FIRST COUSINS (1974) Sergio Martino directs | Susan Player
4964DVD
original
Italian title: CUGINI CARNALI [First Cousins]
also known as HIGH SCHOOL GIRL and LOVING COUSINS and
HOT AND BOTHERED and THE VISITOR
director: Sergio Martino
starring: Susan Player · Alfredo Pea · Riccardo Cucciolla · Rosalba
Neri · Claudio Nicastro · Fiorella Masselli
Shy sixteen-year-old
Nico has just graduated from the Academy where his strict father also
teaches. Nico's summer erupts in turmoil and sexual frustration when his
uninhibited cousin Sonia comes from Rome to stay at his home. Seemingly,
Sonia had not been doing well in school and risks expulsion, so Nico's
father agrees to tutoring her in preparation for an October exam. Obviously
hormones run wild in the D'Altamura household as Nico becomes obsessed
with Sonia.
Perhaps the strangest
thing about this film is it's NOT a comedy. And, then, equally strange
is it's directed by the legendary Sergio Martino. While Martino was a
Master of the Giallo (TORSO,
ALL
THE COLORS OF THE DARK, YOUR
VICE IS A LOCKED ROOM
[Gently When She Dies], et al), he was also known for Edwige
Fenech screwball sex comedies like DISHONORED
WITH HONOR and CREAM
HORN. This movie, however, fits into neither category. It is a
subtle, biting, and serious slice-of-life sex drama, with an unusual [for
Martino] very Italian-flavored narrative. Interestingly, a year later,
Sergio Martino would incorporate this taboo youth/sex theme into a Giallo,
SUSPICIOUS
DEATH OF A MINOR.
The fast, blonde Sonia
resides at the center of this movie. She escorts Nico through puberty
and creates a scandal in the entire village as she zips about without
a bra in panty-flashing miniskirts and sunbathes nude on the roof of the
family villa. But she's actually also a more complicated character than
first brush, with a sensitive [albeit manipulative] side complicated by
secretly being quite smart. American actress Susan Player is Sonia. She
had a career of Drive-In movies which included Invasion of the Bee
Girls, Malibu Beach and Pom Pom Girls.
She also had a 30+ year marriage to singer Al Jarreau. Susan Player died
in January 2019 at age 64 (two years after her husband's death).
An
Italian film, with optional English subtitles; widescreen format, fully
uncut 95 minutes,
DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT. Extras include selected
theatrical trailers.
Nudity/Strong
Scenes of Sexuality/Violence/Sexual Brutality
Recommended for Mature Audiences
