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Released by: Mondo Macabro
Released on: N/A
Director: Cesare Canevari
Cast: Ajita Wilson, Tina Aumont, Luigi Pistilli, Jho Jenkins, Rosa Daniels
Year: 1976
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The Movie:
Cesare Canevari, probably best known for directing some nasty Nazi/WIP exploitation films in the seventies and eighties, helmed in 1976 The Nude Princess, starring the charismatic an enigmatic Ajita Wilson (who, oddly enough, was born George Wilson, you do the math).
The film chronicles the story of Miriam Zamoto, an African diplomat who is sent by her countries horrific and tyrannical dictator to Milan, Italy on a mission to instigate a trade agreement between Italy and her homeland.
Along the way a tabloid journalist named Marco begins digging around and uncovers some sordid details of her less than pure history. It seems that back in the day, Miriam was a nude model and possibly dabbled in some adult film work as well. Marco attempts to use this information to get Miriam to sleep with him, but it turns out that he's not the only one who wants what she has to offer, as one of her fellow politicians named Gladys (the stunning Tina Aumont) starts paying closer and closer attention to Miriam as well.
Eventually, with the help of one of her fellow countryman who brings Miriam to a group sex session lead my a midget in Speedos who runs around smacking people on the backside, Miriam lets herself go and has an awakening of sorts, but her wild abandon has not gone unnoticed and someone might even have photographic evidence of her current fall from grace.
Right out of the gate it's obvious that The Nude Princess is not an average Euro-sex film. It's far more political than it's brethren and despite the presence of the aforementioned ass-smacking midget, plays itself pretty straight. Supposedly based on a real life scandal that took place before the film was made, the story is actually well worth paying attention to and isn't just eye candy, though there is plenty of that on display as well, regardless of your persuasion or preference.
At times the film reminded me of Kinji Fukasaku's Black Rose Mansion.Both films revolve around are dominated by the presence of a less than conventional 'female' lead who seem to draw the men who surround them into their web, and both are political and satirical in nature, but the similarity really ends there. Canevari's directorial style is a lot different than Fukasaku's and the film is considerably more graphic in regards to the amount of flesh revealed on screen.
Either way, The Nude Princess is worth seeking out. It's a unique and interesting film with an unusual lead and some wonderful cinematography, and it tells a genuinely engrossing story.
Video/Audio/Extras:
OK, while there is a bit of grain and minor print damage on the print used for this transfer, the colors are amazing and the blacks are near perfect with no compression issues or edge enhancement ruining the fine detail evident on screen. There's really not much to complain about here, the movie looks really good.
The Dolby Digital Mono soundtrack is in Italian with removable English subtitles. The track is clean and clear and free of hiss, distortion or noise. Dialogue is balanced nicely over the films fun, kitshy soundtrack, which in turn never overshadows voices or effects in the soundscape.
As usual, Mondo Macabro has supplied some interesting reading to go along with the feature. Some fascinating in-depth notes on the film are supplied as well as some well-written biographies on Ajita Wilson, Tina Aumont and Luigi Pistilli. There is also a great still and poster gallery included with some nice promotional artwork on display.
The biggest bonus on the disc though is an almost half hour long interview with Tina Aumont, who speaks at length about her interesting career in sexploitation films and her working relationship with Wilson, who she swears she thought was a natural woman while working with her.
The Final Word:
The Nude Princess is one of the better sexploitation films to come out of Europe and also one of the most interesting. Mondo Macabro once again does a great job with this release.