Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Gwendoline Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 23, 2020

Just Jaeckin's "Gwendoline" (1984) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films. The supplemental features on the disc include archival interviews with the director; audio commentary by stars stars Tawny Kitaen and Brent Huff; promotional materials; and a lot more. In English or French, with optional English and English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

On the road

I don’t know anyone that saw Just Jaeckin’s Gwendoline for the story, and if I met someone that tried to convince me that he did, I would not believe it. Let’s be honest here, it was the ‘80s and Jaeckin already had quite a reputation for shooting Emmanuelle and The Story of O, so the folks that went to see Gwendoline did so for the skin. Also, after David Coverdale started dating Tawny Kitaen and put her in a couple of huge Whitesnake videos, folks completely forgot that Gwendoline actually had a story. It is the naked truth.

A nun on the run, Gwendoline (Kitaen) lands in China determined to track down her father who has gone missing while searching for a very rare butterfly. Soon after, the beautiful girl convinces the gambling mercenary Willard (Brent Huff) to take her and her maid, Beth (Zabou), to the Land of the Yik Yak where her missing father was last seen.

During their journey, the travelers barely evade a very dangerous tribe of cannibals but are captured by the all-female warriors of another tribe whose leader (Bernadette Lafont) loves to play kinky games with male trespassers that are brought before her. To survive the games and earn their freedom, Gwendoline and Willard then begin improvising in some most unusual ways.

Jaeckin’s wild imagination transforms Gwendoline into a giant fairy tale for adults and this is basically what makes the film interesting. Indeed, the camera spends a lot of time marveling the curves of the beautiful female bodies that appear in front of it, but the decors that are around them is what separates the film from the typical softcore productions that the decade became famous for. So, there are a lot of elaborate constructions and decors, and some very smart lighting to make them look seriously attractive. (The set production was overseen by Andre Guerin, who had earlier assisted Jacques Demy on the terrific musical A Room in Town).

What else is there to like?

The costumes and devices. Jaeckin’s erotic films usually take them seriously as well, but in this film everything looks extra-special. The best material is in the final third where Gwendoline and Willard have to act like a team to emerge victorious. Also, there are some good special effects that make the torture devices far bigger than they really are, though the actual sets where they are built are as elaborate as they appear in the film.

The man behind the camera was André Domage, who decades earlier had teamed up with Jules Dassin on the legendary caper Rififi. As far as the actual camerawork is concerned there is not a lot to praise, but he was responsible for the positioning of the lighting equipment and as mentioned earlier the lighting does a lot of great work to make the film attractive.

So, Gwendoline is a silly film for adults, but it is also one that takes its style very seriously. It is where his strength is. The rest? Well, let’s just say that you have already seen it elsewhere done better and in a much more convincing fashion.

*Severin Films’ release of Gwendoline is sourced from a recent 4K master of the fully uncut version of the film (01.44.32). Also included on the release is an alternate U.S. release version. The Perils of Gwendoline, which is shorter (01.28.30).

Gwendoline Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Gwendoline arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films.

The release is sourced from a recent 4K master that provides the healthier presentation of the film that I have seen to date. However, the film could have looked even better on Blu-ray. Here's why:

The biggest and most obvious flaw is the compression. Simply put, there is way too much material that should have been spread over two discs so that the main feature can retain as much of the information from the new 4K master as possible. In darker/indoor sequences the grain often becomes borderline noisy and as a result delineation begins to suffer. During the daylight footage it is often easy to see that fluidity could have better as well, just by having a strong optimized encode. Finally, while I am not at all bothered, the master does retain a rather unusual number of tiny white specks, which could and should have been eliminated with digital tools. The rest looks great. There are no traces of digital tinkering, which is why the visual tend to have a pretty decent organic appearance. The color balance is convincing as well. Finally, the overall image stability of the master is very good. (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).

Gwendoline Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are four standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit), English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit), French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit), and French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the film with the English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track but also performed some random tests with the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. There is a pretty obvious difference in quality between the two, so some of the action definitely benefits from the additional separation. Predictably, clarity, depth, and balance remain the same. I did not detect any transfer anomalies to report in our review.

Gwendoline Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary One - director Just Jaeckin discusses in great detail the visual style of Gwendoline, with particular technical information about the lensing of key sequences, the blending of different genre qualities, the casting choices, the art design and stage decors and equipment, etc.

• Commentary Two - in this audio commentary stars Tawny Kitaen and Brent Huff recall how they were invited to join the cast of Gwendoline, what it was like to work with Just Jaeckin, how various sequences where shot (including a few of the more risque ones), the production designs and costumes, etc. It is an informative and at times quite hilarious commentary. David Gregory from Severin Films moderates.

• Alternate U.S. release Version - presented here is the shorter U.S. release version of the film, The Perils of Gwendoline, which is approximately 89 minutes long. Dolby English 2.0. 1080p.

• The Butterfly Effect - in this new video interview, director Just Jaeckin discusses Tawny Kitaen's dissatisfaction with the manner in which Gwendoline was marketed, the casting sessions, Brent Huff's performance, Françoise De Leu's fabulous set designs and art direction, some of the unique visual effects, etc. The interview was conducted in 2019. In French, with optional English subtitles. (14 min).

• Bondage Paradise - in this new program, costume and concept Ddesigners and comic book artists Claude Renard and François Schuiten discuss their approach to graphic storytelling, their initial contact with Just Jaeckin, and their first impressions of Gwendoline and final concept for it. There are some particularly interesting observations about the type of themes (bondage/erotica) that director Jaeckin wanted incorporated in the film. In French, with optional English subtitles. (34 min).

• The Perils of Production - in this video interview, executive producer Jean-Claude Fleury discusses the production history of Gwendoline, including the acquisition of the rights for the comic, the initial plan to have the film directed by Gerard Zingg, his 'grand vision' for the film, the financing and marketing campaign, etc. In French, with optional English subtitles. (19 min).

• Gwendoline's Travels - in this video interview, Francoise Deleu recalls how she was hired to work as production designer on Gwendoline and what it was like to work with and meet the expectations of director Just Jaeckin. In English, not subtitled. (15 min, 1080p).

• Blu-ray Promos - a couple of pretty funny promos in which Tawny Kitaen and Brent Huff recall what it was like to be part of Gwendoline and how the film surprised and challenged in some rather unusual ways. In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080p).

• The Last Temptations of Just - in this archival interview, director Just Jaeckin explains how Gwendoline came to exist, and discusses the film's sense of humor, the grand art decors and exotic costumes, his interactions with Tawny Kitaen, the film's eroticism and how he likes to shoot girls, etc. The interview was conducted in 2006. (25 min, 480/60i).

• Dr. Kinsey Interview with John Willie - presented here is an audio interview with John Willie, creator of Sweet Gwendoline. In English, not subtitled. (44 min, 1080p).

• Revealing Tawny Kitaen - a photospread that was created for French magazine Lui featuring a young Tawny Kitaen. (1 min, 1080p).

• Trailers - two vintage trailers for Gwendoline. (6 min, 1080p).

• Cover - reversible cover with vintage poster art.

Gwendoline Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Just Jaeckin's Gwendoline is one of the quintessential '80s films -- it is kitschy, goofy, classy, and, yes, a little sleazy. This is the reason why so many people like it. It reminds them of a time when these types of exotic films were possible to make and people appreciated them for what they were. It is this simple. Severin Films' recent release of Gwendoline is sourced from a lovey 4K master, but it should have been a two-disc set so that the technical presentation is much more convincing. RECOMMENDED.