Morgana e as Ninfas

Inspired by the exploits of the famous witch found in Arthurian legends, this film has an appropriately medieval feel to it - not least because of its authentic castle setting and the evocative score by Francois de Roubaix (using the pseudonym Cisco El Rubio!). While it was sold as exploitation on the strength of its copious nudity (the mostly female cast also entailing lesbianism), the script - where characterization is given its due, which is more than can be said for most "Euro-Cult" titles! - is surprisingly literate. In this respect - not to mention having the titular character's dungeon crammed with a bevy of mostly willing slaves! - the film anticipated the "Elizabeth Bathory" segment in Walerian Borowczyk's IMMORAL TALES (1974). Speaking of Bathory, Dominique Delpierre's Morgana here actually reminded me of that character as incarnated by Delphine Seyrig in DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS (1971) - which, incidentally, was also scored by De Roubaix!

The sustained dream-like mood here results in a languorous pace, which is actually typical of low-budget fantasy films made in France during this time: its main purveyors were Jean Rollin and Jess Franco, but Gantillon's effort is ample proof that others (whose career wasn't as prolific and, consequently, faded into obscurity) were, at least, equally adept at this sort of thing; though it often descended into camp - which the title under review here, thankfully, doesn't! - Michel Lemoine's SEVEN WOMEN FOR Satan (1974), incidentally also a Mondo Macabro release, is another one of its kind I enjoyed a good deal.

Besides, the film's production values (primarily - and economically - utilizing natural resources), accentuated by Jean Monsigny's odd framing, impart the film with an effortless classiness not usually found in lowbrow "Euro-Cult" ventures. That said, the lengthy feast/lesbian orgy towards the end stops the film dead in its tracks and the unresolved ending may seem like a cop-out (though I took it as merely another bizarre touch in a movie filled with unconventional detail).

With respect to casting, this too appears to have received some uncommon consideration: the sinister-looking Alfred Baillou is memorable as Morgana's love-struck (yet jealous) dwarf henchman!; Delpierre (who is able to materialize wherever she pleases, as is demonstrated in the final moments of the film) and Regine Motte (as one of her three favored nymphs endowed with psychic powers: in fact, one of the most striking scenes in the film is when they relate to Morgana the movements of the fleeing heroine beyond the castle walls - which is shown in a form of stylized choreography) are the loveliest of the six leading ladies, but also the most able performers.

Françoise and Anna, a couple on holiday, stop at a local tavern only to be weirded out by a dwarf. Upon leaving, they get lost as women are known to do and their car breaks down so they choose to spend the night in a barn. They makes out heavily before falling asleep, the next day Françoise awakes to find Anna missing. The dwarf is there and tells her that he knows where her friend is, leads her to the castle of one Morgana LaFey, an immortal witch who grants immortality to other young women in exchange for their souls. But it isn't long before jealously takes hold of the other girls.

This film came as bit of a revelation to me in that I only bought it because the name and cover lept out at me, plus the fact that it was on sale didn't hurt in the least. It exceeded my expectations and I found it to be a heavily erotic, gripping, ambiance thick film. A minor lost classic that one would do well to seek out.

Eye Candy: Every girl in the film shows various amounts of skin

My Grade: B-

Mondo Macabro DVD Extras: 3 Alternate & Deleted scenes; "Un Couple D'Artistes" Short film; 11 minute interview with Director Bruno Gantillon; poster & stills gallery; Theatrical trailer; and a VERY gory nudity filled compilation trailer including "French Sex Murders", "Living Doll", "Satanico Pandemonium", "Panic Beats", "Clonus", "the Killer must kill again", "the mansion of madness", "Alucarda", "the diabolical Dr. Z", "Aswang", "the Living Corpse", "Blood of the Virgins", "Seven women for Satan", "Lady Terminator", "Crazy love", "Mill of the stone women", & "Dangerous Seductress"

The girlfriends Françoise (Mireille Saunin) and Anna (Michèle Perello) are traveling through the countryside of France by car. They stop at a roadhouse to drink wine and buy coffee, and the owner advises them to return. However they proceed their trip but they get lost on the road.

They decide to spend the night in an abandoned barn. In the morning, Françoise does not find Anna and she seeks her out. Out of the blue, the dwarf Gurth (Alfred Baillou) asks her to follow him and he shows a castle in an island where Anna would be.

Françoise takes a boat that sails alone and brings her to the castle. Sooner she learns that she has reached the lesbian realm of the witch Morgane (Dominique Delpierre) that proposes Françoise to stay in her kingdom living in eternal youth and beauty with her favorites Yael (Régine Motte), Sylviane (Ursule Pauly) and Sarah (Nathalie Chaine). Otherwise she would be doomed to get older and older in the dungeons of the castle. Further, Françoise learns that Anna has given her soul to Morgane and will stay in the place forever. But Françoise does not want to stay and plots a plan to escape.

"Morgane et ses Nymphes" is an erotic tale about a woman that is trapped in an oneiric castle of lesbians mastered by the evil witch Morgane. The director Bruno Gantillon succeeds in the atmosphere of dream, supported by gorgeous actresses and wonderful music score. But the film is disappointing since I was expecting much more from the synopsis. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Morgana e as Ninfas" ("Morgane and the Nymphs")

I first saw a teaser for this movie as an extra on a Mondo Macabro DVD. At the time I don't believe it was listed among their coming releases, but it had been released by another branch of the company in the UK called Pagan.

When Mondo Macabro did release it, I bought it, as I have bought most of their DVDs.

The movie looks gorgeous. Really rich color. It's got a slow, dreamy pace that some might find boring. It's definitely got more of a fantasy flavor than one of horror.

Two attractive women have car trouble, and go to sleep in an abandoned building. One wakes and finds the other missing, and she follows a strange little man to a castle by a lake. There, attractive women live in luxury with the witch Morgana. Her three closest servants and the little man grow jealous of the newcomer. Morgana has the power to keep women young and beautiful forever, for the price of their soul. And indeed, for all the luxury, the place seems pretty soulless. This is not a very deep movie, with not a whole lot of plot. It gets a little more eventful towards the end, and does have a satisfying ending.

The DVD includes a number of extras, including a short by the director predating this film called in English "An Artistic Couple." It's not currently listed on the IMDb. In some respects it has a similar story, though it is played more for horror.

One of the things that makes the 70's a superior era over the 80's for film is the soundtrack. Morgane et Ses Nymphes is no exception to this. The music is charming, without being tacky. Melodic without being intrusive and turning the mood sappy. In the 80's you could have a good film and then when the dischordant synth chords come through, it just always seems to detract rather than enhance. I felt like the composer was very familiar and must have been a very prolific contributor to many films of this genre/era, but I noticed that only one other film has been credited to him. The 3rd Man kept coming to mind... Not that this movie is a masterpiece, but the subject matter is interesting, in the Jean Rollin vein, and it's always an immense pleasure to see women in their au naturel state, pre-silicone. It's easy to see how it could have been perceived as borderline pornographic in 1971. The extras on this DVD are highly recommended. The short film made by the same director is worth a look for sure.