Ilsa: Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks (1976)

Ilsa's back at it again, despite the fact that the ending of the last film in the series, She-Wolf of the SS, left Ilsa terminally inconvenienced. Let's also ignore the fact that Ilsa doesn't seem to have aged a year since the Allied invasion of Germany (this movie has to take place sometime in the 70s), shall we? Anyway, however she did it, Ilsa's back at it again, this time running decadent Arab sheik El Sharif's harem. When she's not kidnapping new "recruits," teaching amateurs the sexual power of the tongue, or having her two topless lesbian bodygaurds make servile eunichs out of rowdy men, she's doing what she does best: cruel, senseless torture! Unfortunately, a top American diplomat is on his way, bringing with him a handsome young aide Adam whose unrepentent masculinity is sure to rouse Ilsa's interest, and indeed it does. But when El Sharif dares to interfere with Ilsa's newest love interest, Ilsa's thoughts quickly turn to bloody rebellion...

Comments

The second film in the Ilsa series is somewhat of a let-down on some levels. Most of what made the original so audacious for many was its mixture of camp and graphic exploitation with serious subject matter (and really, it's impossible to get more serious than the Holocaust.) While certain elements (such as the fact everyone had *really* good hair for Holocaust victims) kept you from taking Ilsa: She-Wolf of the SS too seriously, it still managed to be somewhat unsettling. For example, the most famous scene from She-Wolf of the SS involves various Nazis setting around a large table having dinner, talking and laughing casually. In the center of the table there's a large block of ice that's gradually melting, and standing on this ice block is a girl with a noose placed around her neck. You can probably guess what eventually happens. This sequel has no such equivalent. Yes, there's a few gross-out scenes that are both explicit or implied, but none reach the same intensity as that scene.

I really don't know if the lack of sheer shock value in Harem Keepers of the Oil Sheiks is due simply to the fact that we don't have the backdrop of Nazi Germany. Although I think that that is a definite factor, there's also the fact that there's more explicit comedy injected into this one. You have the stereotypical depiction of Arabic culture, which at times reaches the same level as the "Japan" and "Australia" episodes of "The Simpsons," and the Harry Kissinger-esque diplomat who squirms at the parade of "un-American" values. One of the most amusing scenes of the movie, where 'Kissinger' is faced with an adolescent male diversion sent to him by El Sharif and tries to cling helplessly to his American values, is meant to be purely comedic.

Not so comedic for some viewers (but maybe for others) will be Ilsa's relationship with Adam. Their first sexual encounter is the living embodiement of the whole "All a feminist wants is a strong man" stereotype, which is sure to set over real well with a good number of people (though, honestly, if you're the easily offended type, why the hell are you watching an Ilsa movie?) To be fair, though, the movie also gives us El Sharif, who himself embodies that whole "men are mindless scum" idea. Imagine a more sadistic version of Al Bundy given absolute power and you'll get a pretty good idea of El Sharif.

I got the impression that the film itself was rather quickly put together. The whole thing just doesn't come across as that cohesive. For example, the beginning of the film goes through a lot of trouble to introduce us to the harem's three American captives and their peril of being sold off to other sheiks. Later on, no direct reference is made to the captives again and they become indistinguishable from the other harem girls. In fact, the editing and plot cohesion was so poor, I had to double-check just to make sure I wasn't watching a cut version (and I wasn't.) It all kind of comes together in the last section of the film, but it's still quite a mess to begin with.

All in all, the movie is somewhat disappointing, but still fun, due mainly to Dyanne Thorne's performance, but even that isn't as high key as I expected, and the addition of El Sharif. If you're an exploitation fan and looking for a decent way to whittle away an evening, this may still be a good way to do so and may serve as a good (if comparatively tame) introduction to the Ilsa series.

Choice Quotes:

"Ve haf vays of making you obedient."
-Ilsa and no those weren't typos.