Prisoner of Paradise (1980 film)

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Prisoner of Paradise
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGail Palmer
Bob Chinn
Written byGail Palmer
Jeff Fairbanks
StarringJohn C. Holmes
Seka
Elmo Lavino
Sue Carol
Jade Wong
Nikki Anderson
Release date
  • 1980 (1980)
Running time
75 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Prisoner of Paradise (also known as Nazi Love Island)[1] is a 1980 American pornographic exploitation film directed by Gail Palmer and Bob Chinn. The film takes place during World War II, and stars John C. Holmes as Joe Murrey, a shipwrecked sailor who comes to the rescue of two American nurses who are being held captive by a Nazi officer and his three assistants on an island in the South Pacific. The other members of the cast include Seka, Elmo Lavino, Sue Carol, Jade Wong, and Nikki Anderson. The film was released in the United States in 1980, and received an X rating from the Motion Picture Association of America.

The film has been classified as an example of Nazisploitation, a subgenre of exploitation and sexploitation films in which Nazi characters are prominent.[2][3]

Plot[edit]

Carol and Gloria, two nurses in the American forces, are held prisoners in a concentration camp set on an Pacific island by the sadistic Nazi Hans von Shlemel and his lady assistants. Joe Murrey, a G.I. attempts to rescue them but is also taken and forced to provide sexual services.

Cast[edit]

  • John C. Holmes as Joe Murrey
  • Seka as Ilsa
  • Elmo Lavino as Hans (as Heinz Mueller)
  • Sue Carol as Greta
  • Jade Wong as Suke
  • Nikki Anderson as Carol (as Nicki Anderson)
  • Brenda Vargo as Gloria
  • Mai Lin as Sue Lee (as Miko Moto)

Critical reception[edit]

A reviewer in Cinema Retro wrote: "What sets Prisoner of Paradise apart from most of the porn drivel of this era is the better-than-average direction coupled with a relatively lavish budget. There are some impressive special effects in the finale and the directors even manage to squeeze in an original love song".[4] Brian Orndorf of Blu-ray.com called the film "an uncomfortable mix of tonal speeds", and criticized it for "trying to pass itself off as reflective cinema when it should be focusing exclusively on salacious encounters."[5]

Home media[edit]

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome.[4][6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kerner, Aaron (2011). Film and the Holocaust: New Perspectives on Dramas, Documentaries, and Experimental Films. Continuum. ISBN 978-1441124180.
  2. ^ Magilow, Daniel H.; Bridges, Elizabeth; Vanger Lugt, Kristin T., eds. (2011). Nazisploitation!: The Nazi Image in Low-Brow Cinema and Culture. Continuum. ISBN 978-1441183590.
  3. ^ Schmid, Hans (August 2, 2015). "Die Kommandeuse, die anständige deutsche Frau und der Befehlsnotstand". Telepolis (in German). Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Review: "Prisoner of Paradise" (1980) starring John Holmes and Seka". Cinema Retro. January 4, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Orndorf, Brian (June 17, 2018). "Prisoner of Paradise Blu-ray Review". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "Prisoner of Paradise Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved December 12, 2019.

External links[edit]