Comparisons to Emmanuelle were inevitable since Vanessa is an erotic adventure set in Hong Kong, featuring a young
woman living in a tropical location, and having sexual adventures
involving bamboo chairs. To be sure, this is the same genre as
Emmanuelle, albeit with better production values, but the similarity
ends there.
Vanessa (Olivia Pascal in her first screen role) has been living
in a European convent since the death of her parents, but is
notified that her last remaining relative, an uncle, has died and
left her a fortune to manage. Imagine the surprise for this sweet,
shy innocent when she discovers that she now owns dozens of brothels
in Hong Kong. She owns a plantation as well, that is managed by the
illegitimate son of her uncle, who is contesting the will. She is
staying with a family that includes the hedonist Eva Garden and her
precocious daughter Uschi Zech, who becomes fast friends with
Vanessa. The dramatic conflicts involve the fate of her inheritance
and her maidenhead.
It was originally to be shot in Thailand, and had no script --
merely a cast, crew and a treatment. Director Hubert Frank was hired
for his rumored ability to improvise, and that skill was put to the
test here. They arrived in Thailand, only to be told by the producer
that he had just had some difficulties filming there, and they were
headed for Hong Kong. Once in Hong Kong, they were told it would be
impossible to find filming locations there, but by then everyone was
sick of travel, so Hong Kong it was.
The result? Well, I defy you to find a 5 minute segment without
full frontal female nudity. In addition to a great deal of nudity
and simulated sex, the film includes some torture, bondage, and
black magic, and is also a decent travelogue of Hong Kong. And the
DVD transfer is outstanding. Top-drawer exploitation cinema.
If you are not familiar with our grading system, you need to
read the
explanation, because the grading is not linear. For example, by
our definition, a
C is solid and a C+ is a VERY good movie. There are very few Bs
and As. Based on our descriptive system, this film is a:
