Emanuelle Around the World (1977), AKA The Degradation of Emanuelle; Emanuelle Versus Violence to Women; Emanuelle - Perché Violenza Alle Donne?

Directed by: Joe D'Amato
Starring: Laura Gemser, Karin Schubert, Ivan Rassimov, George Eastman

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Mary: Who doesn't know Emanuelle? She's the most famous photo-reporter in the US!

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Emanuelle Around the World is one of the more obscure entries in the so-called Black Emanuelle series. For those not familiar with these movies, they began as attempts to cash in on the popularity of the grindhouse favorite Emmanuelle (1974). Starring the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Indonesian Laura Gemser as a globe-travelling photographer/reporter named Emanuelle, the Black Emanuelle movies ended up surpassing the popularity of their namesake. 1977 was perhaps the peak of the series' popularity, with Gemser starring in four different Black Emanuelle flicks (Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals, Emanuelle Around the World, Sister Emanuelle, Emanuelle in America).

In Emanuelle Around the World, Emanuelle pits her photography skills against an international sex-slave cabal that turns unwary girls into harem-fodder for sheiks and tycoons. The boss of Emanuelle's paper initially resists her newfound sense of social responsibility: "What the hell's wrong with you sweetheart? You've always taken pictures of tits and asses... why turn your back on your natural calling?" He eventually comes around, however, and sends her to Rome to begin her investigation.

She's assisted by a UN bigwig Dr. Malcolm Roberts (Ivan Rassimov) and rival reporter Cora Norman (Karin Schubert). Roberts is supposed to be the 'enlightened male lead' of the film, but some of his lines emphasize that what passed for enlightenment in the 70's wouldn't necessarily cut it today. For example, the first time Roberts meets Emanuelle, she's standing naked in a hotel hallway, having just been molested by an old creep who had been hiding in her room. She complains to Roberts that she just got attacked by a "sex maniac in that room." He looks at her, thinks a moment, and says "Normally I'm a man who detests violence, but with your clothes off, you're quite irresistable." Yeah, you tell her Roberts... I'm sure she was askin' for it.

One of the great things about Emanuelle Around the World is that the entire movie - including scenes in America, India, Italy, and Hong Kong - was shot on-location. I have no idea how they got the budget for that much travel, but there's some incredible footage from Hong Kong in particular.

Of course, even though this is a 'message movie,' the focus of any Emanuelle flick is to put Gemser in as many odd sexual scenarios as possible. And on that front, the movie is a complete success. In India, Emanuelle visits a sex guru (George Eastman) who preaches the tantric art of prolonged pleasure. He promises to show her "sublime and infinite pleasure." But afterwards, even though he looks pleased with himself, Emanuelle just shrugs and says "Hmmm... it wasn't bad, but you should probably stick to theory."

In another sequence Emanuelle and a virgin hook up in a closet while spying on the kid's mother have a lesbian encounter. And for those of who who enjoyed the horse scene in Emanuelle in America, you won't want to miss what an evil Chinese Pimp does with a drugged girl, a diamondback snake, a bottle of milk, and a German Shepard.

+++BEGIN SPOILER+++ - In a bizzare finale, a US Senator and a Texas Oil Baron take Emanuelle, Cora, and a random chick out on a date, then out to a remote pier. They forceably strip the random girl and toss her into the middle of a group of hoboes. And, although the girl protests at first, when one hobo pulls out a guitar and starts playing a catchy tune, she starts dancing around and enjoying herself (for more forced nude dancing, see Psycho From Texas.)

But when one of the bums pulls out a gun and forces himself on the random dancing chick (and later on Emanuelle), the Senator and Oil Baron bail ("It's getting kinda rough... we'd better split!") Cora and Emanuelle are unable to keep themselves or the poor girl from being attacked, so they vow to continue to use their reporting powers to end the worldwide subjugation of women. +++ END SPOILER+++

In all, a very worthy entry in the Black Emanuelle series. Watch for Emanuelle's Inspector Gadget-esque bracelet/watch that allows her to bust the white-slavery ring wide open, and dig the catchy theme song "Let's Take a Picture of Love":

Emanuelle Around the World is available uncut on DVD-R at Trash Palace under the title The Degradation of Emanuelle. Amazingly, they've got it in widescreen and the quality is top-notch. The disc also contains trailers from this movie, Black Emanuelle, and the British comedy Carry on Emmannuelle... that last film is actually yet another Emmanuelle rip off (note the two M's and two N's!)

- Micah