Sybil Danning Movies
Austrian actress Sybil Danning went straight from the girlie magazines to the exploitation-flick field. She first grabbed audience attention in the 1970 melodrama Albino. By the end of the '70s, she had chalked up a number of credits in such mainstream films as Bluebeard (1972), The Three Musketeers (1974) Crossed Swords (1978) and Concorde: Airport 79 (1979). But while she was mere decoration in mainstream movies, she was a star in the soft-core field, displaying her talents in such esoterica as Swedish Love Games and Love of a French Pussycat. No helpless victim or mere boy-toy, Danning gained her widest audience with a series of sweat-drenched action pictures in the 1980s. Danning seemed born to appear in "babes behind bars" epics like Chained Heat (1983) and Reform School Girls (1986), and was equally well-suited to portray femme fatales (They're Playing with Fire [1985]), vengeful cops (L.A. Bounty [1989]) and queens of outer space (Phantom Empire [1989]). She could always be counted upon to possess the widest bustline in any picture she appeared in, though Lou Ferrigno gave her tough competition in The Seven Magnificent Gladiators (1984). Danning was wise enough to package that image in an amusing fashion as hostess of a series of R-rated sex 'n' violence videocassettes of the mid '80s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
- R
A political filmmaker finds himself in Long Island for a weekend where he finds himself entangled with a high-living, jet set crowd. At first it is exciting, but soon he finds himself disillusioned by their shallowness. The film contains an early performance by Robert De Niro. Footage from Sam's Song was later re-edited into a completely different movie, known as both The Swap and Line of Fire, in which a man investigates the death of his brother. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1971
- R
- Add The Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio to QueueAdd The Erotic Adventures of Pinocchio to top of Queue
This is a bawdy burlesque of the famous fairy tale. Instead of Gepetto, the old man wood-carver, we have Geppeta (Monica Gayle), an apparently frustrated nubile young virgin. Geppeta carves Pinocchio (Alex Roman) for herself as a gorgeous young hunk. Geppeta's fairy godmother, a bawdy blonde played by Dyanna Thorne, magically transforms the young stud Pinocchio into a living man, who is quickly brought to work in the local whorehouse as a prize stud and exhibitionist. Nothing — not even sex — is taken seriously in this fairy tale for grown-ups.
- 1971
What do attractive German housewives do when their career-minded husbands leave the house for a long day at the office? This docudrama-styled film makes an attempt to appear serious as we peek through keyholes into the lives of these active women. Surrounding these vignettes is a breathlessly concerned narrative which details a mass of documentation from national studies and reports about adultery and divorce rates in Germany. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1972
Gelobt Sei Was Hart Macht is a sex film which spoofs the Olympic movement and athletics. The story concerns the rivalry between the Spartans and Athenians of ancient Greece at an Olympic competition. Willing Athenian girls succeed in doing their best to diminish the athletic edge of the Spartans. This is especially important in a climactic footrace, which is won by inches. This humorous film, in which the entire cast is nude, makes satirical comparisons to the 1972 Munich Olympics. It is also noted for its imaginative camera work. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
Bluebeard is the retelling of the now familiar story of a wealthy aristocrat who marries and murders and marries again. Baron Von Sepper (Richard Burton), the BlueBeard of the story, meets and marries Anne (Joey Heatherton) who becomes suspicious of Von Sepper when she finds evidence of his murders shortly after their wedding. Van Sepper then, in graphic detail, tells Anne the stories of his former wives' lives and deaths. The movie, directed with ham-handed archness by Edward Dmytryk, attempts to tell the story as a black comedy. Despite an array of beautiful women, including (Virna Lisi), (Nathalie Delon) and (Raquel Welch), nothing can distract from the abysmal performances of Burton and Heatherton. The film has some nice costumes and is beautifully photographed by cinematographer Gabor Pogany, but all the humor is unintentional and the actors, particularly Richard Burton all seem to wish they were elsewhere. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, (more)
- 1972
Emilio P. Miraglia directed and co-wrote (with Fabio Pittorru) this Italian-West German co-production, a standard giallo thriller released in the subgenre's most high-profile year. The film begins with a 1958 prologue in which two young girls, Kitty and Franziska, learn the tale of the Red Queen in an old German castle. Supposedly, she comes back every 100 years to claim seven new victims. 1972 is the year of her latest appearance, and the film flashes forward to a mysterious red-caped figure wandering the castle halls. Soon, people start dying, and the adult Kitty (Barbara Bouchet) and Franziska (Marina Malfatti) appear to be among the killer's intended victims. Kitty works for the Springe Fashion Company, whose perverse general manager, Hans, is one of the first victims, and the company's models are soon targeted as well. Alberto Spagnoli's cinematography is particularly noteworthy, and there is plenty of blood and torture for those more interested in the horror elements of gialli than their typically illogical mystery components. Ugo Pagliai co-stars with Sybil Danning, Nino Korda, and Carla Mancini. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- 1973
- PG
Richard Lester's adaptation of The Three Musketeers was only the latest of many when released in 1974, but it arrived with a spirit all its own, one influenced as much by Lester's '60s work as the Alexandre Dumas classic. Even so, it followed the plot of Dumas' novel fairly closely, its liberties in interpretation taken elsewhere. Coming off the success of Cabaret, Michael York plays D'Artagnan, the provincial, would-be swashbuckler who travels to Paris to make his name. There he encounters the eponymous heroes: cynical Athos (Oliver Reed), dashing Aramis (Richard Chamberlain), and arrogant Porthos (Frank Finlay). The trio introduces him to the world of court intrigue as they work to protect the Queen (Geraldine Chaplin) from the schemes of the villainous Richelieu (Charlton Heston) and his followers, Rochefort (Christopher Lee) and Milady (Faye Dunaway). Lester shot the film in conjunction with its sequel, The Four Musketeers. Originally intended as a single film, the split prompted a lawsuit from the cast demanding payment for both films. ~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oliver Reed, Charlton Heston, (more)
- 1973
- R
The 1973 comedy French Pussycat stars Sybil Danning as a woman who bets her friend Mark, a devoted bachelor, that she will get him to marry her. Even though Mark works as a sex-columnist, she refuses to have any sexual contact with him until they are married. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Though it is not quite a softcore pornographic film, this sex drama never quite manages to tell a story. Guests gather for the porcelain anniversary of a couple. When another woman's husband leaves her in front of everyone's eyes, the anniversary-celebrating husband gallantly makes loves to her in front of the same people. Then a sexual and confessional free-for-all erupts, until one of the wives, repulsed, runs away. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mylène Demongeot, Sybil Danning, (more)
One of two 1976 Italian-Israeli co-productions starring Lee Van Cleef and Leif Garrett (Joseph Manduke's Kid Vengeance was the other), this spaghetti Western stars Van Cleef in a dual role as twin brothers. One of the brothers, Father John, is gunned down by the ruthless Sam Clayton (Jack Palance), allowing Sam's gang to take over Juno City. Young Johnny (Garrett) crosses into Mexico to convince the priest's twin, a retired bounty hunter named Louis, to strap on his guns one more time and save the town. Van Cleef is compelling, even in his somewhat laughable wig, and the familiar cast also includes Richard Boone and Sybil Danning, but it somehow misses the mark. Irwin Yablans, who made his name with Halloween two years later, co-produced with Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lee Van Cleef, Jack Palance, (more)
- 1975
In this wartime comedy, Robert Lamoureux plays a General in the Resistance. With an unlikely team of French patriots, he easily outwits the buffoonish Germans and steals the master copy of their plans to invade England. By doing so, he prevents the invasion and makes it more likely that the Allies will win the war. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Lamoureux, Michel Serrault, (more)
- 1976
An albino terrorist stalks Africa in this violent action film from the director of the similar Slavers. Terrick (James Faulkner), a former cop, tries to bring the albino to justice, but not before he scalps and rapes pretty Sally (Sybil Danning), the daughter of an evil plantation owner (Trevor Howard). Christopher Lee co-stars in this British-German-Rhodesian-South African co-production with Horst Frank and Sascha Hehn. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lee, James Faulkner, (more)
- 1976
- NR
French New Wave director Claude Chabrol steps away from his usual style of mysteries and psychological dramas for the sex comedy Folies Bourgeoises, based on the novel Le Malheur Fou by Lucie Faure. Bruce Dern is the American writer William Brandels and Stephane Audran is his French socialite wife, Claire Brandels. The story follows the confusion of the infidelities of the wealthy upper class. Also starring Ann-Margret and Maria Schell. This film was also released in an English-language dubbed version titled The Twist. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Dern, Stéphane Audran, (more)
A poor commoner and a young prince each find out how the other half lives in this adventure story based on the classic tale by Mark Twain. Tom Canty (Mark Lester) is a young man from a laboring family who bears a striking resemblance to Prince Edward (also played by Lester), the son of King Henry VIII (Charlton Heston) and heir to his throne. Tom and Edward meet by chance, and they decide to exchange places briefly as a lark; Edward will get to live as an ordinary boy, and Tom will be able to enjoy the perks of royalty. But the two are separated before they can let everyone in on the joke, and Tom discovers as he pretends to be Price Edward that the castle is awash in corruption. Originally released as Crossed Swords, The Prince and the Pauper also features Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, George C. Scott, and Rex Harrison. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, (more)
This thrill-packed fact-based action-adventure from Israel chronicles the daring rescue of 104 passengers from a hijacked plane in Entebbe, Uganda, on July 4, 1976. The film is also known as Entebbe: Operation Thunderbolt. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yehoram Gaon, Ori Levy, (more)
- 1978
- R
South Africa provides the setting for this dark tale of racial unrest and turmoil. The story centers upon a policeman out to exact revenge for the man who killed and raped his fiancee. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
A recently released mental patient may well wonder who the looney ones are in this drama that chronicles his strange homecoming. He has been gone many years and during that time, his father has married a very young woman. He then discovers that the maid is a full-blown witch, the cat has disappeared and finally the chauffeur is busily chasing after his newest mistress. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The Soviets and Americans combine forces to save the world from a meteor in this science fiction disaster adventure. Bradley (Sean Connery) is an American scientist who teams up with Dubov (Brian Keith), and his translator-assistant Tatiana (Natalie Wood) later falls in love with Bradley. Hong Kong and New York are hit hard by tidal waves as the scientists race against time to prevent global disaster. Although a fine cast is assembled, nobody stands out, and the real star of the film is the special effects. This 18-million-dollar feature faced real economic disaster at the box office, although four engineers received an Oscar nomination for "Best Sound" for this forgettable film. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, Natalie Wood, (more)
- 1979
The fourth Airport film may be the silliest of them all, as George Kennedy returns, this time co-piloting with Alain Delon. The plane is on its way to the Moscow Olympics, has a bomb on board, and gets fired upon with missiles that necessitate flying upside-down. A look at the cast list resembles a bad episode of Fantasy Island, but it's always fun to see shameless touches like casting Mercedes McCambridge (Johnny Guitar) as the coach of the Soviet team. If you don't understand the significance of that choice, you may find this film more tedious than laughable, but fans of bad movies will have a field day, as Jimmie Walker, Charo, and -- oddly enough -- Bibi Andersson rub shoulders with high-altitude disaster. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alain Delon, Susan Blakely, (more)
