A simple rain shower signals the cast to strip naked. An S&M tribute to 'Ben-Hur's chariot race with human horses. And Chinese bar fights with midgets being impaled. If loving this is wrong I don't want to be right. "'Barbarella' Meets 'Indiana Jones'" boasts the posters. NOT A SINGLE element of either film exists in 'Gwendoline'!!! And I challenge anyone to name one!!! (other than Indy's whip) This certainly has to go down along with 'Dune', 'Blade Runner', 'The Crow' and 'Alien 3' as one of the most visually stunning pictures ever made. The production quality is so high it just drags you right in and never lets go! It creates its own special universe where nothing else exists outside of it. The trailer is very accurate as to what you'll be experiencing, eye candy with an S&M storyline. If not for the visual masterpiece 'Gwendoline' would easily be relegated to just another sexploitation film. First off, I watched this film only in French without English subtitles. This is a true test of any truly epic story. Can the audience understand the plot and characters even without understanding the words? The answer here is a major yes. The visual actions and emotions of the characters are so compelling we know them heart and soul even without knowing their names. It reminds me a lot of 'Land of the Deaf' and 'Quest for Fire.' Bold films which intentionally created the challenge of having no dialogue what so ever. It worked for them and it works for 'Gwendoline.' This is actually how anime was originally screened is the US. Producers would show American kids anime only in Japanese. And if the kids could describe the plot and characters correctly they knew the anime film or series was worthy of an English language adaptation. I'd accuse the story of being a plagiarized from an Anne Rice novel but her books like the 'Sleeping Beauty' trilogy were written after 'Gwendoline.' The plot is not complex beyond Westerners getting into bar fights in Chinese nightclubs, journeying into the Gobi Desert and discovering to lost S&M fantasy kingdom of Yik Yak. Not too complex but very compelling and exciting. And I'm not talking about just talking about sexual excitement. 'Gwendoline' isn't just another sexploitation film. In fact there's far to little sex or graphic nudity to really even be considered a sexploitation film. This film also stars American Tawny Kitaen, the girl who "shook her ass on the head of White Snake's car." SPOILER WARNING!!! My only criticism is that they didn't do more with this film. Gwendoline and Willard never consummate their relationship! I was expecting the story to climax literally with a threesome between Gwendoline, Willard, and Beth. There ending in the Gobi Desert could have at least been better with some implications that Yik Yak had entirely been a dream. This is what I was expecting as it's very odd how all three of them are able to get dressed in the few seconds they have to flee the collapsing Yik Yak.

Moronic sex-adventure-comedy with a disconnected script that takes you from one place to another following no logic or pattern, and a certain undeniably trashy imagination (a four-way fighting match between women wearing heavy-yet-revealing armors). Tawny Kitaen is beautiful, but she can't act worth a damn. Check out Monique Gabrielle's work in "Deathstalker II" to see how a "deliberately" bad yet lively performance is supposed to be done in this kind of film. (*1/2)

Gwendoline, or the Perils of Gwendoline, is loosely (and I mean loosely) based on the bondage-themed comics of John Willie. Willie's stories were basic melodrama with a lot more kink. They are pretty tame compared what passes for erotica today (no sex, just *), but this movie was pretty tame for Willie. This film tries to blend the Willie kink with some Indiana Jones adventure; but, there isn't much adventure or kink. The film is never particularly erotic. Sure, there are a few bondage scenes, with unusual Willie/Stanton devices and scenarios, and plenty of nudity, but it's not that exciting. The only really interesting scene is the gladiator battle. The costumes and the absurd nature of the combat add a Barbarella flair to the scene. The budget is too small for any major stunts and doesn't have the creativity to make better use of the Terry and the Pirates meets Indiana Jones flavor at the beginning. The hidden city is never shown well to add any exotic flavor The acting is atrocious, barely above real *-level. Tawnny Kitaen is one of the worst actresses I have ever seen. The rest of the cast is completely forgettable. Unless you can't find any *, forget this film. it's not entertaining enough for a vanilla audience, and not kinky enough for fetishists. Watch Raiders of the Lost Ark or Bound, instead. Or Barbarella; at least it was somewhat comical.

This is a very strange film. Half action/adventure; Half Comedy; Half Porno..... But even if you can say this or that about the film, there´s TWO things that are outstanding with this film. a) The Girl - Gwendoline, played by Tawny Kitaen. A very Beautyful and Sexy girl/young woman, whom i fell in love with..... b) The Soundtrack. A great soundtrack by a French Composer Pierre Bachelet. When i found the soundtrack on record (LP), a few years after i´ve seen the film, i became very Happy.........

this will go down in memory as 1 of my absolute favorite movies of all time. It was sexy,cute and entertaining as hell. The 2 female leads(particularly zabou)were absolutely stunning..zabou is so sexy i could barely stand it! The music was great,the photography was very unique. This movie was just plain fun! Just jackelin is one of the best directors of all time...it's a shame he doesn't make movies anymore.the soft core erotic movies on late night cable are garbage(1 room sets.no story,and huge fake breast)the guys like just and zalman king know how to make truly erotic movies.They just don't make em like this anymore.Great stuff can't wait for some genius to release this on DVD,the sooner the better!

A fantastic movie! Not only sexy but mostly what french people call erotique. Many themes, the FORCE (volcano) the virgin killer (you'll die if you make love to her) (Gwendoline) and her world are very near of a light SM butthis is mostly the Goddess side of the female that shines. Its definitely one of the best french movies but not so recognized.. who cares? The music is excellent, based on a vocal progression with some ostinato technique. And last but not least Zabu appears, sh'e very young and we see that she kept going amazingly well! What a pity that after that we did not see Tawny Kitaen in movies of the same standard! Aline (who lives like a modern Gwendoline)

Actually based on characters created by John Willie. In the 1940s, John Willie, (aka John Coutts), created an obscure * magazine called Bizarre and produced four cartoon serials, of which "The Adventures of Sweet Gwendoline" was best known. It is silly, dirivetive, and totally camp. If you llike the "old style D.I.D. (damsel in distress) films, this takes it to Hef's corner, with enough * material to please those who liek it, and enough to startle those who have never...... Can't wait for the DVD! (this is based on the cable version)

The plot is pedestrian (Think "Wizard of Oz" meets "Story of O"), the acting no better than High School and the dubbing flat, but the visuals on this are very artistic. Not only the large amount of female nudity, but the sets and some of the camera angles, especially where Gwendolyn and Beth are being held back-to-back in the dungeon. There were more than a few scenes I wish would have been given more screen time. None of it is great cinema, but the artwork makes for great entertainment. The copy I saw seemed to have been hacked more than edited, perhaps to bring it in line with an "R" rating. I saw it on HBO shortly after it came out, and eagerly awaited a chance to purchase the video. I managed to get an ex-rental copy.

Movie excess at its best. Ever imagined chariot races that were pulled by * women? Well you can see it here. Directed by the same twisted mind that created Emmanuelle and The Story of O, he now makes a movie which is pure camp. From my opinion it was the perfect sendup of Raiders of the Lost Ark - only this time Indiana is woman and all the villans are large breasted women that romp around naked.

I have one recommendation for this movie: check your brain at the door and just enjoy the parade of flesh. The plot is the standard "I need to find X (gwen's father) at all costs" and I need the help of a "world wise" swaggering, reluctant daring-do to help me.But forget it! You probably wont see this many naked and topless babes this side of 1980 and not in a * film.Amazingly, if you are a butt man, the version that played on TV is even better than the theatrical version.