Hello everyone,
It’s been a awhile since my last review so I thought I would turn my attention to one of the all time classics, the super-erotic 2nd nude catfight between the characters Antiope and Oreitheia in the 1973 film War Goddess, directed by Terence Young. (The Italian release title “Le guerriere dal seno nudo” is perhaps more apt which translates as the "The Bare-Breasted Warriors").
This superb battle often comes near the top of the list of the all time movie catfights – for many good reasons. The tussle combines exploitation film levels of nudity with professional production values, excellent choreography, beautiful actresses and great direction.
Terence Young is of course well known on this board for directing the legendary FRWL gypsy catfight and the slightly less famous (but still sexy) women's wrestling night club scene in "The Poppy is Also a Flower". His track record would strongly indicate he was "one of us", though he was in the privileged position of being able to indulge his fetish under the guise of directing films.
In his previous x2 film catfights his fetish appears to have been constrained by the more mainstream nature of the films, 1960s censorship and the structural constraints of the story. Though, at least the gypsy camp scene in FRWL was consistent with Ian Fleming’s original novel.
However, the planets seemed to have aligned with War Goddess. A story of a war like tribe of beautiful amazons is ripe with catfight potential. Coupled with more relaxed early 1970s censorship and a focus on the European market meant a lot more sexy female flesh could be on display during any such confrontation. The film is essentially a campy historical epic, but with a big enough budget to give it a professional sheen. All these factors contributed to what came next.
I’ve always been of the view that this fight is the culmination of Terence Young indulgence of his catfight fetish on film. Supported by the fact it ticks nearly all the boxes of a typical film catfight fan's ultimate fantasy; beautiful women, writhing naked glistening bodies, prolonged back and forth action. etc.
I imagine the film studio floor was surprisingly busy when that scene was being filmed, with quite a few of the male film crew watching trying to cover their bulging crotches! (I certainly would have).
It is the most explicit and sexually gratuitous catfight scene in a “mainstream” movie that I am aware of. The scene definitely catering for the male (and lesbian) gaze. The catfight benefits from relatively good production valves, decent choreography and length etc. I certainly can’t see a catfight like this being filmed today. Any such confrontation would instead be clothed and MMA in style. It is definitely a product of its time.
As part of my “research” I came across the following from the Asian Cult Cinema website:
"The two leads - Alena Johnston and Sabine Sun - didn't like each other in real life. Ms Sun, a veteran French actress starring in over 40 movies AND dating the director Terence Young, felt that Ms Johnston was woefully inexperienced and not deserving of top billing. While it is true that Alena Johnston had a very shallow filmography, limited to only a small 'walk-on role' in Funny Girl, some insiders believe that the hatred was more deep-rooted involving some romantic entanglements between Alena and the director. Regardless of the reason, that friction was the catalyst for one of the most realistic catfights in cinema."
I'm always sceptical of claims like this, which always seem to be wish forefillement that the catfight had a spicy real world edge to it. However, it certainly fuels my fantasies that the tussle is both performative and fuelled by real life sexual jealousy over their mutual love interest. Terence Young was a very lucky man either way.
Background: I first became aware of this film back in the early naughties. I remember seeing small and very grainy photos of what appeared to be two naked women fighting in a movie. At the time, the only way of getting hold of it was via an expensive USA Publications compilation dvd. It was a few years later that a version finally became available via the old Evilbabes message board. By then i’d downloaded and watched many movie catfights. However, seeing this catfight for the first time elicited a very strong response within me. It was like being 13 years old again, watching a bad vhs recording of the FRWL catfight; sweaty palms, rapidly beating heart and a rock hard erection. Needless to say I have watched and pleasured myself to it many times. Over the years better quality versions have appeared and it is now readily accessible on many porn sites.
Plot: The build up to the fight involves the long term rivalry between the two lead characters as they compete to be Queen of the Amazons. Antiope having beaten
Oreitheia in a serious of physical challenges, culminating in a bout of topless wrestling which Antiope eventually wins.
Oreitheia is ultimately unable to accepts this and attempts to sneak into Antiope’s chamber at night to kill her. However, Antiope senses her approach and instead ambushes her would be assassin. They mutually agree to settle things instead with their “bare hands”, and thankfully for us, everything else.
The combatants: Let’s cut to the chase. Both women have smoking hot bodies and catfight in their birthday suites. There I said it. Both women have that sexy, early 1970s, euro-beauty look to them. No tattoos or fake boob, just gorgeous natural athletic bodies. Both sporting statuesque and sexy feminine figures with pert derrières, long sexy toned legs and proud perky breasts. Personally the contrast in skin tone enhances the action further. Overall they are evenly matched in terms of build and stature.
Alena Johnston is a gorgeous blond bombshell. Amazing figure with fantastic natural breasts. Thankfully for us, she appears to be more than happy to bare them multiple times for the cameras. Their bouncing and bobbling during the fight is one of the many visual treats of the struggle.
Sabine Sun, boasts a more tighter and athletic figure, reflective of her being a few years older than her fellow actress. Though not as beautiful as Alena, she is certainly striking. Like her rival she boasts fantastic breasts and a fine body.
From what I’ve read the actresses were chosen after a gruelling auditioning process to ensure those chosen could meet the physical demands of the role, including hand to hand combat. Many actresses auditioned with “test battles” performed topless. I’m sure Terence took a keen interest in the process - for purely professional reasons of course (with lots of test footage no doubt taken). I’m sure Sabine Sun dating the director had no influence on the final decision at all!
The fight itself: Overall the catfight is well balanced, a good few minutes long, with both women giving as good as they get.
For me, the fight is split into two halves, defined by before and after Antiope has her head rhythmically beaten against the wall. For someone who likes well balanced, back and forth tussles, the head banging is a disappointing one-sided part of the fight. This though is a relatively minor gripe as to what is a superb and well choreographed struggle.
The first half feels more like a classic western punch up than a traditional catfight. Both women trade punches, throw each around the room and grapple fiercely. A classic rockem-sockem brawl. I love this old fashioned film fight style with it feeling more like a violent dance routine than a real brawl. No hyper kinetic editing here. The carefully choreographed moves enhance the drama and eroticism of the battle. You can clearly see the sexy action, as bosoms jiggle, bodies press and hair flys. They certainly makes use of the environment as they bounce of the bed, crash into walls and tangle in drapes.
As the ferocious physical battle continues both women gain a pleasing sweaty/oily sheen which enhances their gorgeous bodies and works well in the dim lighting.
The second half is slightly less frenetic but represents the most erotic female fight sequences in a movie i’ve ever scene. On their knees they lock hands and struggle body to body, breast to sweaty breast. Their torsos swaying from side to side as they fight. Finally falling to the floor, a desperate rolling wrestling battle erupts. Sexy athletic thighs locking, long legs flailing and breasts mashing as they roll over and over. The action gives us great shots of their beautiful pert quivering derrières as they exchange the top position multiple times.
Totally gratuitous but for me it is one of the hottest fight scenes put to celluloid. You can tell it was directed by someone who was on our wavelength.
In the end Oreitheia sort of wins by pinning down Antiope. More shots of their sweaty entwined bodies and heaving glistening bosoms. Again a slight downer for me here. Personally I like to the animosity continued through to the end of fight I.e. a clear cut winner staggering away from the battlefield after a long arduous fight. A lesbian finish does nothing for me and almost undermines the whole fight. In this case I prepared to forgive on the basis of the fights quality.
Sound Effects & Atmosphere: As per my previous fight reviews, sound effects, music (or sometimes lack of) and lighting can make or break a catfight scene. Their is no music here, only the dramatic peels of thunder from the storm outside. The primal violence of the external tempest complementing the intensity of the femfight within. Over laid are the feminine cries of pain as punches are exchanged, pain is given and received with groans of effort as they clash. The flashes of lightening are dramatic as well, especially when it was used to silhouette their struggling writhing bodies. The only slight negative is that you need a good quality version of the film with the lighting gamma turned up to see the catfight in all its glorious detail.
The overall lighting and sound evokes the feel of an intense primal battle fought in sultry and humid conditions. Attested to by the beautiful sheen on naked bodies towards the end of the fight.
Playing Straight: Whilst the film itself is extremely campy, the fight is played out seriously. There is no giggling or silly comic touches here. The performers act to convey a vicious and brutal struggle. Both are fully committed physically to what the scene demands, giving it their all to portray a dramatic struggle.
Well, that’s my personal take on this one. I look forward to everyone else’s thoughts on this catfight classic.
