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Released by: Mondo Macabro
Released on: 3/31/2003
Director: Cesar Canevari
Cast: Ajita Wilson, Tina Aumont, Luigi Pistilli
Year: 1976
The Movie:
From the director of the uber-trashy Gestapo's Last Orgy, comes a far less exploitive but equally interesting film, The Nude Princess.
The late Ajita Wilson (born as George Wilson) plays an African diplomat named Miriam Zamoto who finds herself on a trip to Milan to head up a trade delegation that should be in place to aid in some much needed construction back in her home country.
It turns out, however, that Miriam has some secrets that she'd rather leave in her past and not have dragged up by the press during her tenure in Europe. Not only did she used to be a nude model, but she also has a rather colored sexual history that would make for pretty good copy for a tabloid reporter - and it just so happens that there's one on her tail from the time she sets foot in Italy, though he's more interested in blackmailing her for sexual favors than he is in reporting the truth.
Miriam actually seems to have this problem a lot. Everyone wants to be with her, including Gladys (played by Tina Aumont), who's been assigned by the local delegates to assist Miriam during her trip.
Eventually, Miriam cuts loose and gives in to her less refined side in a truly bizarre group scene lead by a midget who runs around smacking everyone on their backside, but what Miriam doesn't know is that someone is watching all of this and photographing the whole episode to use against her.
The Nude Princess is a really strange movie. At times it reminded me of a more overtly political version of Kinji Fukasaku's Black Rose Mansion (both films feature a transsexual lead playing a female who is able to captivate all the men that she comes in contact with and so obviously play with a lot of the same themes) with the exploitation elements played up a bit more.
With some truly interesting set pieces (you've gotta love the ass smacking midget) and great performances from Wilson and Aumont, The Nude Princess belongs in every sexploitation fans home library.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Though there is a bit of grain and print damage floating around on the print used, this is otherwise another very nice transfer from Mondo Macabro. Presented in 1.85.1 widescreen and enhanced for anamorphic TVs, the colors are vibrant and brilliant and the blacks are nice and deep with only a slight hair of compression artifacts that is just barely noticeable.
The Dolby Digital Mono soundtrack is nice and clean with only a little bit of hiss in the background during a few scenes. The catchy soundtrack comes through clearly and everything is easy to understand with nicely balanced levels for both dialogue and sound effects.
Once again, Mondo Macabro delivers some great extra features sure to please fans of the film and those wanting to know more about it. First up is a nice gallery of stills and posters relating to the film, and a selection of interesting and well-written biographies of the key cast and crewmembers. The real treat though is a lengthy video interview with Tina Aumont in which she discusses her career's high points and isn't afraid to talk about the low points either. It's an interesting talk and she has quite a bit of great things to say and talk about as she covers not only The Nude Princess, but a lot of other films that she worked on as well.
The Final Word:
The Nude Princess is an interesting Euro-sex film that is definitely worth seeking out in this fine presentation from Mondo Macabro.