The Countess Died of Laughter (1973) Franz Antel Teri Tordai

The Countess Died of Laughter (Frau Wirtins tolle Töchterlein), released in 1973, was the final installment of a six part Frau Wirtin (hostess) series by Franz Antel. The films emerged in the late 1960s as a series of period sex comedies, often set against a vaguely Napoleonic backdrop. The first 5 are as follows:

The Sweet Sins of Sexy Susan (Susanne, die Wirtin von der Lahn) (1967)

Sexy Susan Sins Again (Frau Wirtin hat auch einen Grafen) (1968)

House of Pleasure (Frau Wirtin hat auch eine Nichte) (1969)

The Hostess Also Likes to Blow the Horn (Frau Wirtin bläst auch gern Trompete) (1970)

Sexy Susan and Her Sister (Frau Wirtin treibt es jetzt noch toller) (1970)

This last installment circulated under various names throughout the world including Leva lo diavolo tuo dal... convento, M'Lady's Court, Knickers Ahoy, and Devils in the Convent. This German-Austrian-Italian production is a comedy. This film incorporates archive footage from its predecessors (which I did not include any of) to keep the plot secular. The films star Hungarian actress Teri Tordai as Susan (Susanne) (often referred to as "Sexy Susan" in English markets), a character known for her seductive exploits. The series blended historical settings with comedic situations and some nudity, often featuring established actors in supporting roles alongside actresses willing to perform nude scenes including a short part by Edwige Fenech in the 1968 Sexy Susan Sins Again part of the series.

Franz Antel (1913-2007) was a prolific Austrian director, writer, and producer known for his work across various popular genres. He directed all the Frau Wirtin films and actually produced this last installment. Antel's stated goal was straightforward entertainment: "I always wanted to provide good entertainment for the people at the cinema. After the screening, people should say: "Well now, I am in a good mood, I will go out and have a glass of wine".

The Plot: Susanne Delberg, now Countess Süderland, passes away from laughing too hard at her servant caught frolicking the undertaker in the wardrobe. The Countess leaves her considerable fortune to daughters she had placed in a convent school for upbringing. The executor of the will, Vincent van der Straten (Gabriele Tinti), arrives at the convent with the news but faces a dilemma: the Countess never specified the name of the heir(s) (Françoise, Clarissa, Susanne, Piroschka, and Anselma).Ultimately, the mystery is resolved with the revelation that all five women are, in fact, the Countess's illegitimate daughters and will rightfully share the inheritance. Each daughter carries a certain characteristic of their mother.

The use of color, widescreen format, relatively short runtime, and an 'Adults Only' rating were common strategies to attract a specific audience demographic looking for accessible, visually stimulating, and risqué entertainment.

You can also rent a copy at:

https://odysee.com/@WildCrazySixtiesSeventies:b