The Cult Films of Marilyn Jess - Goddess
"My favorite dirty movie actress of all time. She's perfect in every way, this book is too."
Details
THE CULT FILMS OF MARILYN JESS charts the life and career of icon of 80s French eroticism, the beloved star Marilyn Jess.
This 304 page book explores, through critical essays and interviews, all aspects of Marilyn's incredible work in front of the camera. From her debut in films by master directors such as Gérard Kikoïne, Claude Mulot, and Jean Rollin, through her extensive work in photo novels along with her collaboration in cult satirical magazine Hara Kiri, and culminating in an extensive history of the production of the natatorios French-US co-production, "Traci, I Love You," starring the controversial American actress Traci Lords, no piece of information is left undiscovered!
Fully illustrated with hundreds of never before published color photographs as well as theatrical posters, along with original pieces of art from illustrators and painters, this luxurious, hard cover with soft touch finish book, measuring 10.35 x 11.5 inches in size, is the ultimate compendium for this queen of French X cinema.
Overall rating: 4.883333 / 5 from 60 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
This hardcover book offers a comprehensive look at the life and career of Marilyn Jess, featuring stunning photographs and critical essays. It is highly regarded for its detailed biography and exclusive content, making it a valuable addition for fans of French erotic cinema.
Summary topics
- Photographs: 28%
- Marilyn Jess Biography: 11%
Review topics: ["quality","looks","cover","picture","feels","piece","work","book","marilyn jess","companion","text","film","career","women","marilyn","tribute","publication","photography","actress","commentary","art"].
Review highlights
- "This book is just beautiful with fantastic pictures and a good inside of one of the most iconic woman in porn history." —
- "Fantastic photos and a great biography of Marilyn Jess, with first hand accounts by the actress herself." —
- "They are interesting reads, well designed, and the photos alone are more than worth the price of admission." —
Reviews
It was everything I thought
"It was everything I thought it would be, great photos and info about her best films, who'd have known that she was in so many? Probably going to pick up the Brigitte Lahaie book soon."
Probably Better in the Original French
"Overall a fine book, but the translation is sometimes rough. The titles of the films mentioned are generally in French but sometimes (inconsistently) translated into English. Would only recommend to someone already into Marilyn Jess, or at least family with something of Golden Age French pornography."
Cult films of marilyn jess
"Great book a fine companion to the brigitte lahaie book a wealth of great photos and very informative the item came in good time I will definitely buy from this company again"
Great pictures of a beautiful actress!
"This is a beautiful book with good quality binding. Lots of interesting info. Unfortunately, there are many English language mistakes. The proofreading is poor quality."
Marilyn Jess Cult Films
"I first saw Marilyn in Traci, I Love you. I was like oh my God who is this woman even finer than Traci Lords?"
Science Fiction Lady
"Just when I thought La Femme-Objet had taken me Where no man has gone Before this compendium shoots for further stars being banged into existence."
Amazing Work
"This book is an absolute gem for cinephiles who love diving into the weirder, wilder side of cinema history. It’s a love letter to an era of boundary-pushing films, packed with stunning photos, insightful commentary, and just the right amount of cheeky nostalgia."
The Cult Films of Marilyn Jess - English.
"The Cult Films of Marilyn Jess is a comprehensive tribute to the iconic French erotic actress, penned by authors Cédric Grandguillot, Guillaume Le Disez, and Christian Valor. Published by Pulse Video in both French (2022) and English (2023) editions, this 304-page hardcover (with slight variations in page count noted across sources, typically cited as 276–304 pages; my English copy being 294 pages) is a visually rich and detailed exploration of Jess’s career from 1977 to 1988. Measuring approximately 10 x 11. 5 inches with a soft-touch finish, it’s as much a collector’s item as it is a cinematic study. The book dives into Jess’s filmography, spotlighting her work with directors like Gérard Kikoïne, Claude Mulot, and Jean Rollin, whose erotic masterpieces form the backbone of her cult legacy. It doesn’t shy away from her international ventures—spanning American, Italian, and German productions—or her collaboration with Traci Lords in the infamous Traci, I Love You (1986). Beyond films, it covers her contributions to the satirical magazine Hara-Kiri and her photo novel appearances, painting a fuller picture of her cultural footprint. Packed with hundreds of rare or unseen photos, theatrical posters, firsthand accounts, anecdotes, and a complete filmography, it’s a treasure trove for fans. Original artwork from illustrators and painters adds an extra layer of flair. The book earns high praise for its exhaustive detail and nostalgic charm, and may be “the ultimate ode” to Jess’s playful, boundary-pushing persona. The wealth of behind-the-scenes stories and visuals—many previously unpublished—earns high marks, though the lack of a bonus film (like a DVD) is a missed opportunity, given the premium price point (around $55–$65 USD). The book’s appeal leans heavily on prior familiarity with Jess; newcomers might find its depth overwhelming without context. Still, for devotees of French erotic cinema’s golden age, it’s a definitive, beautifully crafted celebration of a singular star. I will be purchasing the French language edition of this book from Pulse, as well Valor's book on the cinema of Kikoïne, also in French. The accompanying photos focus on the build and binding of the book, text arrangement, photo reproduction quality, and focus of Jess in comics."
High quality book
"Wonderful, high quality hardcover book from Pulse Video, based in France. The book came sealed and in perfect shape. The photos are great, but I bought it to read the text. :)"