The Harem

ReviewedBy:DavidStanners<br/>　　MargheritaisanItaliandivacaughtinaménageatriosplusone.That'llbeaménageaquatrethen?Somethinglikethat.<br/>　　Itsoundssopromising,butFerreri'slittleItalianrompisneitherfunnynormeaningful.Asonemayexpect,though,beingItalianitdoesmanagetoknockoutafairbitofstyle,witharathersultry,suavefemalelead(CarollBaker)playingdeviousseductress,Margherita.Spoiltforchoice,sheisunabletodecideonwhichofherthreeloversshereallywants.OnawhimshetakesofftovisitherfriendMario(WilliamBerger)inCroatia,whopersuadeshertoinviteallthreeovertogethersoshecanpickherfavourite.<br/>　　Firstupthere'sGianni(GastoneMoschin),asugardaddywithdeeppocketsandgoodconnections.RecentlydumpedwhenhetriestotietheknotwithMargherita,heisindirectcompetitionwithMike(MichelLeRoyer),asomewhatyounger,ruggedlyhandsome,blonde-beardedwildcardofamanwithaneyepatchandaleopardforapet.LastandprobablyleastisloverNo.3,Gaetano(RenatoSalvatori),bespectacledandsquarestofallbutbestdressed,suitedandbootedinItaly'sfinest.<br/>　　SlowlyMargheritaplaysoneoffagainsttheotherwithsometriedandtestedfemalemindgames,causingbelowthebeltpunchesandhighelbowsintheboyscamp.FirstturningonMarioforcolludingwithherinsettingthemup,aseachbelievedtheyhadbeeninvitedalone.Asthetestosteronedrivesthefight,theyturnoneachother,competinghammerandtongsforherwarpedaffection.Butpocoapoco,havingbeingpushedbeyondtheirlimits,shetiresthemout.Scratchingtheirheadsattheirnaivestupidity,theymakeaU-turnanddeviseacunningplanofretributionforthequeenofcocktease.<br/>　　Shotin1967,aroundthetimetheFrenchhadmadetheménageatroisthemeascommonasbreakfastthemorningafter,MarcoFerrerimakeslightofthebusinessoffemalesexualpromiscuity.Borderingonthefarcical,TheHaremdoesn'thaveenoughtosustainitasadecentsexualromp.Withnexttonoplot,it'suptothecharacterstoleadfromthefront,andalthoughCarollBakerisperfectlycast,sinceFerrerihasgoneforrompinsteadoftheheavysetscriptofsayJulesetJim-tomakeadistantanalogy-hischaractersresemblecartoonstripswithoutthehilarity.ImaginetheCarryOnfilmswithoutthesmuttyhumour.Eh,Idon'tthinkso.<br/>　　Styleisnothingwithoutsubstance,andTheHaremisjustthat.Whiletheendingisjustandfair,thetransportingvehicleisaFerrariwithaFiatengine.