Ravishing Dany / The Girl Can't Stop Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Ravishing Dany / The Girl Can't Stop Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 10, 2023

Willy Rozier's "The Girl Can't Stop" (1965) and "Ravishing Dany" (1972) arrive on Blu-ray courtesy of Mondo Macabro. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Catherine Rozier; archival program with critic and film historian Christophe Bier; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English or French, with optional English subtitles for both films. Reigon-Free.

It is easy to tell that over the years Willy Rozier tried to make the same type of films Max Pecas did. In fact, if I were a betting man, I would put money on Rozier interacting with a lot of the same female talent that Pecas did because the star of Ravishing Dany, Sandra Julien, appeared in a couple of films that the latter directed. But it is not easy to tell who had a more prolific career. Rozier was very active in France and managed to convince Brigitte Bardot to appear in The Girl in the Bikini, which may be his greatest accomplishment. Pecas was very active in France too, but did plenty of work with international talent. For example, Pecas was one of the producers of Radley Metzger’s outstanding erotic thriller The Image (1975), which now enjoys the reputation of a cult film, and worked with several famous Italian directors. However, unlike Rozier, Pecas also transitioned to the adult film industry and made explicit films that presented him with completely different opportunities. Metzger imported and distributed virtually all of Pecas’ films in America, while Rozier’s films have never had a major presence in America.

This recent release from Mondo Macabro introduces two films that Rozier wrote, produced, and directed: The Girl Can’t Stop (1965) and Ravishing Dany (1972). Both are low-budget films that are unlikely to have had mainstream distribution deals in France. At best, these films were screened in several major cities and for a very short period of time.

The Girl Can’t Stop is undoubtedly the more ambitious project but also the less impressive one. (Both films tiptoe on the edge of B-movie territory and frequently step into C-movie territory, so it needs to be underscored that here impressive is a rather loose term). It is shot in black-and-white and follows an attractive wife who begins an affair with a prominent businessman managing an impressive network of social contacts. When the affair rapidly blossoms, the cheating wife decides to permanently redirect her life but misjudges her potential and the planned reset never materializes -- or at least not as imagined by the cheating wife. While looking predictably rough, the opening twenty or so minutes produce rather promising material, but the more time passes by, the clearer it becomes that there is just not enough quality in the screenplay and the actors do not have the strength and imagination to make the film look good despite the shortcomings.

Ravishing Dany is an even smaller film that was probably shot in a couple of weeks, possibly even quicker. Julien plays an uninhibited hitchhiker on her way to Paris who is constantly picked up by unusual characters -- a dirty old man, a lunatic, a transvestite singer, a couple of impostors on the run, etc. Most predictably, there is a sexual element in all of her encounters, but not usually there is some sort of unexpected development that overshadows it.

The quality of the acting in Ravishing Dany is average at best, but the visuals are quite nice. To be clear, Ravishing Dany is not a beautifully shot film. In fact, two-thirds of it produces the type of material that easily could have been used in a pseudo-documentary like The Wild, Wild World of Jayne Mansfield (1968) as the camera discovers how interesting the “real world” could be. In Ravishing Dany, the best material comes from glorious Monte Carlo, but is disappointingly short.

What about Dany’s adventures? Anyone expecting memorable sexual fireworks will be gravely disappointed. Dany’s best adventures are the ones that produce a few laughs, but unfortunately, this film leaves the impression that it was made with an average screenplay as well.

*Mondo Macabro’s release introduces new 2K restorations of The Girl Can’t Stop and Ravishing Dany that were struck from the original camera negatives.

Ravishing Dany / The Girl Can't Stop Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mondo Macabro's release introduces new 2K restorations of The Girl Can't Stop and Ravishing Dany that were struck from the original camera negatives. Both films are presented in 1080p.

I was very impressed with how these films looked in high-definition because both produce visuals with excellent organic qualities. In fact, considering that they were clearly shot with very modest budgets and probably not handled with extra care over the years, I thought that both looked rather remarkably healthy. Excluding a few blemishes during the opening credits, I did not see any age-related imperfections that are worth mentioning. Density levels are excellent, too. I think that Ravishing Dany has slightly more consistent visuals, but delineation, clarity, and depth are very, very good on both films. On Ravishing Dany, color balance is excellent. only during a couple of close-ups at the very end I noticed a bit of black crush, but this is a minor complaint. On The Girl Can't Stop, the grayscale looks lovely. Image stability is very good as well. Great presentations. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Ravishing Dany / The Girl Can't Stop Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 on Ravishing Dany, and French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 on The Girl Can't Stop. Optional English subtitles are provided for the French tracks.

I chose to view Ravishing Dany with the English track because I noticed that both tracks feature overdubbing. I would say that more actors speak their lines in French. All exchanges are clear and easy to follow. However, it is very easy to tell that both films were made with small budgets because their original soundtracks are very uninspiring. On Ravishing Dany, some sections easily could have been done for a documentary feature. However, rather surprisingly, balance is very good.

Ravishing Dany / The Girl Can't Stop Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

RAVISHING DANY

• Interview with Catherine Rozier - in this recent program, Catherine Rozier, daughter of director Willy Rozier, remembers what her father was like as a director and at home, the evolution of his career, and his flirtation with censorship. In French, with English subtitles. (18 min).

• Christophe Bier Reads Director Willy Rozier - in this recent program, Christophe Bier reads an archival interview/overview of Willy Rozier's work produced by the late director. In French, with English subtitles. (20 min).

• Dany at the Censors - in this archival program, Christophe Bier discusses Ravishing Dany and its rather interesting relationship with French censors. In French, with English subtitles. (26 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a fully restored original international trailer for Ravishing Dany. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• XXX Inserts - presented here are a couple of spicy inserts. With music. (3 min).

THE GIRL CAN'T STOP

• Interview with Catherine Rozier - in this recent program, Catherine Rozier, daughter of director Willy Rozier, remembers what her father was like as a director and at home, the evolution of his career, and his flirtation with censorship. In French, with English subtitles. (18 min).

• Christophe Bier Reads Director Willy Rozier - in this recent program, Christophe Bier reads an archival interview/overview of Willy Rozier's work produced by the late director. In French, with English subtitles. (20 min).

Ravishing Dany / The Girl Can't Stop Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Have you seen Gerri Sedley's Teenage Hitchhikers? Did you enjoy it? If you answered yes, take a look at Willy Rozier's Ravishing Dany because it offers the same thrills and laughs. This film has some quite nice vintage footage from glorious Monte Carlo as well, though it is not enough to declare that it is effective as a time capsule. You will get a bonus film too, The Girl Can't Help It, which is not bad either. Both films have been recently restored in 2K and look great on Blu-ray. RECOMMENDED.