Die Munteren Sexspiele der Nachbarn (4 Stars)

This is a Bavarian sex comedy made in 1978, but only just. What I mean is, instead of taking place in an idyllic village in the Bavarian alps, the setting is a small shop in the suburbs of Munich. Even this setting isn't relevant to the plot. The story could take place anywhere, if not for the Bavarian accents.

Therese Gutschi sells everything needed in the neighbourhood, from fruit and vegetables to Jägermeister. Her shop is also the place women go to gossip. As a result, Therese knows everything that's going on in the neighbourhood, except what her husband is doing. He works as a plumber, and every woman in the street has had his pipe in her hand at least once. Poor naive Therese thinks that he's always been faithful.

The film follows the customers as they walk home from the shop. Often it's not their own home they visit. In every house there are sexual adventures, whether the participants are young or old. By the way, don't you think that this actor, Helge Hahnenfeld, looks like a young Bob Geldof? He's seducing the daughter of his neighbours with a bottle of champagne. I've never tried that. Does it work?

It's not just the daughters who play games. Their mothers like to play just as much. That's the meaning of the film's title: "The Merry Sex Games of the Neighbours".

There are many elements of farce in the film. Schoolgirl Babsi is having sex with her boyfriend Rolf while her parents are out. Her mother comes home with her lover, one of Rolf's teachers, so they hide under the bed. Then her father comes home, so the teacher has to hide under the bed with them. Awkward situation? Babsi is the only one laughing while the other two try to cool down. All's well that ends well. Rolf blackmails his teacher to get better grades in school.

Babsi is played by the French actress Barbara Moose, who was very active in soft porn movies in the 1970's. She made 44 films in 1978 alone!

They're a very liberal family. In another scene we see Babsi exercising naked with her mother.

In walks Babsi's stepfather. I suppose that if she's only his stepdaughter, not his real daughter, he's allowed to look. I don't know what the sexual etiquette is in cases like these. 

From what I've read, this is considered to be one of the best erotic comedies of the 1970's. I can understand why. It's difficult not to laugh from beginning to end. Films like this just aren't made any more. I look back fondly to the 1970's.

The film is long out of print. If you're lucky, you might find a copy on Ebay.