Filmbar70 loves Edwige Fenech

Filmbar70 is proud to celebrate one of the most talented and beautiful actresses' to have ever graced the silver screen. Mistress of the sex comedy, Queen of the giallo and the definitive first lady of Italian exploitation cinema, Edwige is the most beloved of all the female icons that flourished during the region's cinematic excess of the 1970's.
She effortlessly combined intoxicating beauty, delightful charm, sparkling intelligence and generous sensuality; attributes understood and underscored with knowing humor and enhanced with an uninhibited approach to often risqué material.
Born in Bona Constantine on Christmas Eve 1948 as Edwige Sfenek, her entry into the world of cinema was via the usual route: beauty contests followed by modelling assignments, inevitably leading to small parts in European co-productions.
Her first film of note was the perverse 'Top Sensation' ('69), an outrageous attack on capitalist foibles. In the slight but stylish 'Five Dolls for an August Moon' ('70), Edwige played a similar character; a frolicking sex kitten heading for an ironic pay off.
During the coming decade a number of films produced by her then paramour Luciano Martino and directed by his brother Sergio would propel her into the realm of national star and transform her into an eternal cult icon,
Constructed entirely as showcase for Edwige, 'The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh' ('71) presents an interesting character with an underlying dichotomy: a strong, independent woman with a predilection for sado-masochistic relationships. Edwige threw herself into the role with absolute abandon, charting the decent from sassy fashionista into fearful neurotic with compelling intensity. The urban gothic and domestic paranoia of 'All the Colors of the Dark' ('72) saw Edwige at her most beleaguered, constantly quivering on the verge of a psychotic fugue. She made the unusual foray into the world of the femme fatale in 'Your Vice is a Locked Door and Only I have the Key' ('72), seducing male and female alike with predatory delight, excelling in the role of manipulative minx.
She was to appear in two other giallos outside team Martino, the lightweight but fun 'The Case of the Bloody Iris' ('72), and the blatantly entitled 'Strip Nude for your Killer' ('75).
A film of particular interest during this period is 'Anna, the Pleasure, the Torment' ('73). A crime thriller from the perspective of the female, 'Anna' was devised to highlight Edwige's dramatic range. While certainly being unusual and interesting, the film was not a financial success and hopes to forge a career around more 'serious' material were abandoned.
It was in the realm of the sex comedy that Edwige was to make her most prolific contribution to Italian cinema, a genre that played to Edwige's strength as a comedienne and one that celebrated her natural charisma.
The first major success in this field was the Decamerotic 'Ubalda, all naked and warm' ('72), whose takings far out stripped 'Wardh' and her offspring. 'Giovannona long-thigh' ('73) also chimed with audiences, but the most lucrative of the sex comedies was 'L'insegnante' ('75), a veritable storm of political incorrectness and the first of Edwige's many 'authoritarian' roles, the finest example being 'La Pretora' ('76).
Edwige's physical comedic aptitude was fully explored in 'Taxi Girl' ('77) and the series of 'Policewoman' ('75, '79, '81) films, where the emphasis was not on sex, but visual humour. Showcasing Edwige's command of slap-stick comedy and placing her firmly in the centre of the action, she finally got the opportunity to get stuck in as much as the boys.
Toward the end of the '70's through to the early '80's, Edwige's career continued in a similar vein, stand-outs being the gender war comedies 'Cattivi Pensieri' ('76) and 'The Virgin, the Bull and the Capricorn' ('77), but the doors were closing on the Italian film industry.
After 'Vacanze in America' ('85), over 70 films in fewer than 18 years, Edwige called a halt to her acting career.
Unforgettable, talented and outright gorgeous, Edwige's star blazed brilliantly during the most incredible period of exploitation film-making, and enriched the screen like no other.
Filmbar70 loves Edwige Fenech!
Certainly not safe for works, or the kiddies!
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xggn...

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  People & Blogs

[Richard Schmidt]

Wow. Thank you for putting this together. And extra kudos for keeping this tasteful. Other than keeping the video from getting flagged, I'm glad you made a classy vid. The clips you used show you what a great screen presence Fenech is and just how much cinematographers, directors, etc. just love her.

[Filmbar70]

Hi Richard - thank you so much for the comment. I find it hard to believe that folk denigrate Fenech for 'just being a body'. She's an extraordinarily beautiful woman, but, as you say, has a presence that transcends the often risque material she was involved in. That coupled with her innate likability, pragmatism and humility makes for a heady brew. I've made many such actor tributes for Filmbar70 and others, and Fenech was certainly the easiest, for the simple fact that she is so expressive...

[Billie Little]

Beautiful. No botox or silicone. Just grace and a truly beautiful lady. Actresses today don´t come close no matter how much plastic surgery. You can´t buy heart or true beauty.

[Filmbar70]

Couldn't agree more!

[franje123]

what is the name of the song in this video and who is the singer?

[Filmbar70]

The song is from the film "Metti una sera a cena" composed by Morricone, performed by Milva.

[cdjcdj1]

Edwige Fenech french touch from town NICE riviera , her life is on Italy country , she ' s rest the amazing andwonderfull woman , the charm and most sexy woman , never forget her

[shinhoshi]

Great job. Prettiest and sexiest 70s femme!

[edgar leon]

es la mujer mas ermosa que conosco desde ase 30 anos desde la primera ves que la vi me enamore de ella

[drlaim]

Wow! Those sharp almond eyes... and that smile... also to you Filmbar70. well cut guys... best music [Nicolai/Morricone superb] video I've seen for ages... talking of which, check out this video for Adventures In Stereo 'Soul Sugar" [input this info on You Tube search].

Read the comments for this video and please answer and direct them to your vids...

Many thanks for this vid and all the others.

[praetorianus72]

Sexiest italian actress with Ornella Muti.

[Agus Setiawan]

Cantik bgt nii cewek walau bom sex tapi tetep ajah..Cantik..

[MBRAGGS]

thank you for sharing

[vitokuesto]

!!!!!

please can you tell me movies name of scenes @ 0:21 (in the shower) and @1:46 (kaleidoscope effect)?

Thanks a lot for sharing!!

[jodirlester]

Thanks! That made my day. :)

[niteray]

Wow, an absolutely gorgeous face! I just discovered her after watching Grazie...Nonna. Absolutely stunning. They should have cast her as a Bond girl