Adult movies: Emmanuelle and more

HBO Emmanuelle is probably the most iconic erotic film franchise out there—honestly, you could argue that just like James Bond defines the action genre, Emmanuelle is the gold standard for erotic cinema. The first movie, which was based on that censored novel from the 50s, caused such a massive stir because the sex scenes were so explicit they practically flirted with being straight-up pornography... but man, did it pay off! It was a huge hit with audiences and pulled in nearly $300 million, making it the highest-grossing erotic film ever at the time. The sequels weren't quite as big, but they expanded on the book's plot and really cemented the series as a cult classic. If you look at the original run from the 70s and 80s, there are seven films, though they did some other spin-offs in the 90s—which leaned more into sci-fi—and through the 2000s. Still, most people agree that nothing can touch those original movies starring the gorgeous Sylvia Kristel.

So, have any of you actually sat down and watched them? What’s your take? And seriously, which Emmanuelle is the absolute best in your eyes?

Man, I remember watching that as a kid on Vox or maybe some German cable channel—something like that. It was always late on weekend nights; I clearly remember waiting for my parents to head to bed so I could finally switch over to 😁
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Cannibal Holocaust was actually pretty good 😁

steeljackal7 said:Man, I remember watching that as a kid on Vox or maybe some German cable channel—something like that. It was always late on weekend nights; I clearly remember waiting for my parents to head to bed so I could finally switch over to 😁
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It was the exact same story for me... I’d catch it back then (I think it aired right before the main movie) during those Thursday nights on Vox... right when my dad had just set up the satellite dish...
To be honest, those Emanuelle films were better than 90% of the porn produced in the US...🙏

Betty Chase4 said:It was the exact same story for me... I’d catch it back then (I think it aired right before the main movie) during those Thursday nights on Vox... right when my dad had just set up the satellite dish...
To be honest, those Emanuelle films were better than 90% of the porn produced in the US...🙏

👋 👋 👋

The only thing worth watching is Sylvia Kristel, everything else is total garbage.

True enough. Though, if I'm being honest, I always had a bit of a soft spot for Laura Gemser too...

I'd much rather just stick to watching actual porn☕

Patrick Martin said:I'd much rather just stick to watching actual porn☕

I still have quite a few favorites left over today—especially those great erotic films from the early 1980s.
It’s honestly better than most adult films out there—there's just something about that tension where everything is visible, yet nothing is actually shown. That subtle balance is exactly what makes it so captivating.

For me, titles like *Private Lessons* (1981) or *What Every Woman Wants* (1986) are the first ones that come to mind...

Betty Chase4 As I was reflecting on this earlier, I found myself thinking about what was said:
I must admit, I find myself still searching for something worthwhile to watch today, particularly when it comes to those classic erotic films from the early 1980s. There was such a specific, unmistakable atmosphere to that era of filmmaking that seems to be missing from modern cinema.
Honestly, I find this to be better than many adult films out there. There is something uniquely captivating about the way everything is shown, yet nothing is explicitly revealed; that subtle tension is exactly what makes it so incredibly engaging.

When I try to recall some of those classic titles, things like *Private Lessons* or *What Every Woman Wants* are usually the first ones that come to mind.

I couldn't agree more. In that regard, I think Sylvia has truly remained more memorable than any other adult actress from that particular era. It was simply a specific genre of erotic cinema back then, naturally filled with its share of both masterpieces and total flops. Personally, I always found myself gravitating more toward those breezy Italian erotic comedies from that period, especially the ones starring Gloria Guida and Laura Antonelli.
To be perfectly honest, I found *Emanuelle* to be an incredibly tedious and overextended film. I remember watching it back when I was just a kid, and if I'm being truthful, my only real motivation for sitting through it was the restless anticipation of waiting for Sylvia Kristel to finally undress.

brighteagle39 said:

Betty Chase4 As I was reflecting on this earlier, I found myself thinking about what was said:
I must admit, I find myself still searching for something worthwhile to watch today, particularly when it comes to those classic erotic films from the early 1980s. There was such a specific, unmistakable atmosphere to that era of filmmaking that seems to be missing from modern cinema.
Honestly, I find this to be better than many adult films out there. There is something uniquely captivating about the way everything is shown, yet nothing is explicitly revealed; that subtle tension is exactly what makes it so incredibly engaging.

When I try to recall some of those classic titles, things like *Private Lessons* or *What Every Woman Wants* are usually the first ones that come to mind.

I couldn't agree more. In that regard, I think Sylvia has truly remained more memorable than any other adult actress from that particular era. It was simply a specific genre of erotic cinema back then, naturally filled with its share of both masterpieces and total flops. Personally, I always found myself gravitating more toward those breezy Italian erotic comedies from that period, especially the ones starring Gloria Guida and Laura Antonelli.
To be perfectly honest, I found *Emanuelle* to be an incredibly tedious and overextended film. I remember watching it back when I was just a kid, and if I'm being truthful, my only real motivation for sitting through it was the restless anticipation of waiting for Sylvia Kristel to finally undress.

For some reason, I find the sequel, Emmanuelle, much better than the first one...

New Year's Eve on PBS

Emmanuelle, a French flick (Rated R)

It’s a women's drama about Sylvia Kristel traveling to Bangkok to spice up her sex life...

This was the first movie in that whole series of French softcore films based on the novel by Emmanuelle Arsan. It was a massive hit back in Europe, the US, and all over Asia. They even shot a sequel in 1975 because it blew up so much. Honestly, the influence of Emmanuelle was everywhere—it even inspired stuff like that Italian series, Black Emanuelle.

Larry Walker24 said:New Year's Eve on PBS

Emmanuelle, a French flick (Rated R)

It’s a women's drama about Sylvia Kristel traveling to Bangkok to spice up her sex life...

This was the first movie in that whole series of French softcore films based on the novel by Emmanuelle Arsan. It was a massive hit back in Europe, the US, and all over Asia. They even shot a sequel in 1975 because it blew up so much. Honestly, the influence of Emmanuelle was everywhere—it even inspired stuff like that Italian series, Black Emanuelle.

I’m not sure I can call these "softcore" when they are really just pure erotica. In my opinion, maybe only the fourth installment fits that description because it features two brief scenes with visible penetration...
Everything else is straight-up erotica... since you don't actually see any penetration...

I’m actually in the middle of this book right now and, man, I am loving it. It isn't just some mindless erotic fluff, either—it’s got all these deep philosophical layers tucked in there, kind of reminiscent of the Marquis de Sade, you know? Though, if I remember correctly, they totally stripped out those heady parts in the first movie adaptation.

For those who have a taste for this kind of cinema—PBS is running an erotic film cycle this Friday. They’re kicking things off with Paprika tinta Brassa. Also, a new version of Lady Chatterley just dropped on Netflix. Personally, I think it’s excellent—miles better than that old version featuring S. Kristel.

Speaking of S. Kristel...
There’s this strange film from '76—it was released here as Streetwalker starring Joe Dalesandar and directed by Valerian Borowczyk. Has anyone actually seen it?
It’s been a long time since I watched it, but certain scenes were quite provocative. A women's drama with touches of erotica...

Sarah Miller4 said:Speaking of S. Kristel...
There’s this strange film from '76—it was released here as Streetwalker starring Joe Dalesandar and directed by Valerian Borowczyk. Has anyone actually seen it?
It’s been a long time since I watched it, but certain scenes were quite provocative. A women's drama with touches of erotica...

Is this the one?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Margin_(film)

Yeah, that one. It’s such a bizarre film, almost touching on religious themes—all that stuff about sin, deception, and family dynamics...
I'm debating whether to download it, provided I can find a version with the original subtitles.
Joe Dalesandar and Sylvia Kristel make for a truly lethal pairing.
She is absolutely stunning...

The director Valerian Borowczyk had a penchant for making incredibly strange films, heavily steeped in religious and erotic themes.
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Starting a thread specifically about him...

I remember seeing that Borowczyk film on PBS not too long ago... I actually think they might have aired his entire filmography, including those classic "immoral nun" flicks

Beta 75, a tale of sin, '76, and immoral habits...
A true stylist. An artist...