Emmanuelle or Marilyn

Stripper and occasional prostitute Marilyn, making ends meet in Paris, feels called to greater things. When she catches her boyfriend and pimp Frank in bed with a good friend, she has had enough and travels to Cannes to work on her acting career. Marilyn quickly realizes that the men there are only after her body and some big promises of a producer fizzle out in hot air after Marilyn has slept with him. Richer by a few experiences, she realizes that her place in Paris is at Frank's side.

Released in 1980, Emmanuelle Goes to Cannes is one of the first, if not the first, erotic film directed by Olinka Hardiman, who went on to have a stellar career as a porn actress in the years that followed, becoming famous mainly for her Marilyn Monroe-inspired look. Thus, the original name of the film is Emmanuelle à Cannes, while the German video version changes the name of the leading actress to Marilyn. The film should not be confused with the fifth part of the Emmanuelle series: Emmanuelle 5, in which Emmanuelle also goes to the Cannes Film Festival. Emmanuelle Goes to Cannes is a very simple film in which the main goal is to lead Marilyn from one sex scene to the next. When Marilyn is not being mated, she walks around Cannes aimlessly, explaining the non-existent plot in inner monologues or raving about her non-existent acting skills. When she ends up running back into the arms of her boyfriend Frank, who likes to sell her off to his friends as a prostitute for a few bucks, one wonders what the film actually wanted to tell us. The film was co-produced by Dick Randall (Don't Open 'Til Christmas), who even took on a small role.

Different cuts on VHS and DVD

On the German VHS is the hardcore version of the film, in which the sex scenes are considerably more debauched. Additionally, there is another plot scene in which Marilyn sells herself to johns on the Cannes streetwalk for a high price. The DVD contains the softcore version, which shows alternate footage during the sex scenes and includes additional plot scenes. These are mostly limited to Marilyn walking around Cannes and meeting various people. A fling between a producer and an actress on a plane is only included in the softcore version.
Both versions have their raison d'être and are tailored to their respective target audiences.

Picture Comparison:

German VHS:

German DVD:

Runtimes:

Hardcore version: 73:10 min.
Softcore version: 74:15 min.

Comparison between the German VHS by VFL (hardcore version) and the German DVD by Sinema (softcore version).

[00:00:35][00:00:00]

The HC version begins with opening credits.

HC: 57 secs.


[00:01:32][00:00:00]

In the SC, the titles fade in as Marilyn dances on stage at the beginning.

No time difference.


[00:03:50][00:02:18]

In the HC, Marilyn continues to loll around on stage with her private parts being the main focus. Towards the end of the scene, she begins to masturbate.

SC also shows Marilyn lolling on stage.

After that, Frank is seen talking to Carlo in front of the striptease club. He arranges a stripper for him. They both smoke a cigarette, then Frank goes back inside.

Frank watches Marilyn perform.

HC: 2:10 min
SC: 2:12 min.


[00:08:39][00:06:59]

After Marilyn has a good cry in the dressing room, the HC version shows stripper Sally slowly undressing on stage. Frank watches her from the backstage area. Just like Marilyn, Sally presents her private parts to the audience. Note the movie mistake where Sally dances without panties and then with panties again.

In the SC version, Sally also slowly undresses in front of the audience. Frank is also watching her as she does so.

Frank leaves the club and calls Carlo over. Carlo says that he has a job for Marilyn in Paris. That's when Marilyn shows up and is talked up by both of them.

Naked Sally dances on stage and is watched by Frank, even though he has just left the club with Marilyn.

HC: 2:26 min
SC: 4:05 min.


[00:12:39][00:12:38]

The HC shows an explicit scene of Marilyn having sex with Carlo. The latter obviously finds it delightful to occasionally sink his finger into Marilyn's anus. At the end, Carlo ejaculates on Marilyn's face, who monologues to us that she was faking all the pleasure and what a great actress she is.

Afterwards, Frank is seen having sexual intercourse with Sally.

SC shows soft alternate footage of Carlo and Marilyn having sex instead.

Afterwards, Frank and Sally are seen having sex.

HC: 8:56 min
SC: 3:17 min.


[00:23:02][00:17:21]

The HC leaves little doubt that sexual intercourse with mutually alternating partners occurs between Marilyn, Sally, and Frank.

In the shower, the three continue their lovemaking.

In SC, the flirtation between the three is heavily shortened and kept soft throughout.

HC: 6:52 min
SC: 1:01 min.


[00:32:50][00:21:18]

The incoming train can be seen earlier in the HC.

HC: 3 secs.


[00:36:56][00:25:20]

While Marilyn is walking through Cannes, the HC surprisingly cuts to Marilyn masturbating. Afterwards, two men are seen having sexual intercourse with a woman. At the end of the scene, Marilyn explains that on her first night in Cannes, she dreams about how men and women have sex in Cannes. This excited her so much that she had to play with herself.

Then a shot of the people on the beach watching Marilyn. Marilyn is seen earlier in the next shot.

In the SC, Marilyn looks at the movie posters for a while. She wonders if her name will soon be on a poster too. Then cuts to the dancer on the beach.

After that, a producer is seen on a plane with a woman. He promises her the lead in his next movie if she sleeps with him on the plane. The two get closer to each other.

Again, cutting to the dancer on the beach.

Marilyn gets out of the car. Then another woman dances on the beach.

Marilyn meets with a man in front of the hotel. Then another woman is seen on the beach.

Defying all reason and security measures, things get heated on the plane between the producer and the actress.

Dancing continues on the beach. One of the photographers is towing one of the dancers.

Marilyn chats with a film producer about his film productions.

On the plane, the producer and actress are seen having sex.

Marilyn watches a group of men playing dice.

A woman dances on the beach and is photographed doing so.

Marilyn meets a man named Sam on the boardwalk.

Then cuts to the flirtation on the plane.

Then back to the beach to the dancer.

Marilyn meets with more people and even gives an interview. She feels like a real star in the process.

A woman gets out of the sea, then more impressions of the beach. In between, a short cut to the plane.

HC: 2:13 min
SC: 12:14 min.