By now, you've become accustomed to the fact that every month or so I found myself checking out the Cheezy Flicks B-movie vault, a treasure trove of bad movies, B-movies, long forgotten movies, and movies you'd just plain like to forget.

Emanuelle, Queen of the Desert was one in a long line of the Emanuelle films, exploitation films of the 70's and early 80's featuring flimsy storylines and lots of flesh courtesy, for the most part, of the lovely Laura Gemser. I will confess having once considered the Emanuelle films to be Nancy Drew mysteries for adults.

Don't worry. That comparison doesn't really hold up anymore.

Emanuelle, Queen of the Desert was also released under the name The Dirty Seven and, surprisingly enough, the two titles are actually quite different in the material included. The Dirty Seven actually has less of a focus on Gemser's performance, and while Gemser certainly was never an award-winning actress there's no doubt that Emanuelle, Queen of the Desert is the stronger version of the two.

Based on a novel written by the film's writer/director Bruno Fontana, the film finds Emanuelle trapped in the middle of a brutal war between guerilla factions in a mysterious desert. Emanuelle, Queen of the Desert has sort of a redemptive violence angle going on it as Emanuelle becomes the clear focus of the war as both sides set out to claim the beauty for their own. Unfortunately for them, Emanuelle is not only beautiful but quite intelligent and uses her charms to seduce the soldiers and gain the advantage.

As one expects from an Emanuelle film, there's lots of nudity and rather soft scenes of sexuality to be found here with sort of a tropical/tribal vibe going on that gives the film a bit of an exotic feel. It shouldn't be too much of a surprise given that the film is now available on DVD from Cheezy Flicks, but Gemser's Emanuelle leans towards a campy presentation that works mainly because Gemser always did have a screen presence and the ability to sell the character no matter how outlandish things would get.

Emanuelle, Queen of the Desert is by no means groundbreaking cinema, but for those who love the Emanuelle films or who just appreciate well done B-movie flicks it's more than worth a watch. If you've never been to the Cheezy Flicks website, it's worth a view to see the many films you can own for yourself at excellent prices.

© Written by Richard Propes 
The Independent Critic