Jess Franco's twenty-fifth film was 99 WOMEN aka 99 FEMMES/DER HEISSE TOD. Written by Harry Alan Towers, Milo G. Cuccia, Carlo Fadda, Jess Franco and Javier Peres Grober. Produced by Harry Alan Towers, with music composed by Bruno Nicoli, released by Commonwealth United Entertainment, Inc and Towers of London Films, Ltd. It was filmed in Rio, Brazil and Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain, in colour. The film runs to various times throughout the world. Argentina 99 mins, Australia 81 mins, Italy 90 mins, Sweden 86 mins, UK 70 mins, USA 86 mins, West Germany 94 mins and Spain 83 mins. It made ESP 12,654,873 in Spain. It starred Maria Schel as Leonie Carroll, Herbert Lom as Governor Santos, Mercedes McCambridge as Thelma Diaz, Luciana Paluzzi as Natalie Mendoza, Maria Rohm as Marie, Rosalba Neri as Zoie, Elisa Montes as Helga, Valentina Godoy as Rosalie, Jose Maria Blanco as Doctor and Jess Franco in an uncredited role.
After watching THE GIRL FROM RIO, seeing 99 WOMEN is a bit of a shock, where the former is a good old fashioned spy romp along the lines of THE MAN FROM UNCLE, 99 WOMEN is a lot darker and a depressive affair.
The film opens with a close up of a dead animal, flies buzzing around it. The camera pans back to revel that we are in a coastal location. We see a boat approaching the shore, on board are five people, four women and a man. One of the women asks where are they being taken too, the reply is too the island. We see a fort on top of a hill. It is called Castilla de la Morta, The Castle of Death.
They disembark and are driven up to the castle, where they are taken inside for inspection. Inside the first girl wearing a red jumper is asked who she is, she replies Natalie Mendoza. This prompt a women in uniform to slap her around the face. Once she stops she asks her who she is. This time the woman responds 98. She then asks the second woman, dressed as a showgirl, who she is, she replies 97. She is recognised as someone who has been there before. She admits that she was there two year earlier. She is then asked how long is she in for this time, she replies one year. They are then told that from now on they have no name only a number.
They are taken to the cells. Number 98 is placed in a cell on her own, while 97 and the other woman are placed in a cell with five other women. The third woman notices that 98 is not well. 97 says that she is probably a drug addict. They go and sit down. 97 tells the woman that she is in because she was caught hustling and asks the woman what she is in for, but she does not want to tell.
In the Superintendent's office a man is eating some food, when the superintendent enters, she thanks the man, whose name is Governor Santos, for coming over promptly, he replies it was nothing because he has enjoyed himself with one of the blond prisoners. The Superintendent mentions that another blond has arrived that morning, number 99, this is the third woman to of arrived on the boat along with numbers 97 and 98. He warns her that she must be careful about how she treats the girls, she has already had two deaths in a year and if she has a third, then the new minister of justice make start making enquiries. Before he leaves he mentions that he is in charge of a mens prison on the other side of the island. The superintendent asks if she will see him tomorrow, he says he might, just to see number 99.
Latter that night in the cells, number 99 is having a bad dream. One of the girls in the cell goes over and starts to comfort her. While they are talking in the next cell number 98 is making a noise, which wakes up 97. She goes over to 99 and the other woman, asking what the problem is. 99 replies that Natalie/98 is not very well. 97 tells her not to worry, but 99 says that she does think she is a drug addict, that she has something wrong with her. She calls out for help. The Superintendent arrives and tells her that the punishment for insolence is seven days in the punishment cells. 99 says that 98 needs help. The Superintendent replies that continued insolence will lead to fourteen days in the punishment cells and walks off.
The next morning a doctor finishes examining the body of 98. He reports to the Superintendent and mentions that he will have to report this death to the Ministry of Justice.
On a work gang latter that day, 97 gets talking to a woman who has only been in the prison for two weeks, it is her first offence, so she has only been sentenced to one year. One of the other girls says that she knows why 97 is really in prison for, its because her sexual business has dried up. This annoys 97 and she strikes out. They start to fight and the other women try to intervene. 99 drags the girl off 97 and they start to fight. One of the guards breaks it up and takes 99 and the other girl away.
That night the Governor visits the Superintendent. He mentions about the doctor visiting that morning and the Superintendent mentions that he was not her fault that 98 died, she did not know that she required surgery. The Governor then asks about 99. The Superintendent mentions that she was caught fighting with 76, a girl that the Governor knows, he replies that he does and calls her by the name of Zoe. The Superintendent informs the Governor that he girls are being held in the hospital wing.
In the hospital wing Zoe is moaning about how 99 and 97 hurt her in the fight, but she says that she can forgive her, if she will be more friendly with her. 99 asks her to leave her alone, which annoys Zoe and starts slapping her around the face. At this point the Governor enters and sees whats happening. Startled, Zoe leaps off of the bed. The Governor walks over to the bed, mentioning how hot it seems and removes his jacket. Zoe moves back to 99 and starts to undo her dress, 99 leaps off the bed, screaming no and runs into a corner.
Zoe runs over to her and starts to wrestle with her, she then drags her over to the bed. Forcing her onto the bed and sitting astride her, she begins to kiss her fully on the mouth. Then as 99 still tries to resist her, she slaps her around the face until she gives in. Then she starts to undo 99's dress, exposing her breasts. She starts to make love to her.
After a while of watching, the Governor joins in.
The next morning the boat returns to the island, bring two women. One of the women asks the other one her name, she replies that it is Magda and she is in for six months hard labour. She ask the other woman how long she is in for. She replies she does not know. Magda says an open sentence, she could be there for life. The woman says it could be possible.
When they arrive, they are asked for their papers. The woman hands over just a letter, marked for the attention of the Superintendent.
She is shown into the Superintendent's office. It seems that the woman has been appointed as temporary Superintendent Caroll. She as the Superintendent to stay for a month, so she can learn the ropes. She asks to be shown the prison. When they come to the punishment cells, she asks to be shown the prisoner inside. At first the Superintendent refuses to let her see her, but then she gives in. The prisoner is 99, she has been there for seven days and six nights, chained to the wall. When she is released, she collapses to the floor. Superintendent Caroll, goes over to her and asks her, her name, she replies 99. She says, she wants to know her real name. The Superintendent shouts out that prisoners do not have names. Superintendent Caroll says that she has asked the question and expects to get an answer. 99 replies that her name is Marie. Superintendent Caroll tells the guard to take 99/Marie to another cell and tells the Superintendent that she would like to see 99/Marie on her own. This seems to amuse the Superintendent.
Back in the Superintendent's office, Governor Santos is waiting. He is introduced to Superintendent Carroll. She hands over to the Governor a letter addressed to him personally. The Superintendent leaves the office, leaving Caroll and Santos on their own. The letter states that the Justice Minister expects daily reports from the Governor about Superintendent Caroll's progress. The Governor says that he is not surprised to see her there. He warned the Superintendent that she would get a visit. But he tells her that she needs keep up the discipline or she will get trouble.
99/Marie is placed in a cell with Zoe.
Zoe tells 99/Marie that she used to be a dancer. In her last job, she was employed by a lesbian club owner and she was hired to be an exotic dancer. One night she was dancing with her boyfriend, but the owner becomes jealous and confronts her in her dressing room with a gun.
A fight breaks out and in the fight the gun goes off and the owner is dead. Confessing this leaves Zoe upset and in the process of comforting her 99/Marie makes love to her.
In the Superintendent's office, the Governor and the Superintendent are playing chess, talking about Superintendent Caroll. The Superintendent mentions that Caroll might be sending reports back about him as well as her. This worries the Governor and he decides to send a report, behind Caroll's back, about her. The Superintendent informs him of Caroll's fondness for some of the prisoners, especially for 99, implying that might be a lesbian. This annoys the Governor and he starts to write his report.
The next day during lunch, 99/Marie is asked to go to see Superintendent Caroll. She asks 99/Marie why she was punished, she mentions it was because she asked for help, for 98, who died. She then asks her how comes she is in prison. 99/Marie tells her that she was waiting for a bus one evening in the rain. But the bus never came and a man on a motorcycle offered her a lift, which she accepted. He took her to an alleyway, where there was a gang of men waiting. They then raped her, but one of them left a knife unattended and she used that to kill one of the gang members and get away. Caroll believes 99/Marie's story and says that she will help her in trying to get an appeal.
Later on that day the women are working on a chain gang, when 97 spots a work party of men. She points this out to the girl that has only been inside for two weeks. When she looks she recognizes one of the men as her boyfriend Andiago. 97 says she will give her cover, so she can go and speak to him. In a small out building, Andiago tells her, that on the other side of the island, there is a fishing village. In ten days time, he and a friend are going to escape to the village. At dawn he and his friend will meet Rosa, that is her name, on a jetty and then leave in a boat, that they will steal.
That night 99/Marie see Zoe and one of the other girls making love. When she calls out to Zoe, Zoe implies that she is free to take a new lover, because 99/Marie has a lover in the form of Superintendent Caroll and if she is, then 99/Marie will never leave the prison.
The next morning Superintendent Caroll receives a letter and is informed that 99/Marie wants to see her. The Superintendent also mentions that is annoyed that the night watch has been done away with, because this will leave the girls able to escape and make their way to the fishing village, but Caroll informs her that if they do manage to escape there is thirty miles of jungle and thick swamp in-between the prison and the village. In the corse of the argument, Superintendent Caroll says that if the Superintendent had more trust in her prioners, then the prison would be a happier place, the Superintendent tells her the prison should not be a happy place. "In that case, you have been very successful", responds Caroll and any person who might of had cause to complain has died. This makes the Superintendent say that Caroll wants to get rid of her.
In the cells, 97 asks 99/Marie if she could put a word in with Superintendent Caroll about improving the food. This makes Zoe reply with a coment that upsets 97. As they square off to one another, Zoe goes to stroke 97's face.
This sparks off a fight between the two of them. Which is broken up the Superintendent. Just as she is about to dish out their punishment, Superintendent Caroll intervenes and asks why the fight started. Zoe tells her that 97 started the fight, because she had said that she was not into women, unlike some people, looking knowingly at Caroll. When Caroll asks Helga, which is 97's name, who started it, she says it was Zoe. So Caroll decides that both girls should go with out food for a day as punishment, which does not go down well with the Superintendent.
99/Marie is taken to see Caroll, who tells her the appeal has been unsuccessful. Marie does not believe this and asks to see the letter. Caroll tells her that she has destroyed the letter. She says she does not believer her and that the other women are all saying that she is in love with her, which shocks her.
The evening, 97/Helga informs 99/Marie that both her and Rosa are going to escape that night and they need a third person.
For some reason Zoe is placed on medical watch and give the keys to the cell. Rosa fains illness, so that 97/Helga and 99/Marie can jump her a take the keys to the cell. The girls throw a rope, made of knotted bed sheets over the wall and climb down it and make their escape into the jungle. (Cue the scenes shot in Brazil, while they had to wait for the carnival to start, while filming THE GIRL FROM RIO (1969)).
They make their way though the jungle, with Rosa appearing to be the weak link. The sirens sound, first from the womens prison and then from the mens. As they progress through the jungle, they come into a clearing and encounter a snake, (which looks as deadly as a grass snake, but sends Rosa and Marie into a panic.) Rosa goes to pieces over the snake, but Marie and Helga attack it with Helga cutting and stabbing at it. (The snake is a real one and Elisa Montes realy does attack it. As it slides off camera, you can see the real wounds. A scene like this would not be done these days.)
They progress on and come a cross a pond, where they decide to bathe. While bathing Rosa spots a man watching them. Helga recognizes from the clothes that he is wearing, he must be from the mens prison. Rosa asks where is her boyfriend. He tells her that he was killed by the guards while escaping. The sound of dogs can be heard, so they set off deeper into the jungle, the man helping a distraught Rosa. They come across a cave and take shelter for the night. The man lights a fire, so they can keep warm and suggests that they huddle together to keep warm. Marie and Helga and the man and Rosa.
During the night, while comforting each other, the man and Rosa begin to make love.
Marie wakes up and watches them. Her absence makes Helga wake up and when she sees Rosa and the man having sex, she turns away in disgust.
That morning they leave the cave heading to the fishing village. On the way they come across a work gang from the mens prison on a food break. The man asks one of the prisoners if he can spare some food. He agrees, but when some of the men notice that there are girls with him, they get excited and as a mass they attack and kill their guards, stealing their weapons. The man tells the girls to run and he tries to stop the mob of crazed men, but he is shot and killed for his efforts. Rosa insists that they should go back and help him, but the other two just keep on running. Rosa stumbles and falls to the ground, making the men able to catch up with her. Like a pack of dogs they descend onto her. Raping her and killing her. Helga tells Marie there is nothing they can do for her and anyway this will delay the men and give them a better chance to escape. (And so ends the scenes filmed in Brazil, when they had time on their hands.)
The Marie and Helga make it to the fishing village, but just as they are about to make to a boat, a shot rings out and there standing behind them is the Governor and his men.
Back in prison Marie and Helga are distraught and then they are whipped in the punishment cells. Superintendent Caroll tries to intervene, but as Governor Santos points out, they are being punished in accordance with the regulations regarding prisoners who try and escape and there is nothing that she can do to stop it.
When the girls are returned to the cells, all the female prisoners band together and riot.
The Superintendent blames Superintendent Caroll for the riot and asks how is she going to stop it. She replies that she will talk to them, to see sense.
Confronting them,she tells the girls they must stop the riot and return to their cells, but they do not listen to her. The riot is stopped with the aid of the Governor's own men.
Caroll decides that she has failed in her mission to try and reform the prison and she will leave, meaning that the Superintendent will remain in charge.
As Caroll leaves the prison all the girls are being stood in the yard watching her go.
The film has been released in the UK on the Redemption label as a Region Free DVD with the same extras as the Blue Underground release, it can be bought from Play.com by clicking the link below.
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3325111/802356380/Redemption-99-Women/ListingDetails.html?searchstring=99+women&searchsource=0&searchtype=r2alldvd&urlrefer=search&strefer=r2alldvd&searchfilters=s%7b99+women%7d%2bc%7b57%7d%2b
Or you can buy the Blue Underground release by clicking the link below, this again is a Region Free release.
http://www.blue-underground.com/product.php?product=54
The version I have watched is the Blue Underground release.
I thought the film was very good and stands up well, even now and compared to what Jess Franco would do latter on when returning to this genre, he is very restrained. Coming after watching THE GIRL FROM RIO (1969) it is a bit bleaker, but still a very well acted film. I liked it.
On the DVD the extras are an interview with Jess Franco, under the title JESS' WOMEN, a deleted and alternate scenes option, a theatrical trailer, a poster and still galleries and a DVD-ROM link.
During the interview, Franco talks about the fact there is an X-rated version of 99 WOMEN, but as he says he had nothing to do with that and hates the fact that they were put into, because they change the entire film.
The first deleted scene is an extension of the Marie rape scene from the German version of the film. It is in this footage that Jess Franco appears.
The second deleted scene is an extension of Zoe's story, but was not filmed by Jess Franco and does not star Rosalba Neri. This was included on the Greek video release.
The third deleted scene is the extended ending of the film, taken from the Spanish version. Again it comes from a video release. It lessens the impact of the original ending.
The DVD-ROM extra is a reproduction of the book Jess Franco, written by Tim Lucas and published by Video Watchdog, in a PDF fille.
Maria Schell was born 15th January 1926 in Vienna, Austria, she was the daughter of a Swiss author and an Austrian actress and the older brother of Maximilian Schell. She studied in a religious institution in Colmar, France. She graduated to a dramatic education in Zurich, Switzerland, while studying there she worked as a secretary. She made her first film in 1942 at the age of 16 called STEIBRUCH. In 1951, at the age of 24 she THE MAGIC BOX, a film that also starred Robert Donat and William Hartnell. Latter on she would make THE BLOODY JUDGE with Jess Franco, THE ODESSA FILE, VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED with Laura Gemser, SUPERMAN and THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES. She married twice, first to Horst Hachler, whom she married 26th April 1957 and divorced in 1965, they had one child, a son, Oliver Hachler born in 1962, now known as Oliver Schell and then she married Veit Relin in 1966 and divorced him in 1986, they also had a child, a daughter, Marie Theres Relin born 30th June 1966. Her last film was a French TV movie called LE DERNIER MOT, shown in 1991. She died 26th April 2005 in Preitenegg, Carinthia, Austria.
Herbert Lom was born 11th September 1917 in Prague, Czech Republic. His first film was made in 1937, it was called ZENA POD KRIZEM, his British film was THE YOUNG MR. PITT made in 1942. He made three films with William Hartnell; THE DARK TOWER (1943), APPOINTMENT WITH CRIME (1946) and HELL DRIVERS (1957), which also stared a very young Sean Connery. He made seven films with Peter Sellers. He would make one more film with Jess Franco, COUNT DRACULA (1970) and the last film that he made was a TV movie, AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MARPLE: THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE.
Mercedes McCambridge was born 16th March 1916 in Joliet, Illinois, USA. She began her career as a radio actor during the 1940s. Orson Welles called her "the world's greatest radio actress." She made her film debut in 1949 aged 33 in ALL THE KING'S MEN in the role of Sadie Burke for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actess. In 1956 she starred alongside James Dean in GIANT, alongside Elizabeth Taylor in SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER in 1959, in Jess Franco's MARQUIS DE SADE: JUSTINE, in THE EXORCIST she provided the voice of the demonic possession in THE EXORCIST and also appeared in AIRPORT '79...THE CONCORDE. On 2nd March 2004 she died in La Jolla, California, USA.
Luciana Paluzzi was born 10th June 1937 in Rome, Italy. Her first film was a walk-on part in THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN in 1954. Her first talking part was in an Italian film called SUA ALTEZZA HA DETTO NO!. She is mainly known for playing the role of Fiona in the James Bond film THUNDERBALL (1965) alongside Sean Connery. Her last film to date was DEADLY CHASE in 1978.
Rosalba Neri was born 19th June 1939 in Forli, Italy. She made her film debut in I PINGUINI CI GUARDANO (1955) aged 16. She would go onto make three films with Jess Franco. Her last film was IL POMICIONE in 1976.
After watching THE GIRL FROM RIO, seeing 99 WOMEN is a bit of a shock, where the former is a good old fashioned spy romp along the lines of THE MAN FROM UNCLE, 99 WOMEN is a lot darker and a depressive affair.
The film opens with a close up of a dead animal, flies buzzing around it. The camera pans back to revel that we are in a coastal location. We see a boat approaching the shore, on board are five people, four women and a man. One of the women asks where are they being taken too, the reply is too the island. We see a fort on top of a hill. It is called Castilla de la Morta, The Castle of Death.
They disembark and are driven up to the castle, where they are taken inside for inspection. Inside the first girl wearing a red jumper is asked who she is, she replies Natalie Mendoza. This prompt a women in uniform to slap her around the face. Once she stops she asks her who she is. This time the woman responds 98. She then asks the second woman, dressed as a showgirl, who she is, she replies 97. She is recognised as someone who has been there before. She admits that she was there two year earlier. She is then asked how long is she in for this time, she replies one year. They are then told that from now on they have no name only a number.
They are taken to the cells. Number 98 is placed in a cell on her own, while 97 and the other woman are placed in a cell with five other women. The third woman notices that 98 is not well. 97 says that she is probably a drug addict. They go and sit down. 97 tells the woman that she is in because she was caught hustling and asks the woman what she is in for, but she does not want to tell.
In the Superintendent's office a man is eating some food, when the superintendent enters, she thanks the man, whose name is Governor Santos, for coming over promptly, he replies it was nothing because he has enjoyed himself with one of the blond prisoners. The Superintendent mentions that another blond has arrived that morning, number 99, this is the third woman to of arrived on the boat along with numbers 97 and 98. He warns her that she must be careful about how she treats the girls, she has already had two deaths in a year and if she has a third, then the new minister of justice make start making enquiries. Before he leaves he mentions that he is in charge of a mens prison on the other side of the island. The superintendent asks if she will see him tomorrow, he says he might, just to see number 99.
Latter that night in the cells, number 99 is having a bad dream. One of the girls in the cell goes over and starts to comfort her. While they are talking in the next cell number 98 is making a noise, which wakes up 97. She goes over to 99 and the other woman, asking what the problem is. 99 replies that Natalie/98 is not very well. 97 tells her not to worry, but 99 says that she does think she is a drug addict, that she has something wrong with her. She calls out for help. The Superintendent arrives and tells her that the punishment for insolence is seven days in the punishment cells. 99 says that 98 needs help. The Superintendent replies that continued insolence will lead to fourteen days in the punishment cells and walks off.
The next morning a doctor finishes examining the body of 98. He reports to the Superintendent and mentions that he will have to report this death to the Ministry of Justice.
On a work gang latter that day, 97 gets talking to a woman who has only been in the prison for two weeks, it is her first offence, so she has only been sentenced to one year. One of the other girls says that she knows why 97 is really in prison for, its because her sexual business has dried up. This annoys 97 and she strikes out. They start to fight and the other women try to intervene. 99 drags the girl off 97 and they start to fight. One of the guards breaks it up and takes 99 and the other girl away.
That night the Governor visits the Superintendent. He mentions about the doctor visiting that morning and the Superintendent mentions that he was not her fault that 98 died, she did not know that she required surgery. The Governor then asks about 99. The Superintendent mentions that she was caught fighting with 76, a girl that the Governor knows, he replies that he does and calls her by the name of Zoe. The Superintendent informs the Governor that he girls are being held in the hospital wing.
In the hospital wing Zoe is moaning about how 99 and 97 hurt her in the fight, but she says that she can forgive her, if she will be more friendly with her. 99 asks her to leave her alone, which annoys Zoe and starts slapping her around the face. At this point the Governor enters and sees whats happening. Startled, Zoe leaps off of the bed. The Governor walks over to the bed, mentioning how hot it seems and removes his jacket. Zoe moves back to 99 and starts to undo her dress, 99 leaps off the bed, screaming no and runs into a corner.
Zoe runs over to her and starts to wrestle with her, she then drags her over to the bed. Forcing her onto the bed and sitting astride her, she begins to kiss her fully on the mouth. Then as 99 still tries to resist her, she slaps her around the face until she gives in. Then she starts to undo 99's dress, exposing her breasts. She starts to make love to her.
After a while of watching, the Governor joins in.
The next morning the boat returns to the island, bring two women. One of the women asks the other one her name, she replies that it is Magda and she is in for six months hard labour. She ask the other woman how long she is in for. She replies she does not know. Magda says an open sentence, she could be there for life. The woman says it could be possible.
When they arrive, they are asked for their papers. The woman hands over just a letter, marked for the attention of the Superintendent.
She is shown into the Superintendent's office. It seems that the woman has been appointed as temporary Superintendent Caroll. She as the Superintendent to stay for a month, so she can learn the ropes. She asks to be shown the prison. When they come to the punishment cells, she asks to be shown the prisoner inside. At first the Superintendent refuses to let her see her, but then she gives in. The prisoner is 99, she has been there for seven days and six nights, chained to the wall. When she is released, she collapses to the floor. Superintendent Caroll, goes over to her and asks her, her name, she replies 99. She says, she wants to know her real name. The Superintendent shouts out that prisoners do not have names. Superintendent Caroll says that she has asked the question and expects to get an answer. 99 replies that her name is Marie. Superintendent Caroll tells the guard to take 99/Marie to another cell and tells the Superintendent that she would like to see 99/Marie on her own. This seems to amuse the Superintendent.
Back in the Superintendent's office, Governor Santos is waiting. He is introduced to Superintendent Carroll. She hands over to the Governor a letter addressed to him personally. The Superintendent leaves the office, leaving Caroll and Santos on their own. The letter states that the Justice Minister expects daily reports from the Governor about Superintendent Caroll's progress. The Governor says that he is not surprised to see her there. He warned the Superintendent that she would get a visit. But he tells her that she needs keep up the discipline or she will get trouble.
99/Marie is placed in a cell with Zoe.
Zoe tells 99/Marie that she used to be a dancer. In her last job, she was employed by a lesbian club owner and she was hired to be an exotic dancer. One night she was dancing with her boyfriend, but the owner becomes jealous and confronts her in her dressing room with a gun.
A fight breaks out and in the fight the gun goes off and the owner is dead. Confessing this leaves Zoe upset and in the process of comforting her 99/Marie makes love to her.
In the Superintendent's office, the Governor and the Superintendent are playing chess, talking about Superintendent Caroll. The Superintendent mentions that Caroll might be sending reports back about him as well as her. This worries the Governor and he decides to send a report, behind Caroll's back, about her. The Superintendent informs him of Caroll's fondness for some of the prisoners, especially for 99, implying that might be a lesbian. This annoys the Governor and he starts to write his report.
The next day during lunch, 99/Marie is asked to go to see Superintendent Caroll. She asks 99/Marie why she was punished, she mentions it was because she asked for help, for 98, who died. She then asks her how comes she is in prison. 99/Marie tells her that she was waiting for a bus one evening in the rain. But the bus never came and a man on a motorcycle offered her a lift, which she accepted. He took her to an alleyway, where there was a gang of men waiting. They then raped her, but one of them left a knife unattended and she used that to kill one of the gang members and get away. Caroll believes 99/Marie's story and says that she will help her in trying to get an appeal.
Later on that day the women are working on a chain gang, when 97 spots a work party of men. She points this out to the girl that has only been inside for two weeks. When she looks she recognizes one of the men as her boyfriend Andiago. 97 says she will give her cover, so she can go and speak to him. In a small out building, Andiago tells her, that on the other side of the island, there is a fishing village. In ten days time, he and a friend are going to escape to the village. At dawn he and his friend will meet Rosa, that is her name, on a jetty and then leave in a boat, that they will steal.
That night 99/Marie see Zoe and one of the other girls making love. When she calls out to Zoe, Zoe implies that she is free to take a new lover, because 99/Marie has a lover in the form of Superintendent Caroll and if she is, then 99/Marie will never leave the prison.
The next morning Superintendent Caroll receives a letter and is informed that 99/Marie wants to see her. The Superintendent also mentions that is annoyed that the night watch has been done away with, because this will leave the girls able to escape and make their way to the fishing village, but Caroll informs her that if they do manage to escape there is thirty miles of jungle and thick swamp in-between the prison and the village. In the corse of the argument, Superintendent Caroll says that if the Superintendent had more trust in her prioners, then the prison would be a happier place, the Superintendent tells her the prison should not be a happy place. "In that case, you have been very successful", responds Caroll and any person who might of had cause to complain has died. This makes the Superintendent say that Caroll wants to get rid of her.
In the cells, 97 asks 99/Marie if she could put a word in with Superintendent Caroll about improving the food. This makes Zoe reply with a coment that upsets 97. As they square off to one another, Zoe goes to stroke 97's face.
This sparks off a fight between the two of them. Which is broken up the Superintendent. Just as she is about to dish out their punishment, Superintendent Caroll intervenes and asks why the fight started. Zoe tells her that 97 started the fight, because she had said that she was not into women, unlike some people, looking knowingly at Caroll. When Caroll asks Helga, which is 97's name, who started it, she says it was Zoe. So Caroll decides that both girls should go with out food for a day as punishment, which does not go down well with the Superintendent.
99/Marie is taken to see Caroll, who tells her the appeal has been unsuccessful. Marie does not believe this and asks to see the letter. Caroll tells her that she has destroyed the letter. She says she does not believer her and that the other women are all saying that she is in love with her, which shocks her.
The evening, 97/Helga informs 99/Marie that both her and Rosa are going to escape that night and they need a third person.
For some reason Zoe is placed on medical watch and give the keys to the cell. Rosa fains illness, so that 97/Helga and 99/Marie can jump her a take the keys to the cell. The girls throw a rope, made of knotted bed sheets over the wall and climb down it and make their escape into the jungle. (Cue the scenes shot in Brazil, while they had to wait for the carnival to start, while filming THE GIRL FROM RIO (1969)).
They make their way though the jungle, with Rosa appearing to be the weak link. The sirens sound, first from the womens prison and then from the mens. As they progress through the jungle, they come into a clearing and encounter a snake, (which looks as deadly as a grass snake, but sends Rosa and Marie into a panic.) Rosa goes to pieces over the snake, but Marie and Helga attack it with Helga cutting and stabbing at it. (The snake is a real one and Elisa Montes realy does attack it. As it slides off camera, you can see the real wounds. A scene like this would not be done these days.)
They progress on and come a cross a pond, where they decide to bathe. While bathing Rosa spots a man watching them. Helga recognizes from the clothes that he is wearing, he must be from the mens prison. Rosa asks where is her boyfriend. He tells her that he was killed by the guards while escaping. The sound of dogs can be heard, so they set off deeper into the jungle, the man helping a distraught Rosa. They come across a cave and take shelter for the night. The man lights a fire, so they can keep warm and suggests that they huddle together to keep warm. Marie and Helga and the man and Rosa.
During the night, while comforting each other, the man and Rosa begin to make love.
Marie wakes up and watches them. Her absence makes Helga wake up and when she sees Rosa and the man having sex, she turns away in disgust.
That morning they leave the cave heading to the fishing village. On the way they come across a work gang from the mens prison on a food break. The man asks one of the prisoners if he can spare some food. He agrees, but when some of the men notice that there are girls with him, they get excited and as a mass they attack and kill their guards, stealing their weapons. The man tells the girls to run and he tries to stop the mob of crazed men, but he is shot and killed for his efforts. Rosa insists that they should go back and help him, but the other two just keep on running. Rosa stumbles and falls to the ground, making the men able to catch up with her. Like a pack of dogs they descend onto her. Raping her and killing her. Helga tells Marie there is nothing they can do for her and anyway this will delay the men and give them a better chance to escape. (And so ends the scenes filmed in Brazil, when they had time on their hands.)
The Marie and Helga make it to the fishing village, but just as they are about to make to a boat, a shot rings out and there standing behind them is the Governor and his men.
Back in prison Marie and Helga are distraught and then they are whipped in the punishment cells. Superintendent Caroll tries to intervene, but as Governor Santos points out, they are being punished in accordance with the regulations regarding prisoners who try and escape and there is nothing that she can do to stop it.
When the girls are returned to the cells, all the female prisoners band together and riot.
The Superintendent blames Superintendent Caroll for the riot and asks how is she going to stop it. She replies that she will talk to them, to see sense.
Confronting them,she tells the girls they must stop the riot and return to their cells, but they do not listen to her. The riot is stopped with the aid of the Governor's own men.
Caroll decides that she has failed in her mission to try and reform the prison and she will leave, meaning that the Superintendent will remain in charge.
As Caroll leaves the prison all the girls are being stood in the yard watching her go.
The film has been released in the UK on the Redemption label as a Region Free DVD with the same extras as the Blue Underground release, it can be bought from Play.com by clicking the link below.
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3325111/802356380/Redemption-99-Women/ListingDetails.html?searchstring=99+women&searchsource=0&searchtype=r2alldvd&urlrefer=search&strefer=r2alldvd&searchfilters=s%7b99+women%7d%2bc%7b57%7d%2b
Or you can buy the Blue Underground release by clicking the link below, this again is a Region Free release.
http://www.blue-underground.com/product.php?product=54
The version I have watched is the Blue Underground release.
I thought the film was very good and stands up well, even now and compared to what Jess Franco would do latter on when returning to this genre, he is very restrained. Coming after watching THE GIRL FROM RIO (1969) it is a bit bleaker, but still a very well acted film. I liked it.
On the DVD the extras are an interview with Jess Franco, under the title JESS' WOMEN, a deleted and alternate scenes option, a theatrical trailer, a poster and still galleries and a DVD-ROM link.
During the interview, Franco talks about the fact there is an X-rated version of 99 WOMEN, but as he says he had nothing to do with that and hates the fact that they were put into, because they change the entire film.
The first deleted scene is an extension of the Marie rape scene from the German version of the film. It is in this footage that Jess Franco appears.
The second deleted scene is an extension of Zoe's story, but was not filmed by Jess Franco and does not star Rosalba Neri. This was included on the Greek video release.
The third deleted scene is the extended ending of the film, taken from the Spanish version. Again it comes from a video release. It lessens the impact of the original ending.
The DVD-ROM extra is a reproduction of the book Jess Franco, written by Tim Lucas and published by Video Watchdog, in a PDF fille.
Maria Schell was born 15th January 1926 in Vienna, Austria, she was the daughter of a Swiss author and an Austrian actress and the older brother of Maximilian Schell. She studied in a religious institution in Colmar, France. She graduated to a dramatic education in Zurich, Switzerland, while studying there she worked as a secretary. She made her first film in 1942 at the age of 16 called STEIBRUCH. In 1951, at the age of 24 she THE MAGIC BOX, a film that also starred Robert Donat and William Hartnell. Latter on she would make THE BLOODY JUDGE with Jess Franco, THE ODESSA FILE, VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED with Laura Gemser, SUPERMAN and THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES. She married twice, first to Horst Hachler, whom she married 26th April 1957 and divorced in 1965, they had one child, a son, Oliver Hachler born in 1962, now known as Oliver Schell and then she married Veit Relin in 1966 and divorced him in 1986, they also had a child, a daughter, Marie Theres Relin born 30th June 1966. Her last film was a French TV movie called LE DERNIER MOT, shown in 1991. She died 26th April 2005 in Preitenegg, Carinthia, Austria.
Herbert Lom was born 11th September 1917 in Prague, Czech Republic. His first film was made in 1937, it was called ZENA POD KRIZEM, his British film was THE YOUNG MR. PITT made in 1942. He made three films with William Hartnell; THE DARK TOWER (1943), APPOINTMENT WITH CRIME (1946) and HELL DRIVERS (1957), which also stared a very young Sean Connery. He made seven films with Peter Sellers. He would make one more film with Jess Franco, COUNT DRACULA (1970) and the last film that he made was a TV movie, AGATHA CHRISTIE'S MARPLE: THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE.
Mercedes McCambridge was born 16th March 1916 in Joliet, Illinois, USA. She began her career as a radio actor during the 1940s. Orson Welles called her "the world's greatest radio actress." She made her film debut in 1949 aged 33 in ALL THE KING'S MEN in the role of Sadie Burke for which she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actess. In 1956 she starred alongside James Dean in GIANT, alongside Elizabeth Taylor in SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER in 1959, in Jess Franco's MARQUIS DE SADE: JUSTINE, in THE EXORCIST she provided the voice of the demonic possession in THE EXORCIST and also appeared in AIRPORT '79...THE CONCORDE. On 2nd March 2004 she died in La Jolla, California, USA.
Luciana Paluzzi was born 10th June 1937 in Rome, Italy. Her first film was a walk-on part in THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN in 1954. Her first talking part was in an Italian film called SUA ALTEZZA HA DETTO NO!. She is mainly known for playing the role of Fiona in the James Bond film THUNDERBALL (1965) alongside Sean Connery. Her last film to date was DEADLY CHASE in 1978.
Rosalba Neri was born 19th June 1939 in Forli, Italy. She made her film debut in I PINGUINI CI GUARDANO (1955) aged 16. She would go onto make three films with Jess Franco. Her last film was IL POMICIONE in 1976.
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