Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Felicity Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 16, 2019

John Lamond's "Felicity" (1978) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage trailer for the film; archival video interview with the director; archival cast and cerw interviews; promotional materials; and more. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Before receiving Severin’s release of Felicity I had seen only one other film from John Lamond. It is an erotic drama called Breakfast in Paris with the beautiful Barbara Parkins (from Valley of the Dolls). It is a good genre film, but according to my catalog no one bothered to release it on DVD in the U.S. So now that Kino Lorber are bringing to Blu-ray so many films that were last seen on VHS, maybe Breakfast in Paris can also get a much needed upgrade.

Now, back to Felicity. Lamond must have been a big admirer of Emmanuelle because Felicity basically looks and feels like the Australian answer to Just Jaeckin’s classic film. It is about a young girl (Glory Annen) who can’t wait to have her first sexual experience in busy Hong Kong where apparently a lot of other men and women of different ages are living life to the fullest.

It sounds pretty good, but as soon as Felicity unpacks her bags the film basically evolves into one unusually long erotic commercial. This is how it goes: One segment in which Felicity makes love to her newest friend is followed by another longer segment in which she and her friend go out exploring the city. Then there is another segment in which she makes love followed by another segment in which she and her friend go to a nice restaurant or hold hands at the beach. It is pretty much the whole cycle, with a few random exchanges here and there. Some of the footage is lovely, but it never feels like the film is actually trying to tell a story. (And yes, good erotic films usually tell good stories).

I was not at all bothered by Lamond’s obvious desire to imitate what works in Emmanuelle, but the talent here is different and it really shows. Annen and her partners do their best to appear authentic, but it never really looks like they are genuinely interested in each other. This has a very negative impact on the intended atmosphere and after a while the illusion that Hong Kong is an exotic paradise where a young girl can have the adventure of her life is completely destroyed.

I still think that the film is worth seeing. While I quickly lost interest in the ‘plot’, I found a lot of the raw footage from Hong Kong quite fascinating. Lamond and his camera visit the markets by the bays, an area that looks like an old gambling district with some rather sketchy bars and massage parlors, and then some poor neighborhoods where people barely make ends meet. I am pretty sure that nowadays entire areas, as seen in the film, no longer exist.

Felicity was lensed by cinematographer Garry Wapshott, who also assisted Lamond with the making of his documentary films Australia After Dark (1975) and The ABCs of Love And Sex: Australia Style (1978). Both films are offered on this release as bonus features and I found them to be a lot more intriguing than Felicity. Definitely find the time to see them. I also recommend that you listen to the two audio commentaries with Lamond’s that are included with them.

Felicity Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, John Lamond's Felicity arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment.

The release is sourced from the same remaster that Severin Films worked with when it prepared its release of the film for the U.S. market. I don't know when or how this remaster was prepared, but if I had to speculate I would say that some sort of a print was used to create it. Indeed, the visuals have that overall thicker appearance that would typically be delivered by an element that is at least two generations away from the OCN. (If an interpositive was used, it must have aged badly because the density levels are quite average). On the other hand, there are no traces of problematic digital adjustments, so overall the film actually has rather good organic qualities. As noted in our review of the U.S. release, however, you should expected more of a 'vintage' filmic appearance. with some minor specks and random tiny scratches. Colors are decent, but ideally the primaries and the supporting nuances should be lusher and overall better balanced. My score is 3.25/5.00. (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).

Felicity Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.

There are no serious anomalies to report. However, a few sequences have tiny areas where some cleanup and rebalancing work will improve fluidity. In the upper register there are no pops, distortions, or hum. The dynamic intensity is convincing for period project of this nature.

Felicity Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - audio commentary for Felicity with producer/director John Lamond and star Glory Annen.

• Extended Interviews - presented here are clips from archival interviews that were conducted for the documentary film Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!. Director/producer John Lamond, Glory Annen (Felicity), and cinematographer Gary Wapshott discuss the era in which Felicity emerged, sex and sexuality, and the type of thrills that its creator wanted to deliver. In English, not subtitled. (37 min, 720p).

• Confessions of an R-Rated Movie Maker - this archival video interview with director John Lamond also appears in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!. The outspoken director explains the rather interesting role that sex occupied in Australian cinema during the '70s, and why he wasn't interested in shooting the 'serious' films that the 'serious' critics in his country wanted to praise. Wonderful interview, full of so many truths. In English, not subtitled. (9 min, 720p).

• Theatrical Trailer - vintage trailer for Felicity. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 720p).

• Image Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for Felicity from around the world. (3 min, 720p).

• Cover - reversible cover.

Felicity Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There are some bits of Felicity that I liked quite a lot, mostly the period footage from Hong Kong, but I think that the film could have been far more attractive. To be honest, I am a lot more interested in getting on Blu-ray the Australian director's hilarious '80s gems Pacific Banana and A Slice of Life, so hopefully Umbrella Entertainment will remaster them soon and introduce individual releases via the new Ozploitation Classics line. Felicity is included in this recent release, together with Tony Paterson's wonderful futuristic erotic thriller Centrespread. RECOMMENDED.