The guy was incredible, a real master hack - would do any genre, bang 'em out. He used to say "I am not a very good director but I'm a good cinematographer". Can you imagine ANYONE in Hollywood talking about themselves in such terms?
Emmanuelle in America is nuts - in the course of her sexy and free-spirited escapades (which includes a bit where a woman tosses off a horse, for crying out loud - the noise it makes is fuckin crazy) our heroine uncovers a snuff movie ring. the "snuff" sequences are very well done, very convincing and genuinely shocking. the whole thing is filmed like a TV movie or a soap opera, so when the nastiness kicks in it's very disconcerting. Also features some very incongrous hardcore scenes featuring VERY ugly people who have no relevance to the plot.
Other good uns by this man:
Absurd - follow up to The Anthropophagous Beast, classic early 80s slasher featuring Italian exploitation stalwart, the massive George Eastman. No sex in this one. Very grim sadistic tone, the pace isn't that great but the gore sequences are superb.
Porno Holocaust - I have the Italian disc of this with no subtitles. From what I can make out it's about a huge black man who lives on an island murdering folk with his big demonic penis. Old Joe said that the mix of sex and horror didn't quite work in this one.
Buio Omega (aka Beyond The Darkness) - everything fell into place with this one...it's claustrophobic, quite well acted, nice visual touches and very extreme. definitely one of his best.
Emanuelle And The Last Cannibals - very enjoyable jungle potboiler, not as unpleasant as Deodato's Cannibal Holocaust or Lenzi's Cannibal Ferox, but good film.
...haven't had the pleasure of "Quest For The Mighty Sword" or "Ator The Fighting Eagle"...his ventures into swords & sorcery are meant to be absolutely shocking..."Quest For The Mighty Sword" indeed... also, haven't really checked his straight-up porn stuff, although "Caligula: The Untold Story" is on its way to me - which is supposed to make the Tinto Brass original look tame.
there's even a documentary about the geezer (thanks IMDB), which I'm gonna have to seek out.
(related point: i IMPLORE anyone reading this to go and buy the DVD of "Troll 2". D'Amato produced it and the director called himself "Drake Floyd". You can pick it up for about three quid from Music Zone shop or amazon...please just trust me on this one. google it and check the reviews. one of the most ludicrous films i've ever seen)