The film starts with American DJ Jack picking up a woman at the club in France. The film circles around the world and comes back to Jack in the club. It is similar to the film "360" in that regard except it involves sex scenes in every episode with full frontal nudity of some of the prettiest women of the era. 3 stars for the nudity Marie-France, Josephine Jacqueline Jones, Sophie Berger, Michelle Siu, Lisa Allison
7 Reviews
La ronde, once again
lor_1 March 2023
My review was written in January 1986 after watching the film on a video cassette screener.
"Love Circles" is the latest remake of "Reigen", oft-filmed Arthur Schnitzler play which gave rise to Max Ophuls' classic 1950 version, "La Ronde". New one is a feature made for cable, shown by the Playboy Channel last fall.
In common with other recent updates such as "N. Y. Nights" and "Ring of Desire", "Love Circles" emphasizes the sexual aspect of the format. With very attractive women and impressive globe-hopping locations, it is okay adult programming for Playboy, but a rather weak entry for theatrical use abroad.
Marie France sets the circle of love in motion when she beds down an American deejay in Paris, John Sibbit. A cryptic warning about her fails to reach him in time, as in this modernized (and poor taste) version, the woman apparently is carrying a social disease.
The chain continues through a variety of liaisons, including black actress Josephine Jacqueline Jones (who has appeared in several made-for-Playboy features including "Black Venus") as a jewelry clerk in the Carlton Hotel in Cannes; Lisa Allison as a film and legit actress auditioning for play director Timothy Wood; and Michele Siu portraying twins who can be told apart by butterfly tattoos positioned on different sides of their posteriors.
Credit filmmaker Harry Alan Towers with rounding up an attractive cast, particularly Lisa Allison, who easily could qualify for Playboy Playmate status. Poor dubbing and a weak script detract from some stylish direction by Gerard Kikoine (better known for his many hardcore porn features). Besides the veiled reference to venereal disease, the chain concept is demonstrated here (with attempted irony) by a pack of clove-scented cigarettes which is passed along in each segment until it is returned to a puzzled Marie France at film's end.
"Love Circles" is the latest remake of "Reigen", oft-filmed Arthur Schnitzler play which gave rise to Max Ophuls' classic 1950 version, "La Ronde". New one is a feature made for cable, shown by the Playboy Channel last fall.
In common with other recent updates such as "N. Y. Nights" and "Ring of Desire", "Love Circles" emphasizes the sexual aspect of the format. With very attractive women and impressive globe-hopping locations, it is okay adult programming for Playboy, but a rather weak entry for theatrical use abroad.
Marie France sets the circle of love in motion when she beds down an American deejay in Paris, John Sibbit. A cryptic warning about her fails to reach him in time, as in this modernized (and poor taste) version, the woman apparently is carrying a social disease.
The chain continues through a variety of liaisons, including black actress Josephine Jacqueline Jones (who has appeared in several made-for-Playboy features including "Black Venus") as a jewelry clerk in the Carlton Hotel in Cannes; Lisa Allison as a film and legit actress auditioning for play director Timothy Wood; and Michele Siu portraying twins who can be told apart by butterfly tattoos positioned on different sides of their posteriors.
Credit filmmaker Harry Alan Towers with rounding up an attractive cast, particularly Lisa Allison, who easily could qualify for Playboy Playmate status. Poor dubbing and a weak script detract from some stylish direction by Gerard Kikoine (better known for his many hardcore porn features). Besides the veiled reference to venereal disease, the chain concept is demonstrated here (with attempted irony) by a pack of clove-scented cigarettes which is passed along in each segment until it is returned to a puzzled Marie France at film's end.
Abysmal Rubbish
davidcorne24520 June 2007
The only thing wrong with this film that it was devoid of any actors and actresses but it had a wonderful comedic effect due to the overdubbing of the English language on to the soundtrack. All the men sounded like they were doing Peter Sellers impersonations as Inspector Clouseau. One of those films worth watching because it is simply abysmal and is the kind of movie that sure must have gone straight to video within 24 hours of its release. I don't know how they had the cheek to have any credits at the end as nobody deserved one iota of credit for this junk as one of the other viewers noted, 'a waste of celluloid.'
Yeah it was bad but...
assassinn7021 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Seeing as that if you watched this movie you were most likely a horny young man watching it on late night cable in the late 80's... so I have to give it a high score. It was the only movie of the time I can remember that actually showed penetration. If you watch the very last love scene you will see the sex act being taped on a video camera if you watch on view screen of the camera the sex is 100% real and you see penetration it was one of my first views of porn and for that I salute it.
So in that context, and that context alone I give it a high score...other then that throw the movie away.
So in that context, and that context alone I give it a high score...other then that throw the movie away.
The most stylish and tasteful movie of its kind, ever made (adult, soft entertainment)
ss3364 August 2013
This movie is at the pinnacle of a genre produced by an industry before it lost its genuine joie de vivre. Quite simply, the generic, boring, blonde actress type usually found in this type of movie doesn't feature. The actresses in this one are unique, exquisite physical specimens representing the very best of the European and Asian worlds. Usually, in this type of movie one finds only one racial type, and the actresses involved are blessed much more by surgical enhancements and the treadmill than by genetics. That's definitely not the case with this movie. They are clearly NATURAL beauties of the highest calibre, both in body and in the face. What's more, they genuinely appear to be having fun.
There is an element of humour, within acceptable limits. The movie as a whole is highly watchable, mesmerising and stylish. This really is such a breath of fresh air. The locations are stunning. The sets are genuinely elegant and sumptuous. There is such attention to detail, you will note the real Dom Perignon labels on the champagne bottles. A great deal of attention was paid to the actresses' clothing. None of it looks cheap or made for cheap thrills or some cheap effect. All of it is tremendously exciting. The lace looks like real lace. The fur coats look real as well. And there are some splendid 80s fashions on display. The director clearly had an acute sense of what's important and what the elements of visual appeal actually are. The undergarment becomes a centrepiece of many exciting, erotic scenes. Well worth watching - they don't come better than this, and in these days where there is longer any room for creative judgment it's safe to say they will never be made to this standard ever again. 10 out of 10.
There is an element of humour, within acceptable limits. The movie as a whole is highly watchable, mesmerising and stylish. This really is such a breath of fresh air. The locations are stunning. The sets are genuinely elegant and sumptuous. There is such attention to detail, you will note the real Dom Perignon labels on the champagne bottles. A great deal of attention was paid to the actresses' clothing. None of it looks cheap or made for cheap thrills or some cheap effect. All of it is tremendously exciting. The lace looks like real lace. The fur coats look real as well. And there are some splendid 80s fashions on display. The director clearly had an acute sense of what's important and what the elements of visual appeal actually are. The undergarment becomes a centrepiece of many exciting, erotic scenes. Well worth watching - they don't come better than this, and in these days where there is longer any room for creative judgment it's safe to say they will never be made to this standard ever again. 10 out of 10.
Fairly rubbishy
neil-47627 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Known as Love Circles in English-speaking late-night channel-watching circles, this film should perhaps have been known as Cigarette Circles as it follows a packet of fags around the world as it changes hands between a succession of beautiful young people who then have sex with other beautiful young people for no apparent reason. Apart from having sex.
There is some nice international scenery. The beautiful young people are beautiful. And young. And often naked (perhaps I should have called them beautiful young naked people). The beautiful young naked people cannot act very well, but the fact that they are naked frequently (but not always) distracts from this.
The idea is quite a good one (and has, of course, been used elsewhere more than once). In this case, it is not executed well.
The image quality is poor - either poor film stock was used or else the version knocking around on late night TV is several generations away from the original. Or both.
There is some nice international scenery. The beautiful young people are beautiful. And young. And often naked (perhaps I should have called them beautiful young naked people). The beautiful young naked people cannot act very well, but the fact that they are naked frequently (but not always) distracts from this.
The idea is quite a good one (and has, of course, been used elsewhere more than once). In this case, it is not executed well.
The image quality is poor - either poor film stock was used or else the version knocking around on late night TV is several generations away from the original. Or both.
Waste of celluloid
teadm14 August 2000
This film is essentially about a bunch of people having sexual relations around the globe (L.A., N.Y., France, Hong-Kong), in mostly unusual places (bathroom, furniture store, airplane cockpit, the FAA should hear about this!), etc. It's all nicely photographed and awfully acted, but what I find depressing about it is that the movie seems to be saying that all men think with their genitals and all women are whores. In other words, it reduces human beings to their bare essentials, regardless of their often sophisticated exterior. This bomb may have been released in 1989, but movie billboards that appear in one sequence firmly place it in 1984.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
