Review
by Bruce Walsh
In
1968, Towers Films popped this period piece
potpourri of persecution out for our perusal.
Sorry! Directed by Jess Franco, this is
the film version of the Marquis De Sade
story, "Justine." This would appear
to be the R rated version of the literary
masterpiece, but unfortunately, a TV editor
would only have to trash about 1:30 minutes.
The trademark Franco closeups hurt some
of the better scenes, especially in Scope.
Jack Palance narrates. What a guy.
K2 is the literary giant himself,
however his role is limited to a few scenes
of writing and pouting in a cell, and of
course, the all important fondling of babes
in stockades. He has no dialogue.
Justine (Romina Power...babe)
and Juliette (Maria Rohm...eh) are sisters
who have to leave the convent because their
dead parent's money ran out. Juliette has
a friend they can stay with...it's a bordello,
and Justine'll have no part of it.
They go their separate ways,
and it turns into an essay on virtue. In
the Franco tradition, this baby's packed
with nifty stuff: killer babes and babes
who kill, a branding scene (human), murder,
bondage, accupuncture, a thieving priest,
a dyke murderess, whores, love, hate, a
cult dedicated to the pursuit of ultimate
passion, breasts.
Not to mention a topless Sylvana
(BATTLE OF NERETVA) Koscina as some marquessa
or other, and a constantly naked Rosemary
Dexter as Claudine, murderess/whore.
All around entertaining fun
flick.
