AKA: EVERY AFTERNOON
(1972/Sweden)
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-JOSEPH SARNO CAST-DIANA DORS, CIA LOWGREN, SOLVEIG ANDERSSON, PEDER KINBERG, IB MOSSIN, JOHN HARRYSON, URBAN STANDER and CHRISTINA LINDBERG. SOURCE- EI/RETRO SEDUCTION DVD R1 NTSC.
SWEDISH WILDCATS deals with Aunt/Madame Margaretha (Diana Dors) who runs a popular burlesque from her home where the main attraction are her daughters Suzanna and Karin (Solveig Andersson) who are dubbed the Swedish Wildcats. By night they do Margaretha’s bidding, while during day they escape to another world. In the case of Suzanna, who puts on a facet as a ballerina and visits a local park where she meets Peter (Peder Kinberg). Both of them while telling each other stories as to who they really are, fall in love. Their love is quickly tested as Peter’s boss and conniving criminal Gerhard (Ib Mossin) sees that the two of them are naive to each others real identity. In order to what he really wants, Gerhard plays his cards in order to pursue his goals even if it means devastation for both Suzanna and Peter.
Once again director Joseph Sarno demonstrates that he isn’t your usual exploitation director. Like his films before such as INGA and THE SEDUCTION OF INGA, he incorporates several elements to give his films a much more deeper meaning. Though there is the usual exploitative underlining to SWEDISH WILDCATS, there is also a solid story with many solid performances acting it out. Sarno also manages to bring some pretty respectable talents into the fold as well, something that many other b-films of this natural is unable to attract. In the case of SWEDISH WILDCATS, actors like John Harryson, Ib Mossin and even Diana Dors all carry some long credits under their belts. With all these pieces together, Sarno’s co-scripted feature is deep multi-layered storyline that as several different aspects running alongside each other coming to an explosive crossing. SWEDISH WILDCATS dives heavily into the brothel/burlesque scene where many of the main characters are introduced, while this is taking most of the story’s forefront, a few underlying but very important sub-issues arise to make this one very interesting scene.
A love story coupled with blackmail and espionage of sorts ring in an exciting spice to an eventual important second half to the overall story. Though this plays out like many of Sarno’s Swedish based films, there is a difference with SWEDISH WILDCATS, something that Sarno explains himself, the display of subtle violence. Something that Sarno himself really is against, but was insisted upon by the film’s producer and co-writer Vernon Becker. The many scenes of S&M, which in one scene actually incorporates actual biting and whipping was something Sarno felt was unnecessary, but Becker felt was best for commercial viability. I myself find these scenes really aren’t that extreme and do add that much needed raw edge to a seemingly straight forward story. With all this in mind, we must not forget that many staples of Sarno films, the female actors involved.
Of course like many of his films, he brings the best out and SWEDISH WILDCATS is certainly no exception from that rule. Casting such beauties as Swedish born Cia Lowgren who plays the lead of Suzanna. A vibrant young blonde with a superb sense of excitement generated by her beauty. Not to knock her acting abilities either as they are quite good and well showcased, something that won her the lead in this film. Also, another super sexy vixen born in Sweden, Solveig Andersson who plays Lowgren’s sister Karin. Andersson, who is well endowed and quite vibrant herself does a wonderful job playing someone who is fed up with her current status and wanting to move on to something bigger.
The one big disappointment though is the presence of or shall I say lack of, is of THRILLER: A CRUEL PICTURE starlet Christina Lindberg. Though this is a couple of years before her big performance, Sarno uses her sparingly throughout SWEDISH WILDCATS. That isn’t all either, Lindberg didn’t look all that great either, certainly a far cry from her popular role as One-Eye. Pretty much a shame as this was one fo the major factors that played into my wanting to see this film, of course that and the fact of really enjoying Sarno’s THE SEDUCTION OF INGA. Still though, like mentioned before there are plenty of other reasons to really enjoy this highly entertaining film.
The Retro-Seduction DVD of this is certainly a far cry from the great job Seduction Cinema did with THE SEDUCTION OF INGA special edition. Though both picture and sound aren’t too bad and do so definite signs of improvement, along with that are still signs of lacking. Throughout the film, there are periods in which the audio is quite iffy, the sounds is plagued with areas of obvious damage. The picture also shows it’s age even after restoration, which areas of grainy runs etc. Still though I must commend the efforts put in by Seduction in bringing this film to a better state.
With this discs special features, we are presented with a double feature of sorts with the addition of SEDUCTION Cinema’s remake of SWEDISH WILDCATS with their 2002 effort NEW YORK WILDCATS which stars the likes of Misty Mundae, Chelsea Mundae and Ruby LaRocca. The film itself is quite short running for about 40 or some minutes, not even coming close to Sarno’s original vision both in feel or in production. Along with the remake, other extras include and short interview with Sarno and his wife Peggy Steffans. Plus a ton of trailers from Seduction, Retro-Seduction and Shock-a-rama. I must not forget the black and white booklet also included which carries poster stills and information about SWEDISH WILDCATS and it’s director Joseph Sarno.
STORY- 3 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE- 2.5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO- 2.5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS- 3 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD- 2.5 BITCH SLAPS
