Laura Gemser Movies

While experimenting with a cure for immortality, a mad scientist decides to become his own test subject. ~ John Bush, Rovi

As softcore films go, this offering by Joe D'Amato manages to give even less motivation to its characters, less substance to the plot, and less direction to the actors than the normal one-dimensional, plotless wonders with sex as a focal point. The story starts with a fascist bringing home Zelba (Laura Gemser), an Abyssinian slave, from his tour of duty in Africa. After he tires of Zelba, she is handed over to his wife (Lilli Carati) which causes a rift between the wife and her lesbian lover. The scorned lover is raped one day, and in a rage she plots her revenge by setting fire to Zelba and burning her to death. For some reason, she had no visible grudge against her rapist. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

When producer/star Michael Landon took on this project, it was geared for theatrical release under the title Comeback. Innumerable production difficulties later (due in great part to Landon's tiltings with the writer and director), the film was retooled as a TV movie titled Love is Forever. TV turned out to be the ideal medium for this film, which despite its "epic" aspirations is at base a Prime Time soap opera. Landon plays real-life journalist John Everingham, who while stationed in Laos in 1977 is accused of being a spy, tortured, and expelled from the country. One year later, Everingham attempts to return to the Communist-controlled country in order to rescue the Laotian woman (Moira Chen) that he loves. The plan is to swim across the Mekong river without attracting attention. Much of the film's potential for suspense is minimized by its flashback structure. Too, much of the credibility is lessened by supporting actor Jurgen Prochnow's "Boris Badenov" portrayal of a Communist espionage agent. Edward Woodward costars as Landon's scuba instructor, while Priscilla Presley makes her TV-movie debut as a friend of Woodward's. Though Landon tried to quell the fact in the publicity packets, leading lady Moira Chen is also known as porn actress Laura Gemser. Originally running 150 minutes, Love Is Forever was cut to 127 minutes for its first telecast on April 3, 1983, then was further snipped to 100 minutes for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The dialogue in this "sword and sorcery" film argues for a return to the silent screen as Ator, son of Thorn, fights off giant spiders and the evil Black Knights and chases after a comely, blond maiden, but not at the same time. Scripted lines like "not to go the maternity route" in a medieval setting are comparable to whiskering up the Mona Lisa and not noticing the difference. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

After the 1977 popularity of the hardcore Caligula by Tinto Brass, several similar "Caligula" films were created, and this exploitation feature is one of them. The Roman emperor Caligula (who ruled from 37-41 A.D.) seems to have gone insane after the death of his grandmother, though his behavior before her death was aberrant. His rampant sexual exploits and uncontrolled violence are the focus here, with the story revolving around a woman named Miriam (softcore star Laura Gemser), who is seeking revenge against Caligula for the death of her friend, a victim of the emperor's tendency to rape women. Miriam's hatred for the perverse, brutal emperor is miraculously changed to love. Though the 100 minute version available in the U.S. (and advertised as 'unrated') is actually a softcore opus, the European version runs 125 minutes and contains a wealth of hardcore footage. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Aristide Massaccesi directed this gory sequel to Antropophagous under the pseudonym Peter Newton, although he is best known as Joe D'Amato. The plot is styled more after Halloween II than the original, however, as the mutant cannibal (Luigi Montefiore) murders people in a hospital while being pursued by Edmund Purdom (Pieces). Female lead Katya Berger does her best to look menaced, but despite a great deal of gratuitous bloodshed, the film raises few goosebumps. Co-stars Laura Gemser and Annie Belle appeared together in several sex films, notably Velluto Nero and Massaccesi's L'Alcova. EDDE Video tried to pass this and several other unrelated European horror films off as sequels to Zombie in a mid-'90s reissue series. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

The Bushido Blade is set in 19th century Japan, at the time of American Commodore Matthew Perry's opening up of the ancient oriental nation. As played by Richard Boone (in his last film), Perry is a megalomaniac mercenary who makes Custer look like a humanitarian. The plot involves Perry's efforts to locate a sacred sword. The rest of the cast includes James Earl Jones, Frank Converse, and Toshiro Mifune. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Filmed in Greece Emanuelle's Daughter is an outgrowth of the Emanuelle series, not to be confused with the Emmanuelle pictures starring Sylvia Kristel. Laura Gemser plays the leading character, as she did in Emanuelle the Queen and Emanuelle on Taboo Island. Her thirst for adventure leads to series of incredible adventures both in and out of bed. Rape and blackmail are among of the film's essential ingredients; when murder rears its ugly head, things simmer to a boil. In keeping with the tradition of the series, Soft-core sex clashes with hard violence. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi