Jose Benazeraf remains unchallenged (except by Max Pecas, Avis to his Hertz) as France's most important (historically) porn director, and this anthology of key scenes supposedly censored from his early films is both entertaining and educational. Since I've seen much of this material intact in the extant feature films, I'm not sure how much is highlights rather than "interdit" (forbidden) footage.
First segments are devoted to material featuring an ultra-busty and sexy girl topless in the surf. This is identified here as dating from 1961, but is from his 1963 release NIGHT OF LUST. Color scenes set at a waterfall and in a sauna were probably from COVER GIRLS, but didn't look familiar to me (perhaps indeed these were censored).
A lengthy sequence at a vast rock concert from 1963, with Teddy Boy types rioting, is not sexual in nature but very interesting footage. Far more familiar are arousing strip tease highlights from Paris OOH-LA-LA.
Dated 1964 (its release was held up by censors for years) is a scene from JOE CALIGULA, featuring two strippers on stage while star Gerard Blain watches.
A lengthy segment from 1969 is devoted to Jose's quirky philosophical porn opus LE DESIRABLE ET LE SUBLIME. Its title is truth in advertising.
A highlight of the anthology is highly erotic footage from FRUSTRATION, presenting the familiar team of Janine Reynaud and Michel Lemoine, plus some extremely sexy other femmes. This is perhaps the movie's most emblematic example of Jose's approach to softcore pornography, tinged with S&M.
Going one step further is a clip from a hot film about sex on a train. I couldn't identify the film in question (THE FRENCH LOVE perhaps) but based on this sequence it's a must-see.
A brief sequence titled "Le viol" is about an orgy and gang rape by bikers, again from a film unfamiliar to me (maybe NAKED SEX).
Final 30 minutes are devoted to "La pornographie", explicit XXX footage that comes off as merely generic compared to the stylish earlier examples of Benazeraf's work. It's presented in black & white, with many clapper-board shots, resembling out-takes rather than censored scenes, and pretty much displays in strong fashion the decline in quality of Jose's work when he transitioned from soft to hardcore.
