Tender and Perverse Emmanuelle (1973) ** (out of 4) Jess Franco film about the investigation into the death of Emmanuelle (Alice Arno). While I think this was better than the American versions, the film overall is way too slow and boring. Franco, known for sleaze, actually focuses on the mystery aspect and there isn't too much sexuality, although there's a very steamy sex scene between Arno and Lina Romay. The film does contain a wonderful score by Daniel White and Romay, in her second film with Franco, shows that wonderful beauty and presence that would dominate future films.

This is just an attempt to cash in on the EMMANUELLE series (shocking from Franco, I know!) but this was made before the first EMMANUELLE film in 1974. One has to assume that it is a title slapped on at a later date because the lead female is actually named Barbara. The odd thing is that in the dubbing she is referred to as Emanuelle and Barbara at different points. Confused? Good because it is only gonna get more convoluted. Okay, so Emanuelle's husband Gordon invites his shrink Michel (Jack Taylor) to come to the house for the weekend to help Emanuelle (Norma Castell), who is slowly breaking down. The day after he arrives, Emanuelle is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. The cops begin investigating her apparent suicide with Michel as the main suspect and many twists, turns and lovers are revealed. This is a pretty entertaining timekiller. The mystery is actually pretty well done and culminates with a bizarre twist. Franco fills the running time with lots of softcore sex scenes involving nearly the entire cast (including the cute Lina Romay).

*****Spoiler!*****Boy, this film is so unbelievable boring that I´m wondering how anybody could watch it longer than five minutes without falling into sleep! "Tender and perverse Emanuelle" is nothing but a usual 1970s soft sex movie with some scanty hardcore elements and an extremely thin thriller plot. Only the great psychedelic 1970s flair (Which was much better in "Vampyros Lesbos"!) and the typical Franco-cast featuring Lina Romay/Jack Taylor save this film from total disgrace! Don´t waste your precious time with stuff like this! And if you can´t sleep - try to count some sheep!

Emanuelle is a successful pianist that is kept imprisoned by her jealous husband. She's murdered and an investigation is engaged. Emanuelle's lover is suspected for the murder and is forced to find the murderer himself. It's a nice twist ending.This is actually a murder mystery with just a few sex scenes thrown in. As a triangle drama it's quite good with passion and hate, but as an Emanuelle flick it just doesn't deliver. I wouldn't say this is a typical Jess Franco flick. There are some scenes that give him away though, for example the scene at the bar with the red light and strange disco music and of course Lina Romay (Franco's wife) as Greta, Gordon's jealous and manipulating sister. There are some lesbian scenes that are pretty explicit. I'd give this one 6 out of 10. I'd recommend a Massaccesi Emanuelle flick instead, for example `Emanuelle and the White Slavetrade'.