Papaya: Love Goddess of the Cannibals (1978) Papaya dei Caraibi (original title)

Director:

Joe D'Amato

Writers:

Roberto Gandus (screenplay)
Renzo Maietto (adaptation)

Release Date:

16 November 1978 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Plot:

A team of geologists attempt to remove a native cannibal population from an island to perform atomic research, but the cannibals' female leader disposes of them one by one by seduction. |

Plot Keywords:

Seduction | See Through Clothes | No Panties | Exploitation | Threesome

Cast

Melissa Chimenti	...	Papaya (as Melissa)
Sirpa Lane	...	Sara
Maurice Poli	...	Vincent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dakar	...	Ceremony Leader (uncredited)

Directed by
Joe D'Amato

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Roberto Gandus		screenplay
Renzo Maietto		adaptation

Produced by
Carlo Maietto	....	producer

Original Music by
Stelvio Cipriani

Cinematography by
Joe D'Amato		(as Aristide Massaccesi)

Film Editing by
Vincenzo Tomassi

Production Design by
Mimmo Scavia

Costume Design by
Mimmo Scavia

Makeup Department
Marcello Di Paolo	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Alessandro Di Luca	....	unit manager
Ugo Valenti	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Donatella Donati	....	assistant director

Art Department
Mario Ciccarella	....	property master

Sound Department
Pietro Spadoni	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Gino Conversi	....	assistant camera
Fernando Massaccesi	....	chief electrician
Luciano Micheli	....	key grip
Guglielmo Vincioni	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Franco Malvestiti	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Aureliano Luppi	....	script supervisor
Massimo Zaccariello	....	cutting room assistant

Production Companies

• Mercury Cinematografica

Distributors

• X-Rated Kultvideo (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Group 3 Distribution (1979) (France) (theatrical)
• Severin Films (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• VZ-Handelsgesellschaft (2011) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Papaya dei Caraibi" - Italy (original title)
"Caribbean Papaya" - International (English title)
"Die of Pleasure" - Europe (English title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Telecolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM18 | West Germany:18 | USA:Not Rated (Severin films DVD)

Company:

Mercury Cinematografica

Trivia:

German Import DVD has a Super-8mm Version (German language only), as a special feature on the disc.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

Re: Terrible, but filled with that D'Amato charm!

I finally obtained a copy of this very obscure D'Amato film. After successfully tolerating both "Erotic Nights of The Living Dead" and "Porno Holocaust," I found it necessary to further push the limits of my tolerance with this, another D'Amato porno/horror galivanting-in-paradise film. First off, I don't speak German, and since this film only exists in a German dubbed print I had to get what I could out of the body language, of which there was quite a lot, albeit of the sexual kind. I couldn't help but snicker at myself about what I have become. Here I am watching a more than likely 8th generation bootleg in a language I don't even speak. Yet I am intent on seeing it and have no inclination to stop it. Have I gone insane? Has the awesome power of Italian Horror Sleaze turned me into one of its own zombies? Though this film is terrible, it possesses a charm that I can't resist. It is the same charm that has afforded me the will to watch about %50 of D'Amato's output. The beautiful Caribbean scenery, the sexy women, the pig slaughter, the leg-crossing oral castration that opens the film, all culminate into one rediculous, schizophrenic movie. I guess that is what most of D'Amato's horror/porn films are...schizophrenic. Worth watching if you are a hardcore D'Amato fan, otherwise don't buy into those video bootleg companies who try to promote it like its some crazy, gory, sex filled cannibal romp Because its not. There is plenty of softcore sex, some gore but not much. There is only one scene of cannibalism (not counting the castration scene). This film can be sometimes found under the title "Papaya: Love Goddess Of The Cannibals." From what I could tell, this film had more to do with Voodoo then cannibalism. Nonetheless, I liked the film, I love D'Amato and I don't apologize for indulging in this kind of sleaze. Cheers Joe! May you rest in peace!