L'alcova (1985)

Director:

Joe D'Amato

Writers:

Ugo Moretti (story)
Ugo Moretti (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 January 1985 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian Sex | Marriage | Writing A Book | Writer | Servant

Cast

Lilli Carati	...	Alessandra
Annie Belle	...	Wilma
Al Cliver	...	Elio De Silveris
Roberto Caruso	...	Furio
Laura Gemser	...	Zerbal
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nello Pazzafini	...	The Gardener (uncredited)

Directed by
Joe D'Amato

Writing credits
Ugo Moretti		(story)
Ugo Moretti		(screenplay)

Original Music by
Manuel De Sica

Cinematography by
Joe D'Amato		(as Federico Slonisco)

Film Editing by
Franco Alessandri
Mariano Laurenti

Production Design by
Richard Ribovske

Costume Design by
Catherine Corbaz

Makeup Department
Alex Hills	....	makeup artist
Charles Ross	....	hair stylist
Betty Russel	....	hair stylist (as Betty Russell)
Pietro Tenoglio	....	makeup artist (as Peter Trevor)

Production Management
Donatella Donati	....	production manager (as Helen Handris)
Antonio Tacchia	....	production supervisor (as Tony David)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Walsh	....	assistant director

Art Department
Albert McCoy	....	property master

Sound Department
Frank Blake	....	boom operator
Paul Parker	....	sound engineer

Special Effects by
Robert Gold	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Cohen	....	assistant camera
Mike Conte	....	assistant camera
Albert Hillman	....	still photographer
Daniele Massaccesi	....	camera operator (as Larry Hessel)
George O'Hara	....	key grip
Richard Power	....	chief electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Paula Whiter	....	seamstress

Other crew
Telly Albert	....	administrator
Alex Muller	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• Filmirage
• Golden Hawk Entertainment
• M.A.D. Film

Distributors

• Indipendenti Regionali (1985) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Capitol International Video (Italy) (VHS)
• Perfect Video (198?) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Poletel (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Rex Films Home Video (Greece) (VHS)
• Severin Films (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Junkie
• Videocast (198?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• X-Rated Kultvideo (2010) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"The Alcove" - , USA (DVD title)

Runtime:

Portugal:88 min | France:90 min | Italy:86 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:-16 | UK:18 | West Germany:18 (cut)

Company:

Filmirage

Trivia:

The credits claim the screenplay is based on a novel by Judith Wexley. It seems that this novel does not exist and researchers claim they could not locate such a novel.

Quotes:

Wilma:You hypocritical sow!
Alessandra:I love you too, Mata Hari.

A large dollop of D'amato sauce.

Following a successful campaign in Africa, soldier Elio De Silveris (Al Cliver) returns home to his wife Alessandra (Lilli Carati) bearing all manner of exotic souvenirs, the most unusual being Zerbal (Laura Gemser), an Abyssinian princess presented to him as a slave in return for saving the king's life.

At first Allesandra is hostile to Zerbal, as is Elio's sexy secretary Wilma (Annie Bell), with whom Allesandra has been having a lesbian affair in her husband's absence; but when ownership of Zerbal is transferred to Allessandra (in a strange ritual that entails plenty of licking), the lusty wife's attitude does a 180 degree turn and she takes the dusky maiden for her lover, putting Wilma's nose severely out of joint. Soon, scheming Zerbal becomes the domineering force in the household.

This mid-career effort from prolific Italian sleaze merchant Joe D'amato sees the seasoned exploitation director tentatively entering Tinto Brass territory, delivering plenty of 1930s period charm, an atmosphere of constant sexual tension, loads of lush cinematography, and, of course, oodles of soft-focus, soft-core coupling with the emphasis on lesbianism. No stranger to capturing smut on camera, D'amato masterfully handles the steamy action, concentrating his attention on the sensuality of the lovemaking, although one can sense that the director is yearning to go further, his camera permanently on the prowl for even the slightest glimpse of snatch.

Eventually, Joe just can't help himself and sneaks in some genuine hardcore filth and old school exploitation during the film's final act: the graphic sex arrives in the form of a (genuine?) vintage stag flick screened by Elio, who intends to raise some much needed cash by making similar films, with his three women as his stars. Amazingly, the ladies agree to the project, but when the camera begins to roll, in true D'amato style, events turn decidedly nasty: Wilma is bound and abused by Allesandra and Zerbal, and raped by Elio's eager gardener Pepe (who has been planning to tend to her bush ever since spying it in the garden). After the ordeal is over, an understandably upset Wilma vows to make them pay for what they have done to her.

From an exploitation fan's point of view, this lurid rape/revenge scenario is a great way to end matters, and narrowly saves The Alcove from being just another vapid mid-eighties piece of Euro-erotica. Not essential D'amato, but not entirely worthless either, I rate The Alcove a reasonable 5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb.