Written by: Michael Den Boer on May 13th, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: Spain, April 1st, 1981
Director: Jesus Franco
Writer: Jesus Franco
Cast: Michele Hermet, Jérôme Foulon, Leonardo da Costa, Lina Romay, Nadine Pascal, Olivier Mathot, Eduardo Hell, Vítor Mendes, Antonio de Cabo, Carmen Lucia, Jean-Marie Lemaire, Daniel Lesoeur, Juan Soler
Approximate running time: 85 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Letterboxed Widescreen
Rating: 18
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono Castilian
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Magna Films
Region Coding: Region 2 PAL (Spain)
Retail Price: $16.95
Synopsis: Three students Juanita, Jean and Hans bored with their life in Paris go to Brazil in search of sexual adventures.
Las Chicas de Copacabana is a sexual coming age film from maverick filmmaker Jess Franco. Visually the film is bland when compared to Franco’s most inspired films. To Franco’s credit he does know how to photograph women. The shots of women on the beach and close up of their assets are this films strongest asset. The film is also padded with footage from the carnival in Brazil. The weak plot which is essentially just a series of sexual encounters that offers no advancement in the plot. The films main location looks like the same hotel used in the Jess Franco film Cuanto Cobra Un Espia? (Is Cobra a Spy?).
Things move along quickly in Las Chicas de Copacabana. The films brisk pacing isn’t enough to save the film. The three main characters Juanita, Hans and Jean are one dimensional and the actors who play these roles are lifeless in their performances. The only performance that is worth mentioning is Lina Romay’s and it is well below her better work as an actress. Las Chicas de Copacabana features a sexy Brazilian styled score composed by Jess Franco under the alias Pablo Villa. Ultimately Las Chicas de Copacabana is an uneven sex comedy that stretches out premise well beyond its limits.
The DVD:
Las Chicas de Copacabana is presented in a 1.66:1 letterboxed widescreen. The framing at 1.66:1 looks like the films original aspect ratio since the image never looks cramped or cropped. The transfer is free of any print damage, colors look nicely saturated and flesh tones look accurate. Overall this transfer looks really good despite being non anamorphic.
One audio option has been included with this release a Dolby Digital mono mix in Castilian. There is some minor instances of background noise and besides this the audio mix sounds clear and evenly balanced. No subtitles options have been included for this release.
Extras for this release include cast & crew lists, filmographies for Lina Romay, Michele Hermet, Jérôme Foulon, Nadine Pascal & Jess Franco and liner notes about the film written by Francesco Cesari. Rounding out the extras is ten minutes Sherlock Holmes inspired short titled “El Caso De Las Senoritas Deshonradas”. This short has nothing to do with Jess Franco outside of being inspired by his films. Overall Las Chicas de Copacabana is Manga Films best audio/video presentation out of their five Jess Franco releases.