"Katharina und ihre wilden Hengste, Teil 1 - Katharina, die nackte Zarin" is a German 100-minute film from 1983, so this one has its 35th anniversary this year already. Even I as a German film buff must say that I am not familiar with any of the actors in here. Oh well, that may also have to do with the fact that they hardly appeared in anything else that wasn't from the adult industry, if they appeared in anything else at all that is. I read that they had a budget of 7 million Deutsche Mark (German currency back then) and especially if you consider when this was made, that was really a huge amount of money to be honest. You can see it in some of the costumes and haircuts I assume, but still, at best you can say that this film is style over substance. It is set in Russia obviously with the title, but it never felt remotely Russian to me. The parts about torture, rebellions, murdering those who won't obey etc. felt rushed in and for the sake of it. This film is never about anything else than the explicit (and obviously graphic) sex scenes in my opinion. Some of them are tolerable and there are actually moments when the film goes funnily over the top, i.e. the actors do so, like for example at the very end when we have one character being called a son of a whore and possessed by the devil and he enjoys being called like that and sees it as a compliment which he gives right back at the person saying so. It is probably more violent and bloodier than most other adult films you have come across, obviously not those involving murder or thriller elements too perhaps, but it's nothing you should not be able to stomach to be honest. Then again, it's also nothing that elevates the film and the base material in the slightest I must say. Director Klaus König's (still alive today way into his 80s apparently) work is a mess from start to finish, never interesting and what's even worse given the genre never really sexually inspiring I must say compared to many other films, also some with historical backgrounds. There's a reason hardly anybody has heard of him or this film we got here as of today. By the way I also honestly doubt one of the two writers here worked on stuff like Newhart as it says in his profile, probably just the same name? Anyway, no clue why they made a sequel to this extremely disappointing movie afterward, but looking at the fact that it has the same year of production I assume that it was determined before the first film already? I don't know. But I know that you really don't want to watch this first movie. Highly not recommended, not even a good watch if you are far more into adult films than myself.
2 Reviews
High Class Production Design (for this type of movie)
jrd_7320 June 2020
Katharina, die Nackte Zarin, as it was originally titled, has been a personal obsession of mine since I happened to see a trailer for the film and fell in love with the pouting Uschi Karnat (aka Sandra Nova) who plays Catherine the Great (Katharina) in this film.
First, this is an "adult" film. This fact needs to be established at the beginning because part of my interest in the film is how it differs in some ways from other films in this highly formulaic genre. Next, I have seen two versions of this film, a feature running 107 minutes by my DVD player, which focuses more on the story, and a two part film which stresses more the sex at the expense of the story. Which of these versions one would prefer to see might depend on what the viewer is primarily interested in watching the film for. I like both versions!
The 107 minute version (the version I saw in French) is the story of Basil, a member of the Queen's army. A Cossack group has started a rebellion and its leader has set himself up as the new Czar. The Cossacks attack Basil's village, killing many of the peasants. Basil seeks help from the Queen, but finds that she is more interested in personal pleasure than matters of state. Katharina takes a shine to Basil, but Basil prefers Maria, one of the Queen's handmaidens. This does not set well with Katharina. This version does a decent job with the story. It effectively resolves the Cossacks and Basil/Maria storylines at the end. It is also light on explicit sex.
However, "light" does not mean free of explicit sex. Before watching the film, I had assumed that it would be a softcore version of the film. In fact, the 107 minute version still has actual sex. It's just very brief (although longer than what one would expect out of a "legitimate" movie).
The two part version of the film (which I watched in German from a dub off of the Tabu VHS tapes) puts the story second and amps up the sex. It is mainly the story of the sexy bedroom adventures of a kinky queen, with the Basil and Maria storyline put in the background. The film continues on twenty minutes past the resolution of the Basil and Maria storyline. This is to squeeze in one more sex scene involving Katharina and her handmaidens. Speaking of sex, the sex scenes are more plentiful and longer in screen time. For example, Basil's friend, an engineer, is a ladies' man in both versions, but in the Tabu cut, the scenes of his conquests do not fade to black just as they start (like in the 107 minute cut). However, those watching Katharina und Ihre Wilden Hengste only for its sex, might still be disappointed by even this two film version, since, while the sex is the main focus, it is not the film's only focus.
I like Katharina, die Nackte Zarin in both cuts for a couple reasons. First, the costumes and set designs are luxurious for an adult film. Caligula (another film I champion) is the only other film made for the adult film market that looks bigger. Growing up in the era of pornography shot on video, I am intrigued by adult films that look like real movies, as Katharina does.
Second, Uschi Karnat is a foxy lady. Few actresses have had such a lovely, pouting face. True, Karnat's performance in other movies have been as captivating (although she always looks great), but she owns the role of Katharina.
I am rating both versions of Katharina, die Nackte Zarin a 7 out of 10. That rating may seem high for what are essentially pornographic movies, but I rate on the basis of enjoyment. I enjoy these films!
First, this is an "adult" film. This fact needs to be established at the beginning because part of my interest in the film is how it differs in some ways from other films in this highly formulaic genre. Next, I have seen two versions of this film, a feature running 107 minutes by my DVD player, which focuses more on the story, and a two part film which stresses more the sex at the expense of the story. Which of these versions one would prefer to see might depend on what the viewer is primarily interested in watching the film for. I like both versions!
The 107 minute version (the version I saw in French) is the story of Basil, a member of the Queen's army. A Cossack group has started a rebellion and its leader has set himself up as the new Czar. The Cossacks attack Basil's village, killing many of the peasants. Basil seeks help from the Queen, but finds that she is more interested in personal pleasure than matters of state. Katharina takes a shine to Basil, but Basil prefers Maria, one of the Queen's handmaidens. This does not set well with Katharina. This version does a decent job with the story. It effectively resolves the Cossacks and Basil/Maria storylines at the end. It is also light on explicit sex.
However, "light" does not mean free of explicit sex. Before watching the film, I had assumed that it would be a softcore version of the film. In fact, the 107 minute version still has actual sex. It's just very brief (although longer than what one would expect out of a "legitimate" movie).
The two part version of the film (which I watched in German from a dub off of the Tabu VHS tapes) puts the story second and amps up the sex. It is mainly the story of the sexy bedroom adventures of a kinky queen, with the Basil and Maria storyline put in the background. The film continues on twenty minutes past the resolution of the Basil and Maria storyline. This is to squeeze in one more sex scene involving Katharina and her handmaidens. Speaking of sex, the sex scenes are more plentiful and longer in screen time. For example, Basil's friend, an engineer, is a ladies' man in both versions, but in the Tabu cut, the scenes of his conquests do not fade to black just as they start (like in the 107 minute cut). However, those watching Katharina und Ihre Wilden Hengste only for its sex, might still be disappointed by even this two film version, since, while the sex is the main focus, it is not the film's only focus.
I like Katharina, die Nackte Zarin in both cuts for a couple reasons. First, the costumes and set designs are luxurious for an adult film. Caligula (another film I champion) is the only other film made for the adult film market that looks bigger. Growing up in the era of pornography shot on video, I am intrigued by adult films that look like real movies, as Katharina does.
Second, Uschi Karnat is a foxy lady. Few actresses have had such a lovely, pouting face. True, Karnat's performance in other movies have been as captivating (although she always looks great), but she owns the role of Katharina.
I am rating both versions of Katharina, die Nackte Zarin a 7 out of 10. That rating may seem high for what are essentially pornographic movies, but I rate on the basis of enjoyment. I enjoy these films!
See also
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