BARBED WIRE DOLLS (1975)
Starring: Lina Romay, Paul Muller, Monica Swinn, Jess Franco
Directed by: Jess Franco
1975 was a thin year for American WIP fans. However, European sleaze aficionados were treated to a new high (or low, depending on your perspective) in WIP pics with the release of this gem by schlockmeister supreme Jesus Franco.
Bankrolled by exploitation auteur Erwin C. Dietrich, Franco slapped together a film called Frauengefängnis, the first of many Dietrich-Franco collaborations to come. Translated the title comes out to "Woman Prison", but personally I think the US title Barbed Wire Dolls has much more panache.
Young and innocent Maria (Lina Romay) is imprisoned in a fortress-like penitentiary run by a corrupt lesbian wardress (Monica Swinn). Maria is accused of murdering her father (amusingly embodied by Jess Franco himself) but the wardress actually did the deed. A truly absurd scene shows the nude Maria knocking her father unconscious as he tries to molest her. Both Franco and Romay move in faked "slow motion" (it seems Franco couldn't afford to actually film it in that process) until Franco falls to the floor, obviously breaking his fall with outstretched arms (hey, isn't he supposed to be unconscious?).
Once in prison, Maria is tortured by being tied nude to metal bed-frame which is hooked up to electrical current. The prison lights go on and off as she screams and writhes. You can just imagine the sadist masturbating in the audience. There's also whippings, starvation, masturbation with a cigarette, lesbian interludes and a close up of one of the inmate's private parts being penetrated by a guard's fingers. Did I say this was sleazy?
Exploitation fans can't get enough of this film, and you truly can appreciate the genre if you are starting with this film. Jess Franco, Lina Romay... you can't go wrong with this pair.
This film can be purchased
thru
HORROR THEATER
VIDEO
My Rating:
REVIEWED BY TONY BERNARDINI
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