Not even kitsch-worthy: Cannabis

Paris, 1970. You are director Pierre Koralnik. It's been three years since your last film -- the charming made-for-TV musical Anna, starring Serge Gainsbourg, Anna Karina, Jean-Claude Brialy and Marianne Faithfull. One of the sexiest couples in Europe at the moment is Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. Their hit single, Je t'aime, moi non plus, with its breathy, lovemaking sighs is still causing a sensation. An idea strikes you -- build a film around them -- one that gives them ample excuse to spend a lot of time in bed. Preferably without clothes. You convince some third-rate production companies in France, Italy, and Germany to foot the bill. "What's it about?" they ask. You tell them it's a complex story about the mob and international drug smuggling with an all-star international cast. They're skeptical. You tell them Jane Birkin will be nude for a good portion of it. Checks are cut. The resulting film, Cannabis (aka French Intrigue), is an absolutely awful piece of Euro-trash that has next to nothing going for it, save for a soundtrack by Monsieur Gainsbourg. It has a promising opening -- Serge (one of the few men who can successfully get away with wearing a fur coat) riding the Staten Island Ferry, wandering around Manhattan, and having a meeting with a fellow gangster on the Brooklyn Bridge. Unfortunately, the New York scenes end there. On a plane to Paris, Serge meets the beautiful and mysterious Jane (many of the characters have the same names as the actors playing them - what a coincidence!) Shortly after arriving in France, Serge gets shot several times, and coincidentally bumps into Jane, who of course takes him home to nurse him back to health. This solves the "how to get them in bed" problem. (It also helps that every outfit Jane Birkin wears completely falls off at the slightest tug.) After a handful of sex scenes and about a hundred cigarettes, the plot returns (somewhat) by the arrival of Serge's crazy American friend Paul (Paul Nichols - best known as Cousin Kevin in Tommy) who spends most of the film staring at himself in the mirror or watching Serge and Jane get it on. Throw in B-movie staple Curd Jürgens, a cannabis-induced hippie orgy, and a shootout in a chicken coop, and you've got the makings of a truly bad piece of cinema. The bootleg DVD Filmbrain got his hands on seemed to be zoomed in to fill the frame -- there were many instances where you couldn't even see the character who was speaking. This actually served to make the film slightly more interesting. Gainsbourg completeists (such as Filmbrain) needn't worry about missing this, and Jane Birkin fans can find her equally as naked in the much more interesting Don Juan ou Si Don Juan était une femme...

Comments

[Eddy Faust]

Filmbrian,

So SEEING Serge and Jane going at it wasn't as entertaining as HEARING it?

Did you ever see "Anna"? I've been wanting to see that for years (I wrote an on-line review of the soundtrack...one of my favorites), but the only version of "Anna" I've found for sale was a Japanese DVD...and I'm not one of you lucky souls with an All Region DVD player. I'd love to know how you track down these obscure bootlegs....

[Aaron Hillis]

Where the hell did you find these? I want to get my hands on all this Gainsbourgian joy!

[Who's Judy]

I give all a three word hint as to where filmbrian gets all these bootlegs:
"fabulous cheerful merriment"

[Who's Judy]

See also 'gopunonr/lain'

[Eddy Faust]

Who's judy,

Is that like insider/blogger code?

[dave]

Filmbrain - if you haven't already, pick up the DVD youor "source" has of Antonioni's The Passenger. Its a port over from the Japanese laserdisc and looks pretty good. The, otoh, is something else - a real piece of work.

[dave]

Shit... that should read "the movie, otoh..."

[Filmbrain]

Dave - thanks for that tip. I can't believe The Passenger isn't oficially out on DVD -- maybe we'll get lucky in 2005. (Actually more Antonioni is well overdue!)

Judy - though I certainly have bought from there that's not the source this time. And's what is 'gopunonr/lain'?

[Flickhead]

Two "L"s in Faithfull for Marianne.

[Filmbrain]

Oops...thanks for spotting that.

[la depressionada]

Birkin looks so hot. Funny, I just recently suffered the slings and arrows of those with good taste when I recently wrote about Don Juan. I think I sufficiently disclaimed.

[Filmbrain]

Eddy - I did see Anna, years ago, on German television. An incredible treat, as I too love the soundtrack.

I've been tempted to buy that Japanese release...maybe now's the time.

[Filmbrain]

la depressionada --

I'm a big champion of that film -- I may write about it in the near future. . .

(And yes, Birkin does look amazing in Cannabis.)

[Eddy Faust]

Just to remind all art-house lechers: You can also see Birkin naked in Blow Up...and it won't make you feel cheap.

[la depressionada]

Yes, DJ was kind of revolutionary. There's an argument that R. Vadim is, while being one of he least talented, one of the most influential, directors of the 2nd 1/2 of the 20th century. No mean feat. It's downright inspirational.

[Ryan Blair]

I purchased an original soundtrack recording of ANNA years ago. It is in perfect condition. I saw the original French TV production at the French Pavilion at the Montreal World's Fair. I have no idea what year it was. Perhaps 1972.

[janeypoo]

YOU PEOPLE ARE STUPID AND COMPLETELY INSAINE
Have A Nice Day