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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak")

 

Directed by Just Jaeckin
France 1984

 

GWENDOLINE - Just Jaeckin's ultimate erotic classic mastered in 4k for the first time ever!

In the '70s, Just Jaeckin created a daring new world of X-rated cinema with EMMANUELLE and THE STORY OF O. And in 1984, he wrote and directed the most ambitious, audacious, fun - and final - classic of his legendary erotic career - GWENDOLINE.

***

Based on a popular French comic strip, this lavish and erotic adventure fantasy (said to be one of the most expensive films in the history of French cinema) chronicles the exploits of a sexy young girl who escapes from a convent to go looking for the father she has not seen in many years. The story features plenty of female nudity.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Theatrical Release: February 8th, 1984

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Review: Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray

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Distribution Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:44:32.975        
Video

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,299,470,470 bytes

Feature: 24,921,935,040 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1509 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English
1509 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio French
1509 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio French
1509 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentaries:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Severin

 

2.35:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 47,299,470,470 bytes

Feature: 24,921,935,040 bytes

Video Bitrate: 24.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Alternate US Release Version THE PERILS OF GWENDOLINE IN THE LAND OF THE YIK YAK (1:28:30)
• Audio Commentary with Director Just Jaeckin
• Audio Commentary with Stars Tawny Kitaen and Brent Huff
The Butterfly Effect - 2019 Interview with Director Just Jaeckin (13:44)
• Bondage Paradise - Interviews with Costume & Concept Designers & Comic Book Artists François Schuiten and Claude Renard (33:56)
• The Perils of Production - Interview with Executive Producer Jean-Claude Fleury (18:08)
• Gwendoline's Travels - Interview with Production Designer Françoise Deleu (14:09)
• Blu-Ray Promos with Tawny Kitaen and Brent Huff (6:26)
• The Last Temptation of Just - 2006 Interview with Director Just Jaeckin (24:22)
• Dr. Kinsey Interview with John Willie, Creator of SWEET GWENDOLINE. (43:20)
• Revealing Tawny Kitaen Photospread for French LUI Magazine (0:25)
• Trailers (1:34, 2:08)


Blu-ray Release Date:
November 19th, 2019
Black Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Severin Blu-ray (December 2019): Severin have transferred Just Jaeckin's Gwendoline (or "The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak") to Blu-ray. It is advertised as being "mastered in 4k from the original negative recently discovered in a Paris vault". It looks quite strong, the colors show depth and there is consistent grain. Both the image, and production values, are far better than I would have anticipated. Contrast can waver a bit but this may be a function of the original production. There are a few, mostly frame-specific, damage marks (see two samples below). Overall few inconsistencies and a bright, textured, 1080P image presentation.

On their Blu-ray, Severin use a DTS-HD Master 16-bit audio tracks in both English and French and both 2.0 channel and 5.1 surround. It is another advancement in the film's audio and score by Pierre Bachelet (Private Collections, The Story of O, Emmanuelle), sounding a bit deeper with more consistent dialogue - the DUB'ing is apparent and the surround separations not particularly discreet. Severin offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Severin Blu-ray has abundant supplements including the 1.5 hour alternate US release version The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak looking inferior but watchable with some of the nudity cut. It's almost 15-minutes shorter than the featured 'uncut' "Gwendoline" version. The longer feature includes two optional audio commentaries - the first with director Just Jaeckin and the second one, kinda fun with Tawny Kitaen and Brent Huff enjoying their viewing. The Butterfly Effect is a 2019, 1/4 hour, interview with director Just Jaeckin remembering the production and its evolution. Bondage Paradise is a 34-minute interview with costume and concept designers & comic book artists François Schuiten and Claude Renard who discuss the style of Gwendoline. The Perils of Production spends 18-minutes with executive producer Jean-Claude Fleury who produced over 35 films. Gwendoline's Travels is a 1/4 hour interview with production designer Françoise Deleu plus there are 6-minutes worth of Blu-Ray Promos with Tawny Kitaen and Brent Huff. The Last Temptation of Just is A 25-minute, 2006, interview with Jaeckin and we get a 3/4 hour audio-only piece with Dr. Kinsey interviewing John Willie, creator/writer of The Misadventures of Sweet Gwen, The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak and other 'Gwen' videos. There is a brief gallery of Tawny Kitaen's photo-spread for the French LUI magazine and two trailers for the film.

The first hour of Gwendoline reminded me a lot of Jane and the Lost City - which I really liked. A damsel-in-distress pulp adventure from comic to celluloid. All I can say is that it was better than I anticipated with some reasonable production intent. There is stuff to like here beyond the fun cheesecake homage. The Severin Blu-ray is stacked and while not an 'A' film it still have a niche audience. I remember having a crush on Miss Kitaen back in the day. I'm glad I saw it rather than wondering if it had merit. As I say 'better than I thought' and definitely worth a spin to a nostalgic and curious audience.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 


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Distribution Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

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