To talk about Edwige Fenech to fans of seventies European exploitation movies is to talk about Mecca to a Muslim. Needless to say, in swimming amongst potential Cult Sirens, we can find some that are less known than others. One of them is Edwige Fenech, a curious name than means nothing to common mortals. The works of this delicious damsel is not very well-known in North America (a bit more so in Quebec, lucky devils that we are). Many of her sex comedies used to play in Montreal theaters; some were part of late night movie packages on local TV stations.
Ah, to remember this glorious era when girls sported beehive hairdos and strategic eye-liner… The joy with Edwige is that she got naked in seconds, displaying no worries in the world. More so, in the many hammy comedies that she starred in, we could detect a real spark of intelligence, a knack for sincere humor. I personally didn’t object to any nude scene because, in all honesty, why can’t we mix some spark into tedious scripts? The handful of photographs here are just the tip of the iceberg, if I can express myself clearly. In other words, I could have created a more “For Adults Only” page.
Edwige FenechWhat do we know about Edwige Fenech? Nothing much beyond the same and usual boring statistics. She was born on December 24, 1948, of French (daddy) and Tunisian (mom) origins. She begins her career very young in a comedy (one of numerous European co-productions that would populate her future): Toutes folles de lui, telling the story of a guy who inherits his father-in-law’s bordello and becomes a super-stud after swallowing some special vitamins. Another co-star was the amazing Serge Gainsbourg (the inspiration for the main character?).
Edwige’s sensual beauty couldn’t be forgotten and she soon found herself a major player in an unending list of European films, principally from Italy, France, Spain and West Germany. Generally, these were light comedies (with some primitive humor) and a couple of thrillers, as well. It’s no exaggeration to note that between 1968 and 1982, she was one of the world’s busiest actress, extremely popular everywhere in Europe. So why not take a look back at some worthy title from her rich filmography:
Edwige FenechSamoa, Queen of the Jungle (1968) Edwige in the title role; key film for her popularity with photographers…
Seducers (1968) Hey, kids! This is another title in a long line of films where Edwige plays a good-natured prostitute! With Rosalba Neri and Ewa Aulin, gargl! This is the story of a whore hired to take care of a young virgin guy on a cruise ship. Tons of sexual shenanigans aboard that boat.
Next! (1970) A Sergio Martino thriller with a couple struggling against the missus’ ex-husband. Female bodies are piling up: who’s really responsible and why? A must-see for any Fenech fan, this picture is typical for its era, with ingenious doses of violence, great players and excellent soundtrack. See it in widescreen, please.
Edwige Fenech5 Dolls for an August Moon (1970) An important film for Edwige, directed by Mario Bava. A sometimes confusing plot, but worth a look with its touches of black humor and Edwige at her loveliest… gaaahhh!
Demons of the Dead (1972) Edwige reunites with Martino for this film with many titles, telling the story of a young woman having nightmares about her mother’s murder. Someone takes her to a satanic ritual, in the hope of curing her (!). She becomes a tool at the hands of this cult, who order her to kill for them. Soon, a mysterious stranger follows her… Another must for her fans (and those who wishes to be).
Your Vice Is a Closed Room and Only I Have the Key (1972) One of my all-time favorite title for this other Sergio Martino thriller.
The Case of the Bloody Iris (1972) Another giallo, yeah!… and maybe my favorite Edwige movie! There’s a lot of murders at a modern building. The usual suspects are lining up: a mother and a disturbed son, a daring lesbian, our main heroine’s new boyfriend… an excellent thriller! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? And Edwige wears a tie!
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