Year Released: 1974

Country: Italy, France, Spain.

Theatrical Run Time: 110 minutes.

DVD Run Time: 83 minutes.

Rating: Unknown. (S-certificate equivalent? Most definiately Mature audiences only.)

Tag line: Women Warriors as Sensuous as they are Savage. Women Rulers as Passionate as they are Powerful.

Cast: Alena Johnston, Sabine Sun, Angelo Infanti, Rosanna Yanni, Helga Liné, Rebecca Potok, Malisa Longo, Lucy Tiller, Almut Berg, Luciana Paluzzi, Fausto Tozzi, Franco Borelli, Benito Stefanelli.

Director: Terence Young.

AKA: Le Guerriere Dal Seno Nudo/ Amazzoni: Le Guerriere dal Seno Nuda/ The Nude Amazons/ The Amazons/ Les Amazones/ Las Amazonas/ Amazonke

Score Card:

Today we're looking at an unusual entry in the medium budget historical epic, otherwise known as the sword-and-sandal genre, from director Terence Young (Dr. No, From Russia with Love) called. .

War Goddess

. Unusual not because it was a joint production of three different countries and appears to have had twice again as many theatrical/ video versions but because it pulls no punches where nudity or blatant Sapphic overtones are concerned. That's perhaps not unusual in exploitation films, especially from the seventies, but when viewed today it's quite shocking to see how matter-of-fact the nudity is. However most shocking of all is the fact War Goddess has a plot.

Unfortunately there are likely gaps in the story as the current DVD release is short some 23-27 minutes, depending on the reference sources consulted. However what remains is a relatively easy to follow tale of one Amazon's rise to Queen. .

And her difficulties in instituting reforms in the face of hostile opposition. But will the new Queen's fate really rest on the draw of lots?

Or will her Greco-Roman gymnastic prowess win the day against her challengers?

There's intrigue, romance, and battles aplenty for those who enjoy a bit of action packed carnage in their historical epics. Yet War Goddess, with it's oftentimes silly dialogue and bizarre choice of music, also manages to be hilariously absurd. Even the oh-so-serious attempts to move the plot along includes gratuitous wrestling scenes. .

In which two nude or semi-nude (the grain is so bad it's impossible to really tell) Amazons thrash about in a smothering gloom of veiled darkness, their taut sweat slicked bodies starkly illuminated by random lightning bursts. It is a wondrous display of knee slapping amusement. And I haven't even mentioned the Greeks or how the Amazons go about deciding which males are worthy to mate with.

For starters the Amazons make the Greek men line up for inspection. .

And only those select Greek soldiers deemed fit physical specimens of their race whose swords are well honed instruments are allowed to enter into the Amazonian tents to plow the fertile furrows. Of course this is just a business transaction. Women children will grow up to be Amazons while male children, well, let's just say they never see the light of day. It's all very Spartan. Yet, as you can see from the screen capture, the Amazons had no shortage of volunteers! Such sad commentary on the male of our species.

But of course this is all just the beginning.

Appraisel

War Goddess is a movie that had a budget, a effective director, and a goodly assortment of veteran European actors; and it shows. Sadly the video on the DVD appears to have been sourced from 16 mm film stock that's seen far better days. The reels used were severely scratched and worn, the color is okay but the film looks over dark, as if the brightness and contrast levels were off, which doesn't help as certain scenes have poor lighting.

Alas unless someone comes forward with a pristine 35mm negative this is probably as good a release as this movie is ever likely to get. Which is a shame because this actually had a cast of talented actresses and looks to of had a decent budget. Still kudos to the folks at Retromedia for bringing us this rare gem. Alas the movie begins with a disclaimer. .

It would have been nice if that disclaimer mentioned this composite is missing several minutes worth of footage. While it's possible there were no usable segments of the missing segments to be found I really find it odd that my research turned up gray market vendors who found fuller versions to peddle. Then again this appears to have been sourced from worn 16 mm prints, whereas those gray market vendors probably dubbed a old imported VHS or LD release. Which leads us to. .

Availability & Alternate Versions

It has taken awhile to compile and double check the information in this section and, due to numerous reference contradictions, the information presented here should not be considered definitive. That said there appears to have existed a number of alternate edits of this movie, the longest theatrical print apparently clocking in at 110 minutes. However sources also list versions with runtimes of 105, 97, and 95 minutes; disparities that could be accounted for if these are for differing video formats as PAL, NTSC, and SECAM run at slightly different speed/frame rates.

Currently Retromedia offers the only R1 DVD of this title I am aware of. It is full screen, runs 83 minutes, and opens with a disclaimer stating the print used is a composite made from several different sources. Thus the resultant video varies wildly in picture quality and clarity from scene to scene. While it could have looked far worse the fact remains that, despite Retromedia's efforts, this is far from an optimal edition.

Sadly what is apparent when comparing the Retromedia DVD to what 'gray market' vendors have been offering is there exists at least two other versions of this film on DVD(r). Which means that there was at least, at one time, more of this movie available for editing. Alas, what is not clear, is what became of the film elements. My efforts to track down information beyond that outlined above have been less than fruitful. So that leaves only the info gleaned from the DVDRs. .

Both sold under the alternate title "The Amazons" (though appropriating different cover art) and both available through 'gray market' vendors. One purports to be a 107 minute version in English with Japanese subtitles while the other claims to be widescreen and "uncut". The latter is in Italian with English subtitles. Sadly this latter edition lists no run time thus it is difficult to evaluate it's claims of being uncut without a screener. However these listings provide two very important facts, namely that versions of this movie have been released on video in Italy and Japan.

Similar Movies

Amazons (1986) - A Roger Corman production that has to be seen to be believed. Check out the review at Swords & Suckery.Battle of the Amazons (1973)- A very good review of the hard to find DVD release for this nearly forgotten Alfonso Brescia movie can be found at DVDmaniacs dot net.Return of the Barbarian Women (1975) - Apparently AWOL on DVD yet a review of this follow-up to Battle of the Amazons can be found at Trash City.

Copyright © C. Demetrius Morgan

[This is an archived review. Original appeared here.]