Film Review: ELSA FRAULEIN SS (a.k.a. Fraulein Kitty) (1977)

ELSA FRAULEIN SS (a.k.a. Fraulein Kitty (On-screen title). ** France 1977 Dir: “Mike Staar” (Patrice Rhomm) 80 mins

Evidently inspired by Tinto Brass’ SALON KITTY, this is an unusually well behaved French contribution to the 60’s / 70’s Naziploitation cycle. It’s set in 1943, with mistrust and rebellion growing against Hitler’s regime and former “penny whore” Elsa (Malisa Longo) hired to marshal a train-based brothel full of luxury tarts specifically chosen for the Third Reich elite. Elsa cheerfully seduces and straddles fresh-faced young soldiers before putting them to death as “subversives” while the older actors pleasingly keep their clothes (and boots) on for sex scenes with very comely young ladies.
Padded (even at this meagre length) with lots of walking shots and scenes of the train in motion, this has moments of unintentional mirth, notably the clumsy attempt to integrate cast members into monochrome WWII stock footage. Otherwise, it’s not nearly as camp or engagingly sadistic as (for example) the ILSA series: aside from some fingernail abuse and a bare-assed flogging, the torture is minimal, though there is lots of nudity from the attractive cast. Longo isn’t a patch on the show-stealing, iconic Dyanne Thorne, though the script does include marvellous lines like “We have means to make you obey!” Among the cast of Euro-trash regulars is French hardcore porn star Claudine Beccaire for your viewing pleasure.

Review by Steven West