Cruel pasión

This is another adaptation one of the better Marquis de Sade stories "Justine" which tells the story of two sisters, Justine and Juliette, who are orphaned and expelled from their convent school. Juliette becomes a prostitute and rises to a position of power by freely indulging in vice. Her sister Justine, however, tries to remain virtuous and is victimized by nearly everybody. This film was adapted a number of times by European directors of the late 60's and 70's and then, strangely, never really touched again. The best adaptation was Jesus Franco's "Marquis de Sade's Justine" even though it was marred by the wretched over-acting of "name" American actors like Mercedes McCambridge and Jack Palance, and the wretched non-acting of "daughter of an American name" lead actress Romina Powers. It is nevertheless one of Franco's best movies. "Justine" with Alice Arno and the Swedish hardcore film "Justine och Juliette" were less successful; both are so drenched in graphic sex that they lose the fascinating spirit of de Sade, and ultimately any kind of coherent plot at all.

This film actually works pretty well for awhile and is quite faithful to the original story with only a few digressions into the then popular "nunsploitation" genre as in one lurid scene where Juliette makes it with one lesbian nun while her sister is nearly raped by another. The end is kind of abrupt, and not terribly effective though.

The lovely lead Koo Stark who plays the TITular character is definitely a real ASSet here, not because she was a great actress but because she was one of the few European sex stars who genuinely could portray an innocent character. (Some might describe her as a "girl next door" type, but few people were probably lucky enough to have a girl like HER living next door to them). The actress playing Juliette was actually pretty good, making it all the more regrettable that she kind of disappears halfway through the movie. And as others have said, there is also an early cameo appearance by another English cult actress, Glory Annen.

Not a great movie, but worth seeing I guess.

It could be conjectured that if Koo Stark had not appeared in this film and a couple of others like it that she would have ended up as Duchess of York.Was that a fair exchange? Basically it is a fairly tawdry film.In the last quarter of an hour nearly everyone,including a dead woman,gets raped or killed or both.Not very pleasant.

Cruel Passion is a film that wraps its tale of innocence and depravity in a moody, atmospheric shell. From the opening frames, the film leans heavily on a Gothic sensibility, with misty countrysides and dimly lit interiors that evoke a sense of foreboding and moral decay. The cinematography, handled by a young Roger Deakins, is easily the film's standout technical achievement. Deakins manages to imbue even the most lurid scenes with a painterly quality, using soft focus and shadow to suggest more than he shows. The result is a visual style that feels richer than the material often deserves, lending a touch of class to what is otherwise a rather straightforward exploitation narrative.

The acting is a mixed bag, yet Koo Stark as Justine anchors the film with a performance that is both earnest and sympathetic. Stark brings a believable naivete to her role, never tipping into parody or melodrama, which is no small feat given the relentless misfortunes her character endures. Lydia Lisle, as her sister Juliette, offers a sultry counterpoint, though her character is given less room to develop beyond the archetype of liberated temptation. The supporting cast, including Martin Potter and Katherine Kath, generally play their roles with the broad strokes typical of the genre, sometimes veering into camp but never outright derailing the film's somber tone.

Where Cruel Passion falters is in its pacing and narrative focus. The film often feels episodic, with Justine stumbling from one ordeal to the next, rarely pausing to let the viewer catch their breath or invest emotionally. The script, while occasionally borrowing poetic passages from de Sade, too often relies on shock value rather than genuine character development. Despite its provocative premise, the film is surprisingly restrained in its depiction of sex and violence, which may disappoint viewers expecting a more explicit adaptation. The result is a movie that feels caught between artful period drama and exploitation, never fully committing to either.

In summary, Cruel Passion is visually striking and features a sincere lead performance, but its repetitive structure and shallow characterizations keep it from rising above the level of a curiosity. It is worth a look for fans of Gothic cinema or those interested in early Deakins cinematography, but its impact is ultimately muted by a lack of narrative depth.

Prince Andrew's old girlfriend in a story by the Marquis de Sade. Sounds titillating, doesn't it? It's not.

Cute girl, somewhat shocking for its' time. Captures a little of the dark humor and irreverence of de Sade's story. Lot's of nudity. Somewhat similar to Caligula but not nearly as good as that movie. Naughty lesbian nuns frolic in this r-rated romp. You get the picture, like a soft core porno with a b-movie plot and acting.