99 Women (Der Heiße Tod) (1969)
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33% of users liked it
(1,912 ratings)
Jesus Franco's campy women's prison film, though both stereotypical and rare to find in its original version, is worthwhile for genre devotees primarily due to an outstanding cast. Mercedes McCambridge is unintentionally hilarious as sadistic lesbian warden Thelma Diaz, spitting tacky… More Jesus Franco's campy women's prison film, though both stereotypical and rare to find in its original version, is worthwhile for genre devotees primarily due to an outstanding cast. Mercedes McCambridge is unintentionally hilarious as sadistic lesbian warden Thelma Diaz, spitting tacky dialogue with exuberant venom in a performance so overbearing that it verges on classic. The plot is standard for the genre, as three women (Maria Rohm, Elisa Montes, Luciana Paluzzi) are sentenced to an island prison off the Panamanian coast, only to encounter torture, rape, and lesbianism. When sympathetic Warden Caroll (Maria Schell) replaces Diaz, the prisoners assume that conditions will improve, but their agony only worsens until they decide to escape. Rosalba Neri co-stars, and Herbert Lom runs the corrupt men's prison nearby. 99 Mujeres was heavily censored in various prints, with versions running anywhere between 70 and 108 minutes. Edits running 84, 86, and 94 minutes are most commonly available. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jesus Franco
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Cult Movies
- In Theaters
- Apr 23, 1969 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Plays like how a lot of Eyes Wide Shut probably should have played.
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Cast
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Maria Schell
as Leoni
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Mercedes McCambridge
as Thelma
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Luciana Paluzzi
as Nathalie
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Herbert Lom
as Governor
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Maria Rohm
as Marie
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Rosalba Neri
as Zoe
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Elisa Montés
as Helga
- Maria Perschy