IMDb > Emanuelle in America (1977) > IMDb user comments

IMDb user comments for
Emanuelle in America (1977) More at IMDbPro »

Filter: Hide Spoilers:
Page 1 of 4:[1] [2] [3] [4] [Next]
Index 38 comments in total 

23 out of 26 people found the following comment useful :-
Hooray for 1970's hairy pseudo-hardcore!, 18 May 2004
3/10
Author: hippiedj from Palm Desert, California

Ah, that Joe D'Amato...you can't help but watch his films no matter how curiously interesting or just plain bad they are. If it weren't for the explicit versions, I think most folks would forget about them soon after viewing, unless just gawking at naked gals here and there in the guise of a "legitimate film" is your kind of thing. The BIG problem with Emanuelle In America is that it can't make up its mind if it wants to be mere exploitation or hardcore, as it bounces back and forth but never really completes those goals.

Li'l Miss Sexpot herself Laura Gemser is "Miss Emanuelle" who will travel anywhere and subject herself to any danger in order to get an ultimate story to further her journalistic endeavors (her sneaking around and snapping pics reminded me a lot of later Charlie's Angels adventures). She joins a harem of sorts and fondles women and watches bestiality, mingles with horny aristocrats, gets an expose of a women's pleasure resort (ah, finally a bunch of naked men in a movie), and shmoozes with bad men behind a snuff film ring. Yes, a film like this DOES need lots of sex to keep it going, but it's strange how much of it doesn't show up until much later.

When sex scenes start, they end abruptly like a bad tease. During the sex, lots of jumpcuts jar the viewer so that it's not easy to get any pleasure out of viewing it. When hardcore footage appears, it usually never "finishes" (okay, there's a lack of money shots). When there ARE money shots, the scene has zipped by so fast you wonder if you were supposed to get excited or think that folks finish sexual encounters within one minute or less. Sex scenes in films like this are usually intended to arouse, and these leave you somewhat confused.

Here is where I DEFEND something about this film: Those people who are only turned on by shaved, squeaky-looking pretty people in porn should not be so harsh to those of us who actually like a bit of body hair on men, or if women aren't so artistically trimmed. I have a feeling that most are bitching about the "hairy men" because of the bearded guy in the hut (in the Tarzan fantasy sequence). If anything, his hirsute appearance enhanced the energy of the too-brief scene, and I'm sure there are plenty of folks that appreciated a natural-looking man instead of plastic pretty boys. As for the women, it's funny how so many "reviewers" are calling the actresses unattractive -- seems there are too many men out there that have ridiculously high standards for women. I didn't find these women unattractive; if anything they seemed real and still even out of the league that most of the drooling heterosexual viewers would ever get in real life. You know the kind, guys with beer guts who wear hats and t-shirts that say "No Fat Chicks" and think that all women are inherently bisexual. I say HOORAY for '70s hairy porn, let's have more of it!

For me, instead of being creeped out by physically follicle-blessed men, I was creeped out by the sordid footage of the snuff films. Instead of a glimpse of one, we are subjected to several scenes of it, and it reminds me of those harsh slasher films that get women naked before they are dismembered. Are we supposed to be aroused by the nudity AND the physical violence at the same time? Otherwise, why so much of it in this film? I say fill out the other basic hardcore sex scenes more, and less of the poles and hooks being used as sexual torture. And to think David Cronenberg got his inspiration for "Videodrome" from this film.....eek!

So, take a look at Emanuelle In America so you can say you saw it, and if you got a kick out it, then it's actually okay. I saw it as a curiosity that had to be done and over with. It just really felt like a longgggg tease to me, so that I had to dig into my stash of hairy '70s porn afterwards to feel satiated!

Was the above comment useful to you?

9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
They sure don't make movies like this anymore, 14 December 2006
8/10
Author: Bryce David

"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".

Was the above comment useful to you?

6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
An Abosolute Masterpiece Of Exploitation Sleaze!!!, 3 December 2005
9/10
Author: EVOL666 from St. John's Abortion Clinic

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Smut King Joe D'Amato does it again!!! Smokin' hot exotic beauty, Laura Gemser, plays a globetrotting nympho journalist in this incredible installment of the Emanuelle films. This one has everything - sleazy sex and lesbianism, insanely cheesy music and dialogue, simulated snuff footage, even some beastiality for you true sickos out there - it really doesn't get much better than this. EMANUELLE IN America should be THE sleaze standard that all other exploitation films aim to match.

Emanuelle begins her adventures by going "undercover" (pun absolutely intended...) and infiltrating a harem run by a wealthy businessman. Lots of tits and ass ensue, including several soft-core lesbo scenes. The Boss is a man of pretty discriminating tastes as we're treated to the first real "shock" of the film - and a doozy it is - a voyeuristic "peep" at a chick graphically jerking off a horse named Pedro!!! Inside the harem, our heroine meets an Italian aristocrat and decides to use him as her next journalistic feature. After escaping the harem, Emanuelle goes to visit this refined gent, just to find that he too is a pervert with a pension for counterfeit artwork and orgy dinner parties. This scene gives us an opportunity to view our first "hard-core" action of the film, a pretty protracted blow-job scene. While at the party, our hardworking hottie learns of a secret brothel where women can indulge in any freakish fantasy...for a price. Of course Emanuelle smells another juicy scoop, so off to the meat-farm it is. There we get a few actual hard-core porn scenes, including a little Tarzan and Jane role-playing, and some 2-on-1 interracial action for one lucky young lady. While peeping in on the going's on at the brothel, Emanuelle comes across a room where a lady is getting boned while she's watching some snuff material on a projector. This piques our randy reporter's interest and she heads back to headquarters to consult her boss about tracking down some more snuff films for an exclusive story. Her boss gives Emanuelle a guy's name who's known to run in those circles, and our sexy scribe does what she does best - seduces this poor joker into giving her the info she wants. This scene has some pretty rough simulated snuff material in it, including: hot-tar dildo force-feeding, vaginal hook impalement, and some pretty graphic forced breast reduction. Emanuelle takes her findings back to her boss who tells her the material can never be released due to it's super-controversial nature. Peeved about the cover-up, Emanuelle heads to the jungle with her sometimes boyfriend Bill for some R&R - this scene feels pretty out of place and nothing of any real note goes on here - and that's about it.

There are definitely some strange continuity faults with this film - such as the fact that all of the sex scenes in the beginning of the film are pretty light and standard 70's soft-core (with the exception of the stallion hand-job...), and then towards the middle and end, all the sudden we're treated to some pretty hardcore full on penetration sex action. Also the violence at the end is totally out of place with the rest of the film - but honestly, I find these quirks kind of endearing and actually help the overall "build-up" of the film. I also liked how tips from one undercover investigation made a smooth segue into the next investigation. My only real gripe is that the insanely hot Gemser is not shown in any of the hard-core sex scenes...this would have been a true "plearsure" and would have shot this film up to an 11. Personally I loved this film and hold it at the very top of the 70's exploitation genre out of all of the films of this type that I've seen so far. A definite must-see for fans of extreme sleaze - Highly recommended - 9/10

Was the above comment useful to you?

9 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
Pleasant and pernicious, 30 December 2003
Author: fertilecelluloid from Mountains of Madness

If pernicious is a stronger word for ugly, then it applies here, but I'm not referring to the "snuff" footage sequence, I'm referring to the non-sex/non-horror scenes. They're so unbelievably boring and poorly acted that you could end up leaving the theatre (or living room) and missing out on the sleaze.

The film's soundtrack is outstanding and captures the era wonderfully.

As always, Laura Gemser is captivating and too sexy for words, and the film's explicitness verges on hardcore for most of the time and crosses the softcore line once or twice.

But it's the "snuff" footage sleaze fans want and it doesn't disappoint. Almost SALO-esque in its intensity and terribly well executed, it arrives in context but blurs its context quickly because it is unexpectedly extreme and realistic.

Worth seeing once or twice. Or owning, if the inclination's there.

Was the above comment useful to you?

7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
An absolute classic, 17 July 2003
Author: Stu Chandler (chanelit-1) from London, England

This is probably about as extreme as exploitation gets (even when compared to such gory masterpieces as Nekromantik and Cannibal Holocaust). What makes it so extreme are that all the images on display as used in the context of sexual fantasy.

The infamous scene of a naked girl masterbating a horse is shown for the purposes of titillation and arousal.

The snuff footage is extremely nasty and difficult to watch and again plays to an audience looking for sexual arousal.

The film also contains numerous hard-core sex scenes and various lesbian scenes.

All in all a classic in its own right, surely only D'Amato could get away with such a film - hunt it high and low and get hold of a copy now!

You might be disgusted, but you won't be disappointed!

Was the above comment useful to you?

5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Finally a real sleaze movie, 5 May 2004
10/10
Author: andersngr from Sweden

I was over the top positively surprised as I finally got to see the uncut release of this movie (as compared to my 10 yrs old censored vhs tape). It compares to other favorites like NY Ripper and Buio Omega. A masterpiece which shows it all, just the way it should be. Totally cool. Of course it lacks intelligence and so on, but who cares. This is hard no non-sense sleaze horror. The kind of movie that isn't made today. Some Tarantino gunfire or stupid martial arts galore cannot compare to real depraved italo-cinema peeping tom NIHILISM !!!! And I liked the hardcore; Nice ugly 70's people...

I definitely give it a 10 out of 10.

Was the above comment useful to you?

9 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
The sickiest of sick!, 20 May 1999
Author: Jens Kofoed-Pihl from Copenhagen, Denmark

The late smutpeddler, Joe D'amato, has released hundreds of disgustin' sleaze epics but the 100 min. uncut version of "Emanuelle In America" takes the cake. Horsemasturbation, hardcore porn, castrations and the most vile "snuff" images you ever will see on film. Canadian maverick David Cronenberg was actually inspired by this flick to make his masterpiece, "Videodrome". Forget "Salo", "Caligula", "Man Bites Dog", "Man Behind The Sun" and "Cannibal Holocust" cuz this one will eat your mind!

Was the above comment useful to you?

3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
only for fans of Laura Gemser, 31 August 2005
3/10
Author: movieman_kev from United States

Emanuelle (Laura Gemser) is a photographer/newspaper investigator/hardcore slut in this sleazy little film be the prolific Joe D'Amato. Emanuelle goes abroad to look for a story, any story. The plot is VERY secondary to getting the beautiful Miss Gemser naked as much as possible. But of course this being a D'Amato film that's not enough for him, so he throws in bestiality (real) and snuff (fake, but disturbing). Everyone except for the aforementioned actress isn't that easy on the eyes, to put it diplomatically, and despite the nearly non-stop action put on display one can't help but to be a tad bored before the films over. Only really worth it for fans of Laura. The only other quasi compliment I have for this one is at least it was better than "Erotic Nights of the Living Dead". Man that movie sucked.

My Grade: D

Eye Candy: Lorraine De Selle, Laura Gemser,Paola Senatore & various extras show all

Blue Underground DVD Extras: uncut version; a subtitled Interview with director/cinematographer Joe D'Amato; an 11 minute subtitled Audio interview with actress Laura Gemser/Poster & still gallery; Liner notes of the Emanuelle films by David Flint; Filmographies for Joe D'Amato and Laura Gemser

Was the above comment useful to you?

4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Pure exploitation filth., 18 September 2005
8/10
Author: HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby, Poland

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This time Laura Gemser as a journalist Emanuelle goes under cover in a modern day harem and exposes what really goes at diplomatic parties in Venice.She then gets involved with corrupt American politician and finds herself entangled in conspiracy run by men who are abducting young women and torturing/butchering them in snuff films."Emanuelle in America" is so dirty,smut-filled and exploitative that it really has to be seen to be believed.This film is loaded with sex,sadistic torture and murder,violence and bestiality,but the action is pretty dull at times.The unerotic porno inserts are full of ugly people,however the snuff sequences are truly vile and sickening,but they appear quite briefly.We're talking nipples being hacked off,meat hooks rammed up bloodied vaginas,giant dildos filled with hot tar forced down unwilling throats etc."Emanuelle in America" is jaw-droppingly sleazy.It even has Paola Senatore giving a hand job to a horse named Pedro.Laura Gemser is great as a curious Emanuelle and it's a visual pleasure to see her naked.Once seen,never forgotten "Emanuelle in America" is one of the best films made by the Godfather of Sleaze,Joe D'Amato.8 out of 10.

Was the above comment useful to you?

7 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Don´t believe the hype!!!, 12 October 2001
Author: Daywalker from Switzerland

After reading the reviews to this film and being a huge Joe D´Amato-fan since a long time my expectations were more than immense! The story is about beautiful reporter Emanuelle (played by D´Amato-darling Laura Gemser) who wants to write a sensational story about perverse sexual practicals of America´s high society. Meeting (and even more than that..!) an influential politician Emuanuelle finds a trail to the legendary/notorious snuff-movies where real humans are tortured and killed on film...

A very interesting story, but sadly the execution is only average, because "Emanuelle in America" is nothing else but typical 1970s standard soft sex! When you´ve seen one example of the endless Emanuelle-series you´ve seen´em all - this movie is no exception! In my opinion, the sickest scene is featured in the 30th minute when a naked girl caresses the dick of a horse. Then nothing´s gonna happen... After one hour the first blow job-scene is brought on and in the last third the movie there are some short hardcore takes filmed.

And then at the very end you´ve got to see those notorious snuff-sequences..! Yes, they are extremely violent! Yes, they are extremely disturbing!! However they have a pretty short running time from about 15 seconds all together and they are quite similar to those featured in Pasolini´s "Salo". And I can´t get rid of that feeling director Joe D´Amato only added them to give this after all very tame movie some shocking and provoking impulses..!

If you want to see a real sick Joe D´Amato-movie watch his splatterfest "Buio Omega" instead!!!

Was the above comment useful to you?
Page 1 of 4:[1] [2] [3] [4] [Next]

Add another comment

Related Links

Plot summary Ratings External reviews
Parents Guide Plot keywords Main details
Your user comments Your vote history