La ronde de l'amour

This film is essentially about a bunch of people having sexual relations around the globe (L.A., N.Y., France, Hong-Kong), in mostly unusual places (bathroom, furniture store, airplane cockpit, the FAA should hear about this!), etc. It's all nicely photographed and awfully acted, but what I find depressing about it is that the movie seems to be saying that all men think with their genitals and all women are whores. In other words, it reduces human beings to their bare essentials, regardless of their often sophisticated exterior. This bomb may have been released in 1989, but movie billboards that appear in one sequence firmly place it in 1984.

My review was written in January 1986 after watching the film on a video cassette screener.

"Love Circles" is the latest remake of "Reigen", oft-filmed Arthur Schnitzler play which gave rise to Max Ophuls' classic 1950 version, "La Ronde". New one is a feature made for cable, shown by the Playboy Channel last fall.

In common with other recent updates such as "N. Y. Nights" and "Ring of Desire", "Love Circles" emphasizes the sexual aspect of the format. With very attractive women and impressive globe-hopping locations, it is okay adult programming for Playboy, but a rather weak entry for theatrical use abroad.

Marie France sets the circle of love in motion when she beds down an American deejay in Paris, John Sibbit. A cryptic warning about her fails to reach him in time, as in this modernized (and poor taste) version, the woman apparently is carrying a social disease.

The chain continues through a variety of liaisons, including black actress Josephine Jacqueline Jones (who has appeared in several made-for-Playboy features including "Black Venus") as a jewelry clerk in the Carlton Hotel in Cannes; Lisa Allison as a film and legit actress auditioning for play director Timothy Wood; and Michele Siu portraying twins who can be told apart by butterfly tattoos positioned on different sides of their posteriors.

Credit filmmaker Harry Alan Towers with rounding up an attractive cast, particularly Lisa Allison, who easily could qualify for Playboy Playmate status. Poor dubbing and a weak script detract from some stylish direction by Gerard Kikoine (better known for his many hardcore porn features). Besides the veiled reference to venereal disease, the chain concept is demonstrated here (with attempted irony) by a pack of clove-scented cigarettes which is passed along in each segment until it is returned to a puzzled Marie France at film's end.

The only thing wrong with this film that it was devoid of any actors and actresses but it had a wonderful comedic effect due to the overdubbing of the English language on to the soundtrack. All the men sounded like they were doing Peter Sellers impersonations as Inspector Clouseau. One of those films worth watching because it is simply abysmal and is the kind of movie that sure must have gone straight to video within 24 hours of its release. I don't know how they had the cheek to have any credits at the end as nobody deserved one iota of credit for this junk as one of the other viewers noted, 'a waste of celluloid.'

This movie is at the pinnacle of a genre produced by an industry before it lost its genuine joie de vivre. Quite simply, the generic, boring, blonde actress type usually found in this type of movie doesn't feature. The actresses in this one are unique, exquisite physical specimens representing the very best of the European and Asian worlds. Usually, in this type of movie one finds only one racial type, and the actresses involved are blessed much more by surgical enhancements and the treadmill than by genetics. That's definitely not the case with this movie. They are clearly NATURAL beauties of the highest calibre, both in body and in the face. What's more, they genuinely appear to be having fun.

There is an element of humour, within acceptable limits. The movie as a whole is highly watchable, mesmerising and stylish. This really is such a breath of fresh air. The locations are stunning. The sets are genuinely elegant and sumptuous. There is such attention to detail, you will note the real Dom Perignon labels on the champagne bottles. A great deal of attention was paid to the actresses' clothing. None of it looks cheap or made for cheap thrills or some cheap effect. All of it is tremendously exciting. The lace looks like real lace. The fur coats look real as well. And there are some splendid 80s fashions on display. The director clearly had an acute sense of what's important and what the elements of visual appeal actually are. The undergarment becomes a centrepiece of many exciting, erotic scenes. Well worth watching - they don't come better than this, and in these days where there is longer any room for creative judgment it's safe to say they will never be made to this standard ever again. 10 out of 10.