Of Elephants 2- Sahara -19... !link! — Joe D-amato - Queen
To understand Queen of Elephants 2 , one must first understand the man behind the camera: (1936-1999), known professionally as Joe D'Amato. Born in Rome on December 15, 1936, D'Amato is considered one of the most prolific Italian filmmakers of all time, having directed roughly 200 films in his career. He wasn't just a director; he often served as cinematographer, producer, and even screenwriter, wearing every hat imaginable to get a project finished.
The cast features many of the same performers from the first film. Selen reprises her role as the wild woman, now navigating the desert. She is joined by Zenza Raggi, Amanda Steele, John Walton, and Frank Gun. The plot, though sparsely documented, follows two wealthy businessmen who travel to Morocco and encounter all sorts of exotic delights, likely including the jungle queen herself.
The first film stars the Italian actress as Jenny Mallory, a "wild child" who grew up in the Kenyan jungle among elephants after being lost as a young girl. The plot follows her discovery by relatives who travel from Scotland to find her.
D'Amato's commitment to quality and innovation has raised the bar for adult films, demonstrating that the genre can be both artistic and commercially successful. His dedication to his craft has earned him a loyal following, with fans and critics alike eagerly anticipating his next project. Joe D-Amato - Queen Of Elephants 2- Sahara -19...
To watch Joe D'Amato's Queen of Elephants 2: Sahara today is to glimpse a cinematic world that has vanished – a micro-genre where European directors could film mostly naked women in pseudo-Arabic palaces without irony or apology. It’s not great art, but it is pure D'Amato: resourceful, titillating, and strangely sincere in its pursuit of fantasy. For completists of Italian exploitation, tracking down this sandy relic is a rite of passage. For casual viewers, imagine a fever dream where I Dream of Jeannie meets Caligula – and you're halfway there.
The film was retitled for US DVD release to capitalize on the first movie ( La regina degli elefanti
The reference to "Queen Of Elephants" could imply themes of dominance, grace, and perhaps a matriarchal or feminine power dynamic. Elephants are often symbols of wisdom, strength, and social bonds, which could be interestingly juxtaposed with the erotic themes D'Amato was known for. To understand Queen of Elephants 2 , one
The Desert and the Wild: Analyzing Joe D’Amato’s Queen of Elephants 2: Sahara (1998)
Whether you are a film student, a fan of Italian cult cinema, or simply curious about the stranger corners of movie history, the Queen of Elephants saga offers a fascinating look at a director who never let a lack of budget stand in the way of his vision. It is the Sahara as you've never seen it before: hot, sweaty, and unmistakably Joe D'Amato.
Aristide Massaccesi, better known by his pseudonym , remains one of the most prolific directors in cinematic history, with over 200 credits to his name. By the late 1990s, the Italian film industry had moved away from the horror and "Emanuelle" films that made him famous, leading D'Amato to find a new niche in the hardcore adult market. Films like Queen of Elephants and Sahara represent this "imperial" phase of his career, characterized by international locations, period costumes, and higher production values than typical adult fare. Queen of Elephants (1997): The Jungle Epic The cast features many of the same performers
Below is a detailed article covering the context, style, themes, and legacy of this film within D'Amato's career, the "Sahara" subgenre, and Italian erotic-exotic cinema.
Following the non-existent Queen of Elephants (1989?), the sequel would open with a Western female anthropologist (played by D’Amato regular Laura Gemser or a lookalike) lost in the Sahara after a plane crash. Captured by a nomadic tribe, she is mistaken for a legendary “Elephant Queen” – a figure from local myth who can communicate with desert elephants. Forced to navigate rival warlords, sadistic slave traders, and hallucinatory sandstorms, she uses her wits and sexuality to survive. The film would climax in a ramshackle fortress, where elephants (stock footage mixed with puppetry) trample the villains.
When the Italian mainstream exploitation market collapsed in the early 1990s due to changing economic landscapes and the rise of home video, D’Amato did not retire. Instead, he transitioned seamlessly into the adult film industry. Rather than shooting cheap, claustrophobic studio content, D'Amato utilized his extensive knowledge of cinematography, lighting, and global locations to direct adult features that felt like real movies—complete with historical costumes, sweeping landscapes, and complex subplots. Plot Overview: Exotic Delights in Morocco