Nigel P I'd suggest this is for Jess Franco completists only. Or perhaps I am simply not a fan of his 'comedy' films. This is a romp, really, a good excuse to show off Lina Romay in a state of undress with some wildly intimate, almost gynaecological shots that are in no way erotic, just invasive.Director Jess Franco also stars in Al Pereira, a down-on-his-luck detective. He plays this rare starring role well; the character is often inebriated, and he certainly looks that way. He also indulges in some of the many sex romps that occur, often with real-life partner Romay, playing Cynthia, and also with Lola (Martine Stedil). These women are strippers and con artists, and their slender story is told us in rapid-fire fashion thanks to Christine Lembach's chatty script.On the subject of Romay and Stedil: should I justify the fact that, despite the unflattering directorial obsessions with their genitalia, I think they look stunning throughout? This is one of the most exploitative of exploitation Franco I have seen, and as such, it is impossible not to comment on the players. Of other regulars, it is good to see Monica Swinn and Paul Muller albeit in subsidiary roles.The relentless musical jazzy dirge accompanies most scenes. Like in most films from this director, it seems wholly inappropriate for the 'action', but unusually, Walter Baumgartner's contribution is entirely unmemorable. Sadly, this is the weakest of all Franco/Erwin C. Dietrich's collaborations. Al Pireira would return to Jess's stable at the very end of his career (and life), played by long term collaborator Antonio Mayans.

gridoon2018 With "Downtown", Jess Franco tries to be Humphrey Bogart - and needless to say, he fails! Although Franco frequently made appearances in front of the camera in his films, this is a rare case of him holding the main role, thus giving himself the opportunity to roll around with 3 different naked women (2 at the same time, actually). At least he admits at one point, with remarkable humbleness, that he is no Robert Redford or Alain Delon! He plays a down-and-out private detective operating in Puerto Rico who becomes the patsy of beautiful, full-figured Lina Romay and knockout blonde Martine Stedil. He also does a lot of hard-boiled voice-over narration, which (I hope) is not intended to be taken too seriously ("She was like an icicle that I couldn't stop licking!"). At least this film does attempt to have a plot, which is more than can be said for other Franco efforts. However, I continue to find his "gynecologist's approach" to the women's bodies rather off-putting. There are a lot of other parameters to screen eroticism besides explicit nudity and extreme close-ups, but Franco does not seem to be very familiar with them. ** out of 4.

unbrokenmetal Private eye Pereira agrees to assist a lady in distress. She knows her husband has a new lover, but needs photos to prove it and get divorced. The photos are however discovered later on a corpse, and Pereira is unexpectedly involved in a case of blackmail and murder - as the main suspect.Director Jess Franco plays Pereira himself in "Downtown" and with wonderful irony due to the off-monologue where he describes himself as a smart guy who cannot be fooled - whereas in the movie, it happens to him constantly. The voice in the German soundtrack (this is a Swiss production) belongs to a voice actor who also dubbed Ernie in Sesamy Street. Great fun early 70s sleaze with gratuitous nudity, but a remarkably good script compared to many other works from Franco's hand.

apmolekyl Everything about this noir-ish tale about a smalltime private dick (a tour-de-force performance by Franco himself) is wonderfully endearing. Hypnotic minutelong macro-close-ups of undulating vaginas, cheesy Lina Romay-cabaré-routines and a cool performance only Paul Müller is capable of (I love that guy). This movie has it all.Franco's private eye is hired by Lina Romay's character to snare her husband with compromising photos of him canoodling with his mistress (The utterly gorgeous Martine Stedil). Needless to say, things go beump (no I didn't spell it wrong, I merely emulated inspector Closeau) in the night and Franco has to do some real detective work.I love the way Franco played the lead in this one. He glides around town like a little micro mini-pimp womanizing and looking sleepy (and sleazy, mind you) as always. I also like the way he bumps into the camera shaking the frame when jumping over a hedge.And finally, we get to see the most blatant case of the director Franco taking care of the actor Franco, when throwing himself head first into a threesome with Lina Romay and Martine Stedil, eagerly masturbating them both, for real, on camera. That's dedication to your art if I ever saw it.And that's the reason I'm a Francophile-He always has something unique up his sleeve you least expected to see. And, let's face it, a fat man bobbing up and down between two vaginas, was truly unexpected. He shoots. He scores. Like always.Apemolecule