Rosalba Neri and Edwige Fenech

5 Favourites :

‘Marquis De Sade : Justine’ (1969 – Jess Franco)

One of the greatest motion pictures to date dealing with the writings and legacy of the Marquis De Sade. Bruno Nicolai contributes a music score for the ages.

‘Sexy Susan Knows!’ (1970 – Franz Antel)

Spirited historical romp led by Hungarian superstar Teri Tordai in multiple roles. It’s directed by Austrian master Franz Antel whose involvement attracted a star-studded international ensemble.

‘Lady Frankenstein’ (1971 - Aureliano Luppi & Mel Welles)

This one’s always mentioned as essential viewing for fans of Rosalba Neri. Trouble is there’s so many battered prints around and I’ve only seen it in a poor transfer. Can’t say I enjoyed it all that much as it’s fairly typical of the more basic Eurofiller that littered the gothic horror landscape of the time. It's okay though.

‘Amuck’ (1972 – Silvio Amadio)

Sultry thriller from Italy’s king of murderous melodrama, Silvio Amadio. Neri also appears in an Amadio film I’ve not seen, ‘Smile Before Death’ (1972).

‘The Arena’ (1974 – Steve Carver & Joe D’Amato)

Steaming gladiator action co-produced by Roger Corman. One of the films that helped propel cinematographer Aristide Massaccesi into a career directing genre pictures under his pseudonym Joe D’Amato, having already cut his teeth within the decameroti cycle which drew from the works of Florentine writer Giovanni Boccaccio .

Recommended viewing :

‘Sexy Susan Sins Again’ (1968 – Franz Antel)

Spirited historical romp led by Hungarian superstar Teri Tordai in multiple roles. It’s directed by Austrian master Franz Antel whose leadership attracted a star-studded international cast.

‘House Of Pleasure’ (1969 – Franz Antel)

Spirited historical romp led by Hungarian superstar Teri Tordai in multiple roles. It’s directed by Austrian master Franz Antel whose continued selection attracted a star-studded international line-up.

‘5 Dolls For An August Moon’ (1970 – Mario Bava)

Mario Bava’s bright, colourful giallo has grown on me over the years, cementing its position as one of my favourites from the gothic master. It’s a little silly, no doubt, but very entertaining.

‘The Strange Vice Of Mrs Wardh’ (1970 – Sergio Martino)

A compelling giallo mystery thriller with a dark vibe from the great horror director Sergio Martino.

‘All The Colors Of The Dark’ (1972 – Sergio Martino)

Sergio Martino’s supremely confident satanic giallo showcases the considerable talents of this artful technician.

‘The Case Of The Bloody Iris’ (1972 – Giuliano Carnimeo)

A traditional fashion house giallo that delivers on all fronts, helmed with authority by formidable technician Giuliano Carnimeo.

‘Your Vice Is A Locked Room And Only I Have The Key’ (1972 – Sergio Martino)

There’s more than a touch of Edgar Allan Poe to this superb gothic chiller from director Sergio Martino.

‘Ubalda, All Naked And Warm’ (1972 – Mariano Laurenti)

Fenech eagerly signed up to work with comedy great Mariano Laurenti and she really shines in this delightful tale set during the Middle Ages.

‘Giovannona Long-Thigh’ (1973 – Sergio Martino)

A side-splitting satire from Sergio Martino who allows his artistic muse Fenech full reign to make their material fly.

‘The School Teacher’ (1975 – Nando Cicero)

Fenech superfan Eli Roth has written extensively about her career (she has a memorable cameo in his 2007 horror sequel ‘Hostel 2’), citing her work in ‘The School Teacher’ with comedy titan Nando Cicero as being among her best. Fenech returned for two sequels in the ‘School Teacher’ series before being replaced by Nadia Cassini who was herself replaced by Anna Maria Rizzoli. Fenech reteamed with Cicero for the first two entries in the “Military Manoeuvre” cycle (I prefer later sequels in this series).

‘Strip Nude For Your Killer’ (1975 – Andrea Bianchi)

Fenech is often called the Queen of the Giallo and it’s hard to argue when considering her enduring contributions to the pulp crime subgenre. ‘Strip Nude For Your Killer’ is an experimental gamechanger that completely shook up the giallo format and influenced almost every entry in the original cycle to follow. Fenech is in her element working with the great technician Andrea Bianchi.

‘Sex With A Smile’ (1976 – Sergio Martino)

Fenech joins an all-star international cast for one of the funniest comic anthologies of the 1970s.

‘The Virgo, The Taurus And The Capricorn’ (1977 – Luciano Martino)

I don’t like this swinging jet-set comedy but it’s worth seeing if you’re a fan of Fenech who’s directed here by Sergio Martino’s brother Luciano; and she’s the whole show.

‘The Biggest Battle’ (1978 – Umberto Lenzi)

Fenech joins Helmut Berger, Samantha Eggar, Henry Fonda, Giuliano Gemma, Stacy Keach, Ray Lovelock, Venantino Venantini, Guy Doleman, Ida Galli and John Huston for Umberto Lenzi’s messy macaroni combat picture that’s narrated by Orson Welles.

‘Wife On Vacation ... Lover In Town’ (1980 – Sergio Martino)

Edwige Fenech and Barbara Bouchet are a hoot in this hysterical comedy of errors from Sergio Martino. You may enjoy Martino’s comedies ‘Sugar, Honey And Pepper’ (1980) and ’Cream Horn’ (1981) which also star Fenech but I feel the creative spark was missing when they made these.