (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Celebrate Myself

They sure don't make movies like this anymore

"Emanuelle in America" has the reputation of being one of the sleaziest, most vile films ever made. Well, having watched it a couple of times I have to say that its reputation is a tad overblown. Yes, the average movie-going public would probably be offended by many parts of EIA but when you think about those objectionable scenes, they're not that freaky. There is much worse on the internet right now than what is seen, briefly, in EIA. EIA was made during the greatest period of exploitation films, a period, which alas, will never be recreated again. The mores of the 1970s made it possible for films to explore the sleaziest, darkest part of the human psyche. Remember, these films were released theatrically. There's almost no chance today for a film like EIA to be released on the big screen, no matter how many sleazy or super violent films have been made recently, like, hmm, "Passion of the Christ"? Arf!

Anyway, there's something backwards and ahead of its time about "Emanuelle in America". It's painfully backwards in the attempts the producers tried to shock jaded 42nd ave viewers with bestiality and such but forward thinking in the way sex is shown so carefree and dare I say fun? It's like the realization of a silly Penthouse forum story made come to life...seriously, the film is sexy in only the way 1970s can be. The beginning is great. Seeing Laura walking around New York, which the groovy theme song, makes EIA look like an adult version of the MARY TYLER MOORE show intro: Laura is a free woman (who's almost always in control), a career woman and is sexually active. The only thing missing in the intro is Laura tossing a hat in the air.

The biggest problem with "Emanuelle in America" is the script. Films like this are not known to have solid scripts but the producers actually tried to create a semblance of an interesting story, amidst the sleaze and lurid goings on, but then completely forgot a satisfactory ending for this. I love the fact that film suddenly veered into snuff-like territory at the very end but it became sorta pointless without a proper conclusion to that last minute plot line.

All in all, I think "Emanuelle in America" is a masterpiece of 1970s exploitation. It has almost every exploitation element in it (the only thing missing, like most of exploitation films, is male homosexuality). Laura Gemser is hot. The music is amazing and the cinematography is actually pretty good. I only give it 8 because of the missing ending and because of some boring, drawn-out spots.

If want to see a film that captures the warped side of the 1970s in all its Euro-cult glory, make sure to watch "Emanuelle in America".