Review of Emanuelle and the White Slave Trade

Liberated and uninhibited photojournalist Emanuelle (the ever-delicious Laura Gemser in peak yummy form) once again finds herself in considerable peril and enjoys her usual array of torrid carnal encounters while posing undercover in a prostitution ring that traffics in white slavery. Director Joe D'Amato, who also co-wrote the cheerfully raunchy script with Romano Scandariato, relates the eventful story at a brisk pace, maintains a blithely sleazy tone throughout, and captures the merry spirit of the 70's sexual revolution in the carefree pre-AIDS era of safe sex with total strangers. Naturally, D'Amato not only loads this picture with oodles of scrumptious bare female skin and sizzling soft-core couplings, but also covers the satisfying sensuous bases by including a wide variety bawdy pleasures that include straight copulation, lesbianism, masturbation, an especially hot'n'steamy threesome, and even a couple of (off-screen) gang bangs for good sordid measure. The sturdy cast of familiar solid pro Italian exploitation faces keeps the movie humming: The luscious Ely Galleani as Emanuelle's lusty'n'loyal gal pal Susan Towers, Gabriele Tinti as slimy flesh-peddler Francis Harley, Venantino Venantina as secretive businessman Giorgio Rivetti, and Pierre Marfurt as the dashing Prince Arausani. Special kudos are in order for Nicola D'Eramo as creepy transvestite Stefan, whose unexpected kung-fu fight set piece in a bowling alley provides a definite wacky highlight. The exotic globe-trotting locations add an impressive sense of scope. D'Amato's glossy cinematography makes neat and invigorating use of a constantly moving camera. Nico Fidenco's funky-throbbing score hits the get-down groovy spot (the catchy thumping disco theme song "Run, Cheetah, Run" is a real hoot!). An immensely fun drive-in flick.