Tokugawa Sex Ban: Limited Red Case Edition – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1972
Director: Norifumi Suzuki
Writers: Masahiro Kakefuda, Norifumi Suzuki
Cast: Hiroshi Nawa, Ruriko Ikejima, Sandra Julien, Miki Sugimoto, Taiji Tonoyama, Fumio Watanabe, Akira Ôizumi, Utako Kyô, Yôko Mihara

Release Date: August, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 88 Minutes 27 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: OOP

"In Tokugawa era Japan, Princess Kiyo (Miki Sugimoto), youngest daughter of mighty Shogun Ienari Tokugawa, weds country lord Tadateru Ogura. Unfortunately for Kiyo, her new husband is a “man’s man” who has no interest in women. To help Tadateru discover his sexual side, his courtiers bring in Sandra (Sandra Jullien, star of Ravishing Dany and The Shiver of the Vampires), a French courtesan who arrives in a wooden box, like a porcelain doll. Her extraordinary sexual technique awakens Tadateru to the fun he’s been missing all these years. Unfortunately, he enjoys it so much that he decides it’s too good for commoners and so enforces a sex ban on the rest of his subjects, decreeing that any of them having intercourse will be executed. Soon the enraged populace are storming Tadateru’s castle with a battering ram shaped like a giant phallus!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 2k transfer from film negative, digitally restored."

Tokugawa Sex Ban comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28.8 GB

Feature: 23.9 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with are removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles), interview with film critic Kōshi Ueno who provides an overview Norifumi Suzuki early films as a director and Tokugawa Sex Ban (17 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Jasper Sharp.

Extras exclusive to this limited edition release include reversible cover art, three double sided art cards, and a 24-page booklet with an essay titled Sex, Power, Censorship and Laughs: Toei Kyoto’s Conversion to Porno Jidaigeki written by Dimitri Ianni.

Summary:

Norifumi Suzuki directed Tokugawa Sex Ban. He’s known for The Lustful Shogun and His 21 Concubines, School of the Holy Beast, The Killing Machine, Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls, and Roaring Fire. He also directed several films in the Girl Boss and Terrifying Girls' High School film series.

The virgin daughter of a shogun is married to a lord whose sexual inexperience causes problems between them. The lord's most trusted advisors put him with women who will help him increase his sexual prowess. When the lord becomes attached to his French mistress, his wife becomes jealous and has her arrested and tortured.

Tokugawa Sex Ban, like Hot Springs Mimizu Geisha, another film directed by Norifumi Suzuki, are prime examples of Toei’s forays into Pinku eiga. Though most of these were period set films, Toei’s take on this genre would evolve into what is now known as Pinky Violence. Whether set in the past or present, all of Toei’s Pinku eiga are known for their mix of eroticism, violence, and action. Also, films like Tokugawa Sex Ban and Hot Springs Mimizu Geisha can be seen as successors to Euro guro films like Teruo Ishii’s Joys of Torture series.

Tokugawa Sex Ban’s narrative is nothing more than a series of erotic moments. Outside of the protagonist and his wife, there is no time spent building up characters. Fortunately, none of these things matter, since it is its moments of eroticism that drive the narrative. That said, the most surprising aspect of Tokugawa Sex Ban is how effectively it employs humor. The humor comes from two sources: the sexual situations and Lord Tadateru Ogura’s ban on sex and subsequent revolt from the locals.

When it comes to the performances, the entire cast is outstanding, especially Hiroshi Nawa (Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture), who portrays Lord Tadateru Ogura, who is unable to satisfy his wife. Not to be overlooked are the two female leads, Miki Sugimoto (Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs), who portrays Lord Tadateru Ogura’s frustrated wife, and Sandra Julien (The Shiver of the Vampires), who portrays Lord Tadateru Ogura’s French mistress. Throughout, director Norifumi Suzuki never misses an opportunity to showcase these two women’s beauty. 

Visually, there are many striking moments in Tokugawa Sex Ban. That said, none is more striking than a scene where a woman committing harakiri begs her husband to finish her by chopping her head off. Other notable moments are a scene where Sandra Julien and Miki Sugimoto frolic naked in front of a waterfall and a scene where the French mistress is hung upside down on a cross as the ocean's water rises and submerges her head. Ultimately, Tokugawa Sex Ban is a film that quickly draws you in, and it does a superb job building to an ironic finale where Lord Tadateru Ogura finally achieves ecstasy, albeit at a cost.

Tokugawa Sex Ban gets an excellent release from Mondo Macabro that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Note: This edition is limited to 1500 copies.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Tokugawa Sex Ban – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1972
Director: Norifumi Suzuki
Writers: Masahiro Kakefuda, Norifumi Suzuki
Cast: Hiroshi Nawa, Ruriko Ikejima, Sandra Julien, Miki Sugimoto, Taiji Tonoyama, Fumio Watanabe, Akira Ôizumi, Utako Kyô, Yôko Mihara

Release Date: March 10th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 88 Minutes 27 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"In Tokugawa era Japan, Princess Kiyo (Miki Sugimoto), youngest daughter of mighty Shogun Ienari Tokugawa, weds country lord Tadateru Ogura. Unfortunately for Kiyo, her new husband is a “man’s man” who has no interest in women. To help Tadateru discover his sexual side, his courtiers bring in Sandra (Sandra Jullien, star of Ravishing Dany and The Shiver of the Vampires), a French courtesan who arrives in a wooden box, like a porcelain doll. Her extraordinary sexual technique awakens Tadateru to the fun he’s been missing all these years. Unfortunately, he enjoys it so much that he decides it’s too good for commoners and so enforces a sex ban on the rest of his subjects, decreeing that any of them having intercourse will be executed. Soon the enraged populace are storming Tadateru’s castle with a battering ram shaped like a giant phallus!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 2k transfer from film negative, digitally restored."

Tokugawa Sex Ban comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28.8 GB

Feature: 23.9 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with are removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles), interview with film critic Kōshi Ueno who provides an overview Norifumi Suzuki early films as a director and Tokugawa Sex Ban (17 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Jasper Sharp.

Summary:

Norifumi Suzuki directed Tokugawa Sex Ban. He’s known for The Lustful Shogun and His 21 Concubines, School of the Holy Beast, The Killing Machine, Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls, and Roaring Fire. He also directed several films in the Girl Boss and Terrifying Girls' High School film series.

The virgin daughter of a shogun is married to a lord whose sexual inexperience causes problems between them. The lord's most trusted advisors put him with women who will help him increase his sexual prowess. When the lord becomes attached to his French mistress, his wife becomes jealous and has her arrested and tortured.

Tokugawa Sex Ban, like Hot Springs Mimizu Geisha, another film directed by Norifumi Suzuki, are prime examples of Toei’s forays into Pinku eiga. Though most of these were period set films, Toei’s take on this genre would evolve into what is now known as Pinky Violence. Whether set in the past or present, all of Toei’s Pinku eiga are known for their mix of eroticism, violence, and action. Also, films like Tokugawa Sex Ban and Hot Springs Mimizu Geisha can be seen as successors to Euro guro films like Teruo Ishii’s Joys of Torture series.

Tokugawa Sex Ban’s narrative is nothing more than a series of erotic moments. Outside of the protagonist and his wife, there is no time spent building up characters. Fortunately, none of these things matter, since it is its moments of eroticism that drive the narrative. That said, the most surprising aspect of Tokugawa Sex Ban is how effectively it employs humor. The humor comes from two sources: the sexual situations and Lord Tadateru Ogura’s ban on sex and subsequent revolt from the locals.

When it comes to the performances, the entire cast is outstanding, especially Hiroshi Nawa (Female Yakuza Tale: Inquisition and Torture), who portrays Lord Tadateru Ogura, who is unable to satisfy his wife. Not to be overlooked are the two female leads, Miki Sugimoto (Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs), who portrays Lord Tadateru Ogura’s frustrated wife, and Sandra Julien (The Shiver of the Vampires), who portrays Lord Tadateru Ogura’s French mistress. Throughout, director Norifumi Suzuki never misses an opportunity to showcase these two women’s beauty. 

Visually, there are many striking moments in Tokugawa Sex Ban. That said, none is more striking than a scene where a woman committing harakiri begs her husband to finish her by chopping her head off. Other notable moments are a scene where Sandra Julien and Miki Sugimoto frolic naked in front of a waterfall and a scene where the French mistress is hung upside down on a cross as the ocean's water rises and submerges her head. Ultimately, Tokugawa Sex Ban is a film that quickly draws you in, and it does a superb job building to an ironic finale where Lord Tadateru Ogura finally achieves ecstasy, albeit at a cost.

Tokugawa Sex Ban gets an excellent release from Mondo Macabro that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

I Am a Nymphomaniac / I Am Frigid… Why? – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: France, 1971 (I Am a Nymphomaniac), France, 1972 (I Am Frigid… Why?)
Director: Max Pécas (Both Films)
Cast: Sandra Julien, Janine Reynaud, Yves Vincent, Patrick Verde, Michel Lemoine, Alain Hitier, Bob Ingarao, Michel Charrel, Michel Vocoret (I Am a Nymphomaniac), Sandra Julien, Marie-Georges Pascal, Jean-Luc Terrade, Anne Kerylen, Thierry Murzeau, Virginie Vignon, Catherine Wagener, Robert Lombard, Arlette Poirier, Frédérique Aubrée, Joëlle Coeur (I Am Frigid… Why?)

Release Date: November 12th, 2024
Approximate Running Times: 95 Minutes 20 Seconds (I Am a Nymphomaniac), 100 Minutes 38 Seconds (I Am Frigid… Why?)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French, DTS-HD Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Retail Price: $29.95

I Am a Nymphomaniac: "Carole is an ordinary girl leading an ordinary life. Then one day it happens. She has an accident and falls down a lift shaft. Miraculously, she survives. But after she recovers in the hospital, she finds herself obsessed with her body, sex and sin. Will she ever be free from the torment of her passionate desires?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

I Am Frigid… Why?: "Her search leads from her convent school to 1970’s Paris, where she falls in with an outrageous theatre group, finally ending up as a high-class call girl in a house run by a lesbian dominatrix.  A riot of lava lamps, garish fashions and deliciously daft dialogue." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5 (I Am a Nymphomaniac), 3.75/5 (I Am Frigid… Why?)

I Am a Nymphomaniac and I Am Frigid… Why? come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40 GB

Feature: 17.4 GB (I Am a Nymphomaniac), 18.7 GB (I Am Frigid… Why?)

Both films have source debris; image clarity is strong, black levels fare well, compression is very good, and grain remains intact. That said, there are moments where colors are not as vibrant.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono French - Both Films), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - Both Films)

Both films come with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in French and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. The main difference between these audio tracks is that the French language tracks sound cleaner than the two English language audio tracks, which have background hiss. That said, all audio tracks sound balanced, and dialog comes through clearly. Included are removable English subtitles for the French language tracks.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an Episode of the Eurotika TV series about Max Pécas (24 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French and English with burnt in English subtitles for French), and I Am Frigid… Why? deleted scenes from the U.S. version released by Radley Metzger (13 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles).

Summary:

I Am a Nymphomaniac and I Am Frigid… Why? were directed by Max Pécas, a filmmaker who began his career mostly directing thrillers before making a name for himself in the erotic film genre.

I Am a Nymphomaniac: A traumatic event turns a sexually repressed woman into a nymphomaniac.

Max Pécas, Jean Rollin, and Jess Franco were a trio of filmmakers who thrived in 1970s French erotic cinema. Though all three made erotic cinema, the way they each approached it could not be further apart. Of these three, Jess Franco was the most graphic, pushing boundaries, Jean Rollin was the most artistic, and Max Pécas fell in the middle.

I Am a Nymphomaniac is a psychological melodrama about a woman having a sexual awakening. Her transformation from sexually repressed to nymphomaniac is not within her control. Instead of receiving help from those in her life, they take advantage of her, forcing her to embrace her own carnal desires.

The main attraction of I Am a Nymphomaniac is Sandra Julien (The Shiver of the Vampires), who portrays the protagonist, a woman named Carole. Physically, she has the assets that make her believable as an object of desire, while performance-wise, she’s able to pull off a naivety that perfectly captures her character's state of mind. During the first half of the 1970s, Sandra Julien's career was sizzling hot in the erotic cinema industry. However, when erotic cinema gave way to hardcore pornography, she chose to leave the industry.

The rest of the cast are actually very good, especially Janine Reynaud (Succubus), who portrays a woman who takes Carole in after her family rejects her. Janine Reynaud, like Sandra Julien, was an actress whose career was all too brief. Her portrayal of a sex-crazed manipulator in I Am a Nymphomaniac is arguably one of her best. Another cast member of note is Michel Lemoine (Seven Women for Satan); he was married to Janine Reynaud at that time.

Despite being an erotic film, the sex scenes in I Am a Nymphomaniac are brief and not that salacious. Fortunately, this works in this film’s favor, since its premise is well-executed and the narrative does a superb job maintaining momentum. An interesting tidbit about the music cue that plays whenever the protagonist becomes aroused is that it sounds like a variation of the James Bond theme.

When discussing I Am a Nymphomaniac, one should not overlook the role that the visuals play. Striking imagery and effective use of juxtaposition create a fusion that heightens the mood. The two most memorable moments are a merry-go-round dream sequence and an orgy finale. Ultimately, fans of the arthouse erotic films that Radley Metzger made should enjoy I Am a Nymphomaniac.

I Am Frigid… Why?: A trauma from her past prevents a woman from experiencing sexual fulfillment.

Max Pécas follows up I Am a Nymphomaniac with another film that revolves around a traumatized protagonist. The protagonist now recoils at the slightest sign of affection instead of undergoing a sexual awakening. Also, where her sickness was exploited in I Am a Nymphomaniac, characters now work with the protagonist to help her overcome her sexual repression.

Once again, Sandra Julien (Ravishing Dany) is the heart and soul. She portrays Doris, a gardener's daughter who is raped by an incestuous brother and sister. She delivers an utterly believable performance that perfectly captures her character's fractured state of mind. The rest of the cast gives good performances, but hers overshadows them.

Though erotica is prominent throughout, psychological elements play a significant role. One of the key characters on Doris’ journey is an older woman who teaches her to use her fragility as a positive instead of a negative. That said, in order to truly overcome her fragility, she must go back to where her trauma began.

This time around, Max Pécas foregoes the arthouse aesthetics and amps up the exploitation elements. Nowhere is this clearer than when it comes to the moments of erotica, especially a rape scene and a subplot about incestuous siblings. The narrative superbly executes the premise and moves things forward effectively. Another strength are the visuals, which take full advantage of the scenic landscapes. Ultimately, I Am Frigid… Why? is a well-made psychological/erotica film that's a must-see for fans of Sandra Julien.

Mondo Macabro gives I Am a Nymphomaniac, and I Am Frigid... Why? their best home media release to date, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Ravishing Dany – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: France, 1972 (Ravishing Dany), France/Greece, 1965 (The Girl Can't Stop)
Director: Willy Rozier (Both Films)
Cast: Sandra Julien, Jürgen Drews, Michel Paulin, Jacqueline Laurent, Jacques Dynam, Lisa Livane, Jacques Marbeuf, Angelo Bassi, Sébastien Floche, Jacques Hansenne (Ravishing Dany), Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Georges Rivière, Jean Sobieski, Claude Cerval, Jenny Astruc, Jacques Harden, Zeta Apostolou, Georges Lycan, Despo Diamantidou, Dimos Starenios, Kostas Baladimas (The Girl Can't Stop)

Release Date: August 8th, 2023
Approximate running times: 83 Minutes 12 Seconds (Ravishing Dany), 92 Minutes 39 Seconds (The Girl Can't Stop)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Ravishing Dany), 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Girl Can't Stop)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono French (Both Films), DTS-HD Mono English (Ravishing Dany)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Surely one of the weirdest “sex comedies” ever, the story concerns Danielle (’Dany to my friends’), a freelance fashion model in early 1970s France, played here by Sandra Julien of The Shiver of the Vampires fame. She wants to buy a car and so is saving the travel portion of her fee for that purpose. To get from gig to gig she hitchhikes." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (Ravishing Dany), 4.5/5 (The Girl Can't Stop)

Here’s the information provided about Ravishing Dany's transfer, “Brand new 2k restoration from original negative.”

Ravishing Dany comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.5 GB

Feature: 15.6 GB (Ravishing Dany), 18.8 GB (The Girl Can't Stop)

The source used for Ravishing Dany is in great shape. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is very good, and the image looks organic.

The source used for The Girl Can't Stop looks excellent. Image clarity, contrast, and black levels are solid, compression is very good, and the image looks organic.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono French - Ravishing Dany), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - Ravishing Dany), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono French - The Girl Can't Stop)

Ravishing Dany comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in French and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Though both of these tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, The French-language track sounds more robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the French-language track. It should be noted that the English-language track has some dialog in French and Italian.

The Girl Can't Stop comes with one audio option: a DTS-HD mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. This track sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise, things sound very good.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer for Ravishing Dany (1 minute 30 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), XXX inserts (2 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with music from the film playing over the inserts), an interview with director’s daughter, Catherine Rozier (17 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), a featurette titled Christophe Bier reads Willy Rozier (19 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), a featurette tilted Dany and the Censors (25 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), and a bonus feature film, The Girl Can't Stop.

Summary:

Though both films that are included as part of this release were directed by Willy Rozier, If you went blind into Ravishing Dany and The Girl Can't Stop without knowing anything about these two films, you would be hard pressed to see a distinctive style. Also, it is interesting how much cinema evolved in the seven years between these two films when it comes to onscreen nudity and depictions of sex.

Ravishing Dany: The narrative revolves around Dany, a freelance fashion model who saves money by hitchhiking from job to job. Along the way, she meets an assortment of sexual deviants who try to take advantage of her.

The main attraction of Ravishing Dany is Sandra Julien in the title role. She rose to prominence in the early 1970s, notably starring in Jean Rollin’s The Shiver of the Vampires. By the mid-1970s, she would disappear as quickly as she arrived on the scene.

She is perfectly cast in the role of Dany, a character who serves as an object of desire. And her curvaceous frame ensures that she more than fulfills this role. Needless to say, she spends plenty of time topless or nude.

Content-wise, Ravishing Dany is pretty standard fare for 1970s softcore erotica. Like most of its contemporaries, the plot is secondary to the moments of erotica. With the narrative being nothing more than a means to showcase Sandra Julien in a series of risque moments. That said, most of the moments of erotica and onscreen nudity are actually brief.

Some of the colorful characters that the protagonist meets in her sexual misadventures include a man who confuses women and sheep, a man who escaped from an asylum, a transvestite singer, a prince, and a priest. That said, there is an abundance of absurd moments that ensure there is never a dull moment. Another strength is a briskly paced narrative. Ultimately, despite its predictability, Ravishing Dany is an entertaining romp that fans of 1970s softcore cinema should enjoy.

The Girl Can't Stop: The narrative revolves around a businessman on the verge of bankruptcy who uses his wife to seduce a banker in hopes that he will give him the needed cash flow. Along the way, his wife becomes too attached to the banker, putting their scheme in jeopardy.

What starts off as a melodrama quickly evolves into something that's closer to film noir. At the heart of The Girl Can't Stop is a tale about blackmail that has an ample amount of well-placed twists, notably a superb ending that perfectly brings everything together that preceded.

Performance-wise, the cast is all great in their roles, especially Georges Rivière (Castle of Blood) in the role of Manuel Liparos, the husband who is more concerned about money than his wife. Another performance of note is that of Jenny Astruc in the role of Marika, a femme fatale-like character.

At just under ninety-three minutes in length, there are a few times where the narrative tends to drag. Fortunately, these moments do not serve to derail the narrative flow, which for the most part does a good job building momentum.

The Girl Can’t Stop is a French-Greek co-production that was shot in Greece. And from a production standpoint, it takes full advantage of Greece's picturesque landscapes. Also, though blackmail is the central theme, another theme that runs throughout is pleasure and pain. With the banker character forcing S&M upon unsuspecting women. That said, despite some of the illicit subject matter, The Girl Can’t Stop does not dive full-on into the realm of exploitation cinema. Ultimately, The Girl Can’t Stop is a well-made crime drama that at times exceeds the sum of its parts.

Ravishing Dany is a solid release from Mondo Macabro that gives both films strong audio/video presentations and a trio of informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer