Plot: What’s it about?
This film runs about an hour in total and moves between several scenes, none of which have much of a common thread. Of course, all of the pieces focus on some kind of sexual acts, but beyond that, there isn’t an obvious bond. I like this to the Mondo movies that were all the rage at one time, which showed assorted cultural activities, such as rituals, sacrifices, or other unusual, often primitive behaviors. But in this case of Virgin Report, the theme is all about sex and so each scene presents a different kind of sexual ritual or performance. The more specific topic is virginity and how these different women wind up deflowered. A young woman seeks to seduce her dim witted male companion in one scene, but finds herself frustrated at every turn. As a result, she turns to the affections an older man, which proves to provide her satisfaction. The scenes take place in different time periods, from hundreds of years in the past right up to modern times, with a wide scope of folks involved in each piece. So one scene might take us inside of a convent, the next might show us some exotic wedding night actions, while another focuses on more refined, proper methods of popping the old cherry wide open. But in any case, each one is loaded with naked women in sexual situations, which is all most of you need to know.
Virgin Report is part of a large series of motion pictures, most of which weren’t connected, outside of a basic common theme. In the 1970s, a line of films known as Sex Report films, such Virgin Report or Schoolgirl Report were produced, in which various sexual topics were covered, under the guise of education. As evidenced in Virgin Report, the thin education guise is transparent, as director Jess Franco uses the premise as a foundation to showcase as much skin and sex as possible. But most viewers won’t complain, since no one would grab a film titled Virgin Report and actually think it was an educational release. Even so, there is an attempt to push the content as a real documentary, though it is a laughable one. We’re supposed to think parts of the film are genuine, but the illusion is a thin one, to say the least. Franco (Exorcism, Sadomania) is one of the most prolific filmmakers of all time, even though few of his films are well known in mainstream circles and even fans will admit that his work is inconsistent at best. That is witnessed here, as even massive amounts of naked women and sexual content don’t hold the viewer’s attention. The direction is weak and there is little reason to be interested, though the nudity is welcome, of course. The movie delivers in terms of sex, but falls short in every other respect. I recommend this as a rental to Franco devotees, but only because of the solid visual presentation.
Video: How does it look?
Virgin Report is presented in full frame, as intended. I had low expectations in this department, but Image has served up a nice visual effort. The image is soft, that is not debatable, but the visuals come off as clean and effective. This is due in large part to the source print, which is in great shape and shows no serious flaws. So grain isn’t a factor here, while nicks and marks remain minor and never pose a threat. As I said, the image isn’t all that sharp, but that could be the intention, as was often the case in 70s cinema. I found contrast to be solid, with smooth black levels are only too light in a handful of instances. No worries with colors either, as hues look bright and bold throughout, much better than I ever would have expected. Virgin Report has aged well and even with some softness, this treatment is sure to please all viewers.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original German soundtrack has been preserved, via a plain, often worn mono option that isn’t memorable. The elements have been worn by the tolls of time, but the material is still passable, even in the worst scenes. The main issues are age related, such as hiss, distortion, and other signs of wear. Sometimes these problems can be severe, but more often than not, they’re minor issues and don’t distract. But a little cleaning up could have made a big difference here, as the ravages of time are more than evident. The vocals seem clear enough, but then again, I don’t speak enough German to be that sure. This disc also includes English subtitles, which have been burned into the transfer, instead of made optional.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a few still photos, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
