This lively and eventful mondo documentary classic covers assorted bizarre customs, rituals, and practices by different cultures from all over the world in a brisk and entertaining way. German students in Berlin engage in an illegal sword duel. Japanese karate experts train by breaking concrete blocks with their fists and young Japanese men participate in the crazy ritual of Saidachi. Paris, France proves to be an especially wild and swinging city: We witness the final gruesome performance of the Grand Guignol Theatre, gorgeous gals participating in a best buttocks contest, luscious brunette Rita Renoir doing a sizzling hot striptease, homeless folks holding a back alley ball, and another sexy striptease at an exclusive all-lesbian club. In Lapland lovely lasses castrate male reindeer with their teeth (ouch!) while male hunters lasso them so the girls can become their brides. Rowdy distaff roller derby players let it all hang out on the track in Los Angeles. Circus performers do a dangerous high-wire act in the French Alps. Satanists hold a black mass in Britain; a naked woman has chicken blood poured over her writing body. A scrawny man pierces himself with a needle through his neck and a rapier through his waist without drawing blood. Portegeuse men hunt whales the old-fashioned way armed solely with harpoons. Swedish playboys pick up girls on street corners and party hearty with complete abandon. Muscular men put on a tasty beefcake show for bored housewives in Reno, Nevada. Brazilians happily celebrate Mardi Gras. George Sanders' marvelously dry, plummy, and sardonic narration gives this picture a huge lift; his deep, dulcet tones and smugly condescending manner are a total snarky treat to hear. Riz Ortolani supplies an exquisitely lush, sweeping, and melodic score. The sumptuous cinematography by Emanuele Di Cola and Giorgio Garibaldi makes striking use of the widescreen format. Well worth a look for mondo doc fans.
Review of Ecco
