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Review
by
Troy Howarth
Joy:6
Joy
& Joan:5
:
DVDs:6
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| Joy
(1983): Joy (Claudia Udy) is a successful model, but her private
life is haunted by the fact that her father abandoned her... |
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Often
dismissed as a poor imitation of Just Jaeckin's erotic classic
Emmanuelle (1974), Joy
may not be the most original slice of erotica ever made — but
it is erotic. |
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The
film gets a lot mileage out of its beautiful star, Claudia Udy.
Born in New Mexico, Udy dabbled in modeling herself before making
her way into films. Joy remains her signature role, though she
would also rub shoulders with the likes of Christopher Lee in
the Sherlock Holmes made-for-TV adventure Incident
at Victoria Falls (1992). The character of Joy is pretty
much standard stuff for films of this ilk — she’s sexually precocious
but basically decent at heart. Though blessed with great looks
and a successful career, she's haunted by a childhood trauma.
In an effort to reconnect with her absent father, she sleeps with
just about every guy who gives her the time of day. It's all a
bit heavy on the armchair Freud, but the film scores points for
not painting the character in a judgmental fashion. Udy's sympathetic
performance helps to give the film a strong center. It helps,
too, that she's stunning to look at and proves uninhibited in
performing simulated sexual acts. The film is steamy, and that's
the main goal on the agenda — on that level at least, the film
is a success. |
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Alas,
the rest of the cast isn't nearly so appealing as Udy. The other
characters range from the paper thin to the despicable, and none
of the actors are able to infuse much life in them. Matters aren't
helped much by the somewhat sluggish direction by Serge Bergon.
Often confused with Italian schlockmeister Sergio Bergonzelli
(In the
Folds of the Flesh, 1970), Bergon is actually a French
director who specialized in erotica such as this. Bergon does
a good job staging the various sexual encounters, but his pacing
is often off and he seems to be more comfortable setting up pretty
shots than he is with dealing with his actors. In the hands of
a more assured filmmaker, Joy may
have emerged as a softcore classic; as it is, it's 'merely' good.
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The
film's success lead to an inevitable sequel, Joy
and Joan (1985). In it, Joy (Brigitte Lahaie) travels
to Thailand, where she falls in love with another woman (Isabelle
Solar)...
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The
law of diminishing returns holds true for this sequel, though
it does have a couple of aces up its sleeve. While it's a shame
Claudia Udy wasn't recruited to reprise her role, the casting
of Brigitte Lahaie more than makes up for this. Lahaie was arguably
the most gorgeous woman in XXX cinema, and Joy
and Joan gives her a chance to show that she was more than
just another pretty face. She gives a good performance and also
throws herself into her various sex scenes with aplomb. This kind
of softcore groping must have been a cake walk for Lahaie, who
was accustomed to doing far more graphic things at this stage
in her career, but her ambition and ability ensured that she would
eventually turn her back on sex films and find her niche as an
actress in more mainstream fare (Jess Franco's Faceless,
1988). In addition to Lahaie, the film is blessed by the presence
of Isabelle Solar, whose career appears to have begun and ended
with this film. It's possible Solar worked in other films — presumably
French erotica — under another name, but her official entry at
the Internet Movie Database doesn't list any other credits. She's
merely competent in her dramatic scenes, but Solar is a revelation
in the sexier scenes. She and Lahaie have genuine chemistry and
their initial Sapphic encounter aboard a train (how phallic!)
is a definite highlight. The remainder of the cast is merely adequate. |
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Director
Jacques Saurel does a competent job, and the pacing is somewhat
tighter and more energetic than had been the case in Joy.
He proves every bit as able in staging the various erotic interludes,
and there are a few striking setups and images along the way.
The story is a bit hard to swallow, however, and there's a little
too much globe (and indeed bed) hopping to be believed. The score
quotes the theme song from the first Joy,
suggesting that the (admittedly catchy) tune was a hit with the
French public. In any event, the film proves to be a respectable
if admittedly lesser follow-up. |
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| Severin
presents Joy and Joy
and Joan for the first time on R1 DVD. Both films are completely
uncut, restoring some steamy action missing from previous video
incarnations, and presented in their proper AR (1.85 and 1.66
respectively, both 16x9 enhanced). The films looks terrific throughout,
with strong color and detail. Print damage is negligible; some
grain is evident, but this is as it should be. Both are presented
in their original French language, with removable English subtitles.
Audio tracks are very good, with the scores coming across particularly
strong; never fear, though, all those moans and groans have ample
presence, as well. |
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Joy
has been given the more deluxe treatment as far as extras go.
Reflections of Joy shows the still-attractive Claudia Udy
recalling the experience with warmth and nostalgia. Clocking in
at 10 minutes, the featurette is short and sweet, but it provides
some insight into the process of making the movie. Joy
and Joan doesn't have any extras to speak of. 9/20/10 |
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