They certainly don't make softcore like they did back in the 70s and early 80s. Skinflick queen Laura Gemser stars as an enslaved African princess who finds herself bouncing from one sexual misadventure to another. Whether it's her and Lilli Carati, Lilli Carati and Annie Belle, Annie Belle with Lilli Carati and Laura Gemser, or just about any other combination you can think of, there's skin and fur galore!

While not officially a member of either the French Emmanuelle films or Joe D'Amato's Black Emmanuelle series, this in-name-only Emmanuelle picture does boast Laura Gemser among its cast, although she's not the lead and her name is simply "Laura." The plot-less narrative of Velluto Nero (or Black Velvet as it was originally titled) concerns a family of women living in Egypt that have been charmed into submission by a Psuedo-Svengali who may or may not be the real deal. Along comes a model (Gemser - strikingly beautiful as always) and her chauvinistic photographer/love interest to spice things up, and before you know it people are swapping partners (and servants) while Gemser's model, when not forced to pose nude with animal carcasses and slain villagers, becomes ensnared in a goat-murdering religious ceremony. Got all that? Didn't think so.

Black Emmanuelle, White Emmanuelle (also known by about a handful of other titles including Emmanuelle in Egypt) clearly has an agenda, but it has almost nothing to do with titillating the viewer. While Gemser is ravishing, she's given very little to do except contrast her gorgeous naked form against shocking grue that nullifies her allure. This appears to be director Brunello Rondi's endgame: he's obsessed with beauty versus depravity, both literally and emotionally.

Fortunately, Rondi (a Fellini protege) explores these notions with some rather comely actresses supporting Gemser. Nieves Navarro (credited here as Susan Scott) is a vision of an older woman in her role as the matriarch of the Egyptian clan that flirts with inter-family mingling. Haven't seen a facial in a non-pornographic film? Nieves shatters that Taboo for you in a rather surprising moment.

As her daughter, lovely Ziggy Zanger teases and taunts her mother's often tormented servent while Annie Belle (credited as the "White" Emmanuelle in some write-ups) is an almost unearthly vision with her close-cropped white-blonde hair and tone, athletic physique. All seem sort of blas&ecute; about the proceedings, however, as Rondi seems to have only given any emotion to the raging bastard of a photographer portrayed by the late Gabriele Tinti.

So while skin enthusiasts or fans of the Emmanuelle series will get a good helping of full frontal nudity from a cast full of eye-catching women, they'll be sorely disappointed that the director's intent had nothing to do with arousing much more than revulsion (or boredom). That said, Severin Films' gorgeous transfer of the movie seems like much ado about nothing as their efforts to present the movie are wonderfully executed - much more wonderful than anything in the actual movie.

After years of abuse at the hands of her husband, Emanuelle is pushed to the breaking point. She hires a hitman to do in her husband, but just when she thinks her troubles are at an end, the assassin blackmails Emanuelle. As her husband's business partner struggles to prove Emanuelle's guilt, and the hitman continues to threaten her new found security, Emanuelle struggles to keep her name clear, and to keep her naive stepdaughter from becoming tangled in the web of danger she has created.

In the 569th case of misleading marketing I've come across, the DVD version of this movie is called "Emanuelle, Queen of the Desert" even though the only thing it has in common with the Emanuelle movies is that Laura Gemser stars, and she gets naked; however she plays a totally different character. There is the germ of an interesting story here - Gemser as a mysterious, almost ghost-like avenger - but the film is too badly made to have much impact. The flashback in the middle serves a purpose - it shows you what pigs some of these characters are and why they deserve what they get - but it shouldn't have gone on for so long (35 minutes). When it's over, the movie has only 10 minutes left! Also, beware of the DVD picture and sound quality, it's pretty poor.

Sent up the river by a crooked politician, Emanuelle (Laura Gemser) must deal not only with the violent officials and guards, but also with the twisted plans of an escaped quartet of psychotic male criminals. For gals-in-the-slammer film buffs, violence and nudity are in abundant supply.

The movie was originally titled Emanuelle fuga dall'inferno or Emanuelle Escapes from Hell and is the second of two Bruno Mattei helmed "Emmanuelle in Prison" movies, the other being 1982's Caged Women. Also known as Blade Violent and Emanuelle in Prison.

Starring: Antonella Giancomini, Lorraine de Selle, Maria Romano, and Ursula Flores

• Studio: E.I. Independent
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Format: Color, Widescreen, NTSC
• DVD Release Date: April 26, 2005

Softcore shocker in which an attack at a New York hospital sends intrepid reporter Emanuelle (Laura Gemser) deep into the Amazon to locate a cannibal tribe living in the jungle. The sexy safari turns into a fight for survival against flesh-eating savages in this wild exploitation mix of nudity, gore and more, courtesy of no-holds-barred helmer Joe D'Amato. With Gabrielle Tinti, Susan Scott. AKA: "Emanuelle's Amazon Adventure." 90 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English (dubbed) Dolby Digital stereo; photo gallery; theatrical trailer.