SEVERIN TO RELEASE 15-DISC/24 FILM COLLECTION THE SENSUAL WORLD OF BLACK EMANUELLE ON 5/30

Unprecedented Box Set Produced by Kier-La Janisse Also Includes 2 Soundtrack CDs, 356-Page Book, 40+ Hours of Special Features & More

THE SENSUAL WORLD OF BLACK EMANUELLE

She was the pleasure-seeking photojournalist – forever embodied by the exquisite Indonesian actress Laura Gemser, most frequently in collaboration with writer/director Joe D’Amato – who would uncover an increasingly lurid world of sex cults, snuff films, cannibal jungles, women’s prisons, white slavers, depraved convents and beyond to become the premier feminist icon in genre history. Now Severin Films – recently hailed by Polygon as “one of the best labels in physical media” – presents THE SENSUAL WORLD OF BLACK EMANUELLE, a landmark collection that brings together 21 BLACK EMANUELLE films, 2 adjacent titles starring EuroCult heroine Ajita Wilson, and the D’Amato documentary INFERNO ROSSO, most newly scanned, restored and on Blu-ray for the first time in America. The box set is produced by Kier-La Janisse, the creator of Severin’s award-winning 2022 release ALL THE HAUNTS BE OURS: A Compendium Of Folk Horror.

THE SENSUAL WORLD OF BLACK EMANUELLE also includes 2 soundtrack CDs curated exclusively for this collection encompassing music by composer Nico Fidenco and more, the lavishly illustrated 356-page THE BLACK EMANUELLE BIBLE designed by Luke Insect and featuring new writings by noted film historians as well as Laura Gemser’s historic 1996 Nocturno Magazine interview, and over 40 hours of Special Features that include alternate versions, audio commentaries, video essays, a documentary on Gemser’s husband/co-star Gabriele Tinti, the ‘80s Gemser workout video Looking Good, and much more.

The collection – also available as part of Severin’s EMANUELLE AROUND THE WORLD Bundle which features a board game, a replica of Emanuelle’s golden shell camera necklace, a magnetic dress-up set, a vintage 4x6 still from the set of DIVINE EMANUELLE, a recreation of Emanuelle’s passport and more, all packaged in a vintage replica airline bag – will be available exclusively at the Severin webstore on May 30th, with a wide release to follow this summer.

“The Black Emanuelle series remains one of the most notorious, outlandish and challenging franchises in the annals of erotic cinema,” says producer Kier-La Janisse. “What critics likely saw as an insignificant exploitation cash-in was remarkably ambitious and clever; Laura Gemser’s Black Emanuelle became an icon – albeit a reluctant one – up there with James Bond. But it is a franchise unlike any other, in which the first woman of color to lead a film series aimed at Western audiences travels the globe exposing corruption and centering women’s issues. This collection is the ultimate celebration of a genre all her own.”

“This is likely the most ambitious and audacious release in home video history,” says Severin Co-Founder/President David Gregory.  “From the remarkable packaging to the copious Special Features to the 24 feature films themselves, we have rolled out the red carpet in orgiastic tribute to a series that could not be made today. It is a collection that honors both the scholarly and the unsavory aspects of the genre, and we are enormously proud of its scope and scale.”

Full Disc Breakdown and Special Features for THE SENSUAL WORLD OF BLACK EMANUELLE box set:

Disc 1:
BLACK EMANUELLE (1975)
Runtime: 96 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • XXX Inserts
  • Audio Commentary With Film Programmer Jazmyne Moreno
  • Exoticizing Blackness And Erotic Sovereignty In BLACK EMANUELLE – Interview With Adult Film Historian Mireille Miller-Young
  • I Am Your Black Queen – Audio Interview With Actress Laura Gemser
  • The Reluctant Icon – A Tribute To Laura Gemser By Film Historians Kier-La Janisse, Stephen Broomer And Manlio Gomarasca, With Animation By Leslie Supnet And Ashley Thorpe
  • Black Emanuelle’s Groove – Interview With Composer Nico Fidenco
  • Trailer
BLACK EMANUELLE 2 (1976)
Runtime: 91 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • XXX Inserts
  • Adalberto AKA Bitto – Interview With Film Historian Davide Pulici
  • Diva '70 – Interview With Dagmar Lassander
  • Trailer
Disc 2:
EMANUELLE IN BANGKOK (1976)
Runtime: 94 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Audio Commentary With Professor Of Film Aaron AuBuchon
  • A Reflection Of The Times – Interview With Actress Debra Berger
  • Ivan The Terrible – Actor Ivan Rassimov Discusses EMANUELLE IN BANGKOK And EMANUELLE AROUND THE WORLD
  • Trailer
EMANUELLE IN AMERICA (1976)
Runtime: 100 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Audio Commentary With Film Historian Kat Ellinger
  • Archival Audio Commentary With Film Historians Bruce Holecheck And Nathaniel Thompson
  • The Danish Man – Interview With Actor Lars Bloch
  • The Confessions Of Diana Smith – Interview With Actress Maria Piera Regoli
  • The Art Of Sexy & Gore – Interview With Art Director Marco Dentici
  • The Cutting Of The Flesh – Interview With FX Artist Giannetto De Rossi
  • The Devil’s Trick – Interview With Makeup Artist Maurizio Trani
  • The Journalist – Maria Pia Fusco And Piero Vivarelli On The Origins Of D’Amato’s Emanuelle
  • The Naked City: Emanuelle In New York – A Location Tour With Journalist Michael Gingold
  • Trailer
Disc 3:
EMANUELLE AROUND THE WORLD (1977)
Runtime: 102 mins (Unrated Cut), 88 mins (Theatrical Cut)
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Around The World With Emanuelle – Interview With Film Historian Stephen Thrower
  • I’m Not A Guru – Interview With Actor Luigi Montefiori
  • The Beautiful One – Interview With Actor Gianni Macchia
  • A Tribute To Karin Schubert: The ‘Nackedei’ Actress – Video Essay By Kier-La Janisse And Stephen Broomer, Written By Jean-Luc Marret, Author Of Pornification: Vie De Karin Schubert
  • Trailer
EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS (1977)
Runtime: 93 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions, English Subtitles
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Audio Commentary By Film Historian Stephen Thrower
  • The World Of Nico Fidenco – An Interview With Composer Nico Fidenco
  • A Nun Among The Cannibals – Interview With Actress Annamaria Clementi
  • O’Brien M.D. – Interview With Actor Donald O’Brien
  • From Switzerland To Mato Grosso – Interview With Actress Monica Zanchi
  • Dressed To Eat – Interview With Costume Designer Silvana Scandariato
  • Theatrical Trailer
Disc 4:
PORNO NIGHTS OF THE WORLD (1977)
Runtime: 88 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Master Of The World – Interview With Co-Director Bruno Mattei
  • At The Dining Table – Interview With Producer Franco Gaudenzi
  • The Naked Eye: Sex And The Mondo Film – Documentary With Film Historians Elizabeth Purchell, Mark Goodall And Joe Rubin
  • English Opening Credit Sequence
  • Trailer
EMANUELLE AND THE PORNO NIGHTS OF THE WORLD (1978)
Runtime: 85 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Crazy, Crazy World – Interview With Makeup Artist Pietro Tenoglio
  • After Hours With Joe D’Amato – Interview With Director Joe D’Amato
  • Trailer
Disc 5:
SISTER EMANUELLE (1977)
Runtime: 93 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Audio Commentary With Film Scholar Lindsay Hallam
  • Trailer
EMANUELLE AND THE WHITE SLAVE TRADE (1978)
Runtime: 88 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Audio Commentary With Film Programmer Lars Nilsen
  • The Bohemian – Interview With Actor Venantino Venantini
  • Come In Un Film: La Vera Storia Di Gabriele (Gastone) Tinti – 2016 Documentary By Riccardo Marchesini
  • Trailer

Disc 6:
VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN’S PRISON (1982)
Runtime: 98 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Special Features:

  • Archival Interview With Director Bruno Mattei
  • Brawl In Women’s Block – Interview With Writers Claudio Fragasso And Rossella Drudi
  • Two For One – Interview With Producer Roberto Di Girolamo
  • Radio Spot
  • Trailer 
EMANUELLE IN PRISON (1985)
Runtime: 88 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Audio Commentary With Author And Critic Annie Choi And Film Editor Perri Pivovar
  • Jailhouse Rock – Interview With Composer Luigi Ceccarelli
  • Razor Blade Smile – Interview With Actor Pietro Angelo Pozzato
  • Franca Stoppi: Matron Of Hell – Video Essay Written And Narrated By Film Critic Rachael Nisbet
  • Trailer
Disc 7:
BLACK COBRA (1976)
Runtime: 96 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Audio Commentary With Film Critic Samm Deighan
  • From Prague To Hong Kong – Interview With Actress Michele Starck
  • Joe D’Amato At Eurofest
BLACK VELVET (1976)
Runtime: 96 mins
Audio: Partial English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions, English Subtitles
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
 
Special Features:
  • Black Velvet – Interviews With Stars Annie Belle And Al Cliver
  • The Roots Of Evil – Biographer Alberto Pezzotta On Director Brunello Rondi
  • A Relationship Of Confusion – Film Critic Joseph Fahim On VELLUTO NERO
  • English Opening Credit Sequence
  • Italian Theatrical Trailer
  • English Theatrical Trailer
Disc 8:
EMANUELLE’S PERVERSE OUTBURST (1983)
Runtime: 97 mins
Audio: French Mono / English Subtitles
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Feature:
  • Audio Commentary With Author Bryan Connolly And Film Programmer Amber Adams
PORNO ESOTIC LOVE (1980)
Runtime: 103 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • The Lovemaker – Interview With Actor Mark Shannon
  • Trailer
Disc 9:
DIVINE EMANUELLE (1981)
Runtime: 99 mins (DIVINE EMANUELLE), 104 mins (FANATICO… WHEN THE GODDESS CALLS – Workprint Of Christian Anders' Director's Cut)
Audio: English Mono, French Mono (DIVINE EMANUELLE Only) / Closed Captions
Region A/B/C
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
 
Special Features:
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Trailer 
Disc 10:
EMANUELLE: QUEEN OF THE DESERT (1982)
Runtime: 89 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region A/B/C
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
 
Special Features:
  • THE DIRTY SEVEN – Longer Alternate Cut Of The Film Under Its Original Title (96 mins)
  • Violent Cyprus – Interview With Actor Giovanni Brusatori
  • Sunlight And Violence – Interview With Cinematographer Nino Celeste
  • Trailer
  • LOOKING GOOD – Workout Video Hosted By Laura Gemser (58 mins)
  • Audio Commentary With Film And Television Historian Amanda Reyes And Podcaster Erik Threlfall
Disc 11:
AMORE LIBERO – FREE LOVE (1974)
Runtime: 86 mins (TBC)
Audio:English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions (TBC)
Region A
Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
 
EMANUELLE – A WOMAN FROM A HOT COUNTRY (1978)
Runtime: 87 mins
Audio: English Mono, Spanish Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Disc 12:
BLACK DEEP THROAT (1977)
Runtime: 87 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region A/B/C
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
 
Special Feature:
  • Ajita Wilson: An Elusive Icon – Video Essay By Film And Gender Studies Scholar Matt Richardson
PORNO NIGHTS OF THE WORLD N.2 (1978)
Runtime: 94 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions
Region A/B/C
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Disc 13:
INFERNO ROSSO: JOE D’AMATO ON THE ROAD OF EXCESS (2021)
Runtime: 73 mins
Audio: Italian 5.1, Italian Stereo / Closed Captions, English Subtitles
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
 
Special Features:
  • Introduction By Nicolas Winding Refn For Venice Film Festival Premiere
  • Two Of A Kind: Talking About Joe – Director Manlio Gomarasca And Giona A. Nazzaro (Artistic Director, Locarno Film Festival) In Conversation
  • Outtakes
  • Trailer
SCANDALOUS EMANUELLE (1986)
Runtime: 91 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region A
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
 
Special Features:
  • Scandalous Christina – Interview With Actress Jenny Tamburi
  • Peeping Lilli – Interview With Actress Lilli Carati
  • Trailer

Disc 14:
NICO FIDENCO’S GROOVE CD
 
Disc 15:
BLACK EMANUELLE’S RARITIES AND B-SIDES CD

THE BLACK EMANUELLE BIBLE: Designed by Luke Insect with a cover illustration by Kim Thompson, this fully illustrated 356-page book is the most substantial collection of writing ever devoted to the series, with essays by Kevin John Bozelka, Costas Constandinides, Rachel Harrison, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Kier-La Janisse, Jennifer Moorman, Xavier Aldana Reyes, Jorge Rivera-Gutiérrez and Erin Wiegand; additional capsule reviews by Bryan Connolly and Craig Ledbetter; and archival interviews with actress Laura Gemser and screenwriter Maria Pia Fusco. 

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