History of Sex in Cinema:
The Greatest and Most Influential
Sexual Films and Scenes

(Illustrated)

Feature: European Starlets in Erotic Dramas



The History of Sex in Cinema
Movie Title/Year and Film/Scene Description
Screenshots

Various European Starlets in Erotic Dramas:

During the liberalized 1970s and early 80s, many foreign film stars - known as European starlets (some mentioned elsewhere) - appeared in many foreign-made, R-rated soft-core romantic/comedy dramas often requiring the stars to be naked and exhibit erotic appeal.

These numerous sex romp films included these four better-known actresses:

Laura Antonelli
Olivia Pascal
Serena Grandi
Clio Goldsmith

Laura Antonelli - Italian Film Actress

The dark-haired, voluptuous screen actress Laura Antonelli, tauted to be the next Sophia Loren from Italy, appeared in numerous productions, including many film farces set in the past, and often in the role of an adventurous maid, housekeeper, or waitress. Her first film Le Malizie di Venere, or Venus in Furs (1969) (aka Devil in the Flesh), directed by Massimo Dallamano, was seized by US Customs for 'obscenity violations' - and the film was severely edited by US and UK censors. But it brought the full-figured star attention for its explicit scenes, in her role as Wanda.

Italian Antonelli films in the 1970s included:

  • Devil in the Flesh (1969) (aka Le malizie di Venere, Venus in Furs), as Wanda von Dunajew
  • Secret Fantasy (1971) (aka Il Merlo Maschio), as Costanza Vivaldi
  • The Eroticist (1972) (aka Nonostante le apparenze..., or The Senator Likes Women), a horror comedy spoof by director Lucio Fulci, her breakthrough film, as Sister Delicata
  • Scoundrel in White (1972) (aka High Heels, or Docteur Popaul), as Martine Dupont, opposite Jean-Paul Belmondo
  • Malicious (1973) (aka Malizia), a sexy comedic fantasy-drama, as Angela
  • How Funny Can Sex Be? (1973), in various roles
  • Simona (1974), as Simone
  • Till Marriage Do Us Part (1974) (aka Mio Dio Come Sono Caduta In Basso), as Eugenia Di Maqueda
  • The Divine Nymph (1975) (aka Divina Creatura), as Manoela Roderighi, co-starring with Marcello Mastrioianni
  • The Innocent (1976) (aka L'Innocente), by director Luchino Visconti, as Giuliana Hermil, co-starring with Giancarlo Giannini
  • Wifemistress (1977) (aka Mogliamante), as Antonia de Angelis, co-starring with Marcello Mastroianni
A Sampling of Laura Antonelli Films
Devil in the Flesh (1969) (aka Venus in Furs)
The Eroticist (1972) (aka Nonostante le apparenze...)
Malicious (1973)
(aka Malizia)
Till Marriage Do Us Part (1974) (aka Mio Dio, come sono caduta in basso!)
 
The Divine Nymph (1975) (aka Divina creatura)
The Innocent (1976) (aka L'Innocente)
Wifemistress (1977) (aka Mogliamante)

Olivia Pascal - German actress

Hubert Frank's soft-core, 'erotic travelogue' sexploitation film Vanessa (1977, W. Germ.) - a German-produced, Hong Kong-shot, dubbed-in-English film, starred 20 year-old Olivia Pascal in her debut screen role. Ads promoted: "Where Emmanuelle ended, Vanessa begins!" It was filmed to take advantage of the demand at the time for 'classy' sex films shot in foreign locales, about a young woman on a journey of sexual self-discovery.

She portrayed a strict, convent-raised, virginal Vanessa who traveled to Hong Kong after inheriting from her wealthy uncle "a whole chain of beautiful bordellos."

The title character, with distinctively puffy and protruding nipples, experienced a soft-focus lesbian scene with exhibitionist bisexual friend Jackie (Uschi Zech) - her 'cousin' who kept promoting Vanessa's loss of virginity. There was also talk of an "extra-terrestrial force" (black magic) which allowed one to see others completely nude - a power that Vanessa possessed.

Included was a bondage-whipping scene with her over-sexed Major Cooper (Anton Diffring), the lustful and illegitimate uncle's son Adrian (Gunter Clemens), a sensual Oriental massage, nude bathing, a rice sex scene, an S&M flashback during convent days, psychic or telepathic sex, under-arm-pit hair, and more.

Olivia Pascal (with Uschi Zech) in Vanessa (1977)
 




Serena Grandi - Italian actress

The liberated actress was known for her enormous breasts and opulent body, and as a popular pin-up (often compared to Sophia Loren or Gina Lollabrigida), and for starring in a number of erotic dramas and comedies in the 1980s as a well-endowed, fantasy female figure.

Her most notable film was Tinto Brass' almost hard-core Miranda (1985) in which she portrayed a lusty and adventurous tavern owner with a seasonal quartet of lovers.

Serena Grandi's Major Films

Miranda (1985)

L'Iniziazione (1987) (aka Exploits of a Young Don Juan)

Her major filmography included:

  • Miranda (1985), as Miranda
  • Lady of the Night (1986) (aka La Signora Della Notte), as Simona
  • Desiderando Giulia (1986), as Giulia (Julia)
  • L'Iniziazione (1987) (aka What Every French Woman Wants, or Exploits of a Young Don Juan), as Ursule, an erotic coming-of-age comedy
  • Rimini Rimini (1987), as sex goddess Lola Sarti
  • Delirium (1987) (aka Le foto di Gioia), as Gioia (or Gloria), an Italian erotic gallo horror film

Lady of the Night (1986)

Desiderando Giulia (1986)

Rimini Rimini (1987)

Delirium (1987)

Clio Goldsmith - French actress

An exotic, curly-haired brunette beauty, Clio Goldsmith appeared in a number of foreign films in the early-to-mid 1980s, including:

  • The Cricket (1980) (aka La Cicala), as Cicala, co-starring with Virna Lisi
  • Lady of the Camelias (1981) (aka La Storia Vera Della Signora Dalle Camelie), as Clemence
  • Heat of Desire (1981) (aka Plein Sud), as Caroline dite Carol - une jeune marginale
  • Honey (1981) (aka Miele Di Donna), an erotic fantasy, as Anny
  • The Gift (1982) (aka Le Cadeau, or Bankers Also Have Souls), as Joyane/Barbara
  • L'Etincelle (1986) (aka Tug of War), as Dale
Some of Clio Goldsmith's Films

La Cicala (1980)
(aka The Cricket)

Miele Di Donna (1981)
(aka Honey)

Le Cadeau (1982)
(aka The Gift, or Bankers Also Have Souls)

Sex in Cinematic History
History Overview | Reference Intro | Pre-1920s | 1920-26 | 1927-29 | 1930-1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934-37 | 1938-39
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