Cinema Head Cheese Presents: The Blue Cheese

The Blue Cheese will now be at Cinema Head Cheese!

2011-11-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

Though it is a special little offshoot of Cinema Head Cheese, we decided that it would be best to include The Blue Cheese on the main site for easier access and more visibility. We love the feedback we get here on The Blue Cheese, and we will continue to provide the same great content on our original site.

If you haven't been to Cinema Head Cheese, check it out at cinemaheadcheese.com. We also have a weekly podcast on which we often discuss Blue Cheese titles.

Thanks, and we'll see you on the main site!

"Big Abner" Coming to DVD with a New Digital Transfer from Video-X-Pix!

2011-10-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

For more information and how to order please go to the Video-X-Pix Website: Video-X-Pix

Whimsy in the Boudoir: Radley Metzger's THE PRIVATE AFTERNOONS OF PAMELA MANN

2011-10-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

Humans. We are curious creatures by nature. For example, when you walk by an open window, what is your first instinct? To look. Not always to intentionally be nosy, but just by sheer, curious instinct. What about that guy? Is he a boxers or briefs man? What about that girl? Is she happy with her life? Now take that and imagine if you got to be a private detective and follow around a beautiful, leggy blonde by the name of Pamela Mann. That's exactly the situation that grabs ahold of Eric Edwards in Radley Metzger's THE PRIVATE AFTERNOONS OF PAMELA MANN.

Frank (Eric Edwards) is the type of detective whose personal interest in voyeurism, one that dates back through several generations (!), has transformed from a lurid hobby into gainful employment. (Talk about living the dream!) His bread and butter, naturally, are jealous lovers who often suspect their partners of infidelity. After having to break the bad news to one perturbed, awesomely fey man (Kevin Andre), he soon gets another case. The client in question? Mr. Mann (Alan Marlowe), a mens magazine publisher who is suspicious that his wife, Pamela (the flaxen haired Barbara Bourbon), is “doing things I wouldn't like.” Sounds kind of broad but between Frank's profession and the fact that this is erotica, you can guess what some of those things are. (Undoubtedly something wonderful, lovely and saucy.)

Speaking of the devil, Pamela soon encounters a lanky, initially nervous looking young man (a refreshingly tan and healthy looking Marc Stevens). She soon puts him at ease with the come on, “Want a good time, Sailor?” This line would be cheesy and borderline skanky coming from anyone else, but out of Bourbon it is just silly and cute. Stevens thinks so, too, as he smiles, with them going off to have a special moment in an alley during a thunderstorm. (Though no alley in NYC has ever looked so clean and flora filled. Mind you, that is not a complaint.)

The late, great Marc Stevens

We soon get to see their time together in some incredibly well executed slow-mo as Frank plays his footage for Mr. Mann, who seems more passively riveted than anything else. Meanwhile, Mann's receptionist (Naomi Jason) is getting routinely harassed by a young mustachioed man whose goony face matched with his penchant for whipping it out and punching the munchkin in front of her reeks of being a worm-burner. Granted, she only seems mildly annoyed and even employing a lobster bib, in one of the film's best sight gags, for preparation.

One character who crops up in Pamela's afternoon more than once is Linda (the always great Georgina Spelvin), your veritable wisecracking and likable hooker with a good nature and a breezy attitude. She ends up becoming an all too knowing pawn in a putzy actor's (John Ashton) game, who is out to prove his talent by trying to convince Linda that he is a gay man. Ridiculous, but funny and needless to say, he fails.

The always great Georgina Spelvin.

In stark contrast, Pamela's next encounter ends up taking on a Patty Hearst/SLA tinge with her being abducted by two anti-fascist terrorists (Jamie Gillis and Darby Lloyd Rains). She manages to survive the encounter just fine and ends up meeting up with Linda, looking all sunshine and golden-haired, despite being “indoctrinated” in a bare looking garage. After offering Linda some some emotional and mental motivational support, they end up having some quality female bonding time.

Jamie Gillis and Darby Lloyd Rains corner Pamela.

Meanwhile, Frank's still very much hot on the trail, getting more and more wrapped up in the case. What started off as just another workday has turned into a psychological riddle that has a certain pull for our detective. All of this in the name of unwrapping the beautiful enigma that is Pamela.

Frank looks for Pamela.

THE PRIVATE AFTERNOONS OF PAMELA MANN is one light and lovely film, right down to the carnival type music that begins the proceedings. Even the one dark moment, being Pamela's abduction, all ends up being part of an elaborate web of arranged fantasy. The whole film is riddled with mischievous deception, but much like a carnival funhouse, things are not always what they appear to be.

The cast is great, with Edwards, Bourbon and Spelvin all being the big standouts. Edwards, one of the most solid actors to have emerged in the last 40 years, is fun as the man who truly loves his work. Perhaps a little too much but with his affable, “damn, I'm a handsome bastard” grin, it never comes across unseemly.

Eric Edwards: Handsome Bastard

Barbara Bourbon is part of the prestigious line of almost supernaturally beautiful Metzger leading ladies, which also includes Danielle Gaubert, Lynn Lowry, Constance Money and Silvana Venturelli. Like these other lovelies, she can also act and is quite charming as the intelligent and coquettish Pamela. As for Spelvin, she gives a spunky and high energy performance here. You can practically smell the grass, nag champa and pheromone funk that would have emanated from her character's apartment.

The beautiful Barbara Bourbon.

Direction wise, it is fully apparent here why Radley Metzger (under the nom-de-plume, Henry Paris) is well regarded as the maestro of sophisticated and often erotic cinema that appeals to almost all of the senses. Every frame in this film looks good and could easily be a photo in any adult minded coffee table book. (The gorgeous restoration at the hands of the always reliable Distribpix does not hurt either!) On top of that, Metzger's Pamela is no nymphomaniac bimbette with daddy issues. Instead, she's a confident, free spirited and smart woman who is ultimately the mistress of her destiny.

On top of that, you have some striking mirror imagery, something that has cropped up in a number of Radley Metzger films. It first occurs with the visual introduction to Pamela and then later on, when she has her climatic meeting with Frank. The real crux of this film is that people are often more than they appear to be, ranging from the Manns, Frank, the insecure actor and even Mann's beleaguered secretary. Every one of us often posses a duality. Human nature at its core is ruled by duality, so the double image and the double cross are two elements that are handled so well here.

If you have ever wanted to see a cherried out DVD set, then look no further at Distribpix's very loving and lush presentation. In addition to a gorgeous and cleaned up print, there is a veritable buffet of some truly great extras. This includes a commentary track with Metzger himself, both the original theatrical and fresh for DVD trailer, two in depth interviews, one with Eric Edwards (who is still as handsome and charming as ever) and the other with the eternally vibrant Georgina Spelvin, a still gallery, deleted scenes, a well written booklet and even a glossy photo card of Bourbon. However, the one truly unique extra is the softcore cut of the film.

Making safe for pay-cable broadcast and non-adult theaters versions of X-rated films was not at all an uncommon occurrence during the 1970's and 80's. However, it is safe to say that no softcore film could even touch with what they did with PAMELA MANN. They brought Barbara Bourbon back to introduce this special cut, complete with a bicentennial theme, to cover up all the offending shots. Sometimes it might be just a brief shot of her smiling face, but more often than not, she is going into mini-monolog mode, which ends up ranging from silly to borderline subversive and political! She even wears, at one point, a tricorn hat! Amazing. Granted, it probably mutes the erotic power of the film as a whole, but that is part of its brilliance. To quote Murray Head, I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine. Too bad this was shelved shortly thereafter, making its inclusion here even more special.

If you are a lover of high quality filmmaking, humor, the duality of human nature, sauciness and DVD companies that adore the films that they release, then you absolutely must check out THE PRIVATE AFTERNOONS OF PAMELA MANN.

Movie Review: Heaven's Touch (1983)

2011-07-13T23:15:00.000-07:00

It seems lately here at the Blue Cheese we've covered numerous titles directed by smut pioneer, Shaun Costello. Just from watching movies like Forced Entry, More Than Sisters and The Passions Of Carol, I've seen an attention to narrative that I’m not quite use to when viewing older fuck films. The hardcore sex is a given, but that’s not really what makes a these films in particular unique. With today’s review,Costello puts forth some divine intervention with the comedy, Heavens Touch. It’s essentially a goofy light-hearted comedy that borrows much from Hollywood film Heaven’s Gate. And get this, Heaven's Touch is actually much more entertaining than Heaven’s Gate.

Michael Knight plays Clark Kent lookalike, Henry Ottinger. He works in an office in the Twin Towers where he just trys to mind his own buisness. Somehow how though he has some magic over his female co-workers. It doesn't take too long before three of these co-workers coax Mr. Ottinger out of his office and into their orifices. This hot encounter takes place in a cozy storage room down the hall. Ottinger has got it made here as these broads are in desperate need of some nerd-cock. The gals even line-up in a row for him; like any smart fella he samples each soft booty and then coats them with the sticky stuff. Then, the unthinkable happens - his heart stops. He's swiftly brought up to the pearly gates to meet with goregous Penny (Veronica Heart - Wanda Whips Wall Street, Pandora’s Mirror).
Ottinger is really a pretty young fellow with so much life to live so Ms. Penny attempts to give him another chance at living. This time though, there’s a catch, it won’t be as himself but as other men who just happen to have very active sex-lives. Barry Armstrong is one of Ottinger's vessels during his return to earth. Armstrong has a lovely wife (Sharon Kane) and a butler named Finch (Ron Jeremy). Yes, a young svelte Ron Jeremy is on hand for some action and his scene with Sharon Kane is quite inspired. The "Hedgehog" does his thing, showing his massive prick size off to the camera. There was no gut to cover it then. Kane finishes Jeremy off with a pretty remarkable blow-job. Ronny pretty much "Jack Sparrows" Kane’s eyeball with his goopy kielbasa paste; she soon recovers like a trooper.

The sets on Heaven's Touch look damn good. Sure, you're not going to have a completely accurate looking Heaven but Costello really puts forth a great effort in building that look. Acting is also a solid area. Hart is awesome and is cute as ever, Knight is perfect for the role of nerdy businessman Ottinger and Jeremy is pretty funny as finch. The sex is non-stop and you do get a great variety including some scenes inside a sex club. I thought the opening triple-screw of the three office girls was a hell of a way to start the film.

Extra's wise Pink Flamingo has some very cool supplements. Most have appeared on the previous Shaun Costello Collection discs but if you have yet to purchase those you will certainly be happy with them. Here you get: extensive liner notes by Costello, text interviews on the disc (in English) with Costello and collaborator, Maryse Alberti and finally, a slide-show. The materials used for the transfer aren't immaculate but they do look solid. No splices, emulsion or any other film issues were encountered.

Enjoyable sex-scenes, top-notch production value and genuine laughs - you really can't ask for much more if you're in the mood for a great comedy porno. Pink Flamingo's Heaven's Touch DVD delivers!

Check out Pink Flamingo's website: www.PinkFlamingoEntertainment.com

( Screencaps for Heaven's Touch provided by www.RockShockPop.com )

Video-X-Pix July Special - $9.99 Single DVD Releases!

2011-07-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

Head on over to WWW.videoxpix.com and take advantage of this awesome sale!

Movie Review: Uncle Farts' '70s Grindhouse Sleazefest

2011-06-24T15:54:00.000-07:00

Two things that I enjoy most in my vast entertainment tastes are bouncing breasts and fart humor. When I saw that the folks at Alternative Cinema were producing yet another sleazy movie set similar to the very generous After Hours Films line called Uncle Farts' '70s Grindhouse Sleazefest, this filth enthusiast got quite eager to check out a new collection of vintage smut. The films compiled on the set include: Sex Odyssey, Dionysius, Honky Tonk Nights and Satan's Daughter. The atrociously animated Uncle Farts is your humble host for all four outings.

Sex Odyssey is kind of a rough way to start. There's really no dialogue, but I suppose the premise is cavewomen venturing out into the wilds in search of some very horny caveman that look like Frank Zappa and Jesus. Some of you may know about the "one-day wonder" in porn - this would be more like the one-hour wonder. It's really that cheap. The sex is soft-core, despite showing a not too flattering close-up of one of the primitive gals' hairy busted up sphincter. Imagine the Scarlacc Pit from Return of the Jedi and you'll have a clear enough visual of the horror. Only this one has swallowed up more Jawas. Hardly something to throw a "Fast Five" to. Onto the next!

Dionysius is a little more of the same except the cast is slightly better looking(like less facial hair on the females. There’s even a topless actress bouncing her double DDs while she practices archery. Everybody appears to be a hippie in this one. Both Dionysius and Sex Odyssey have the oder of free-lovers. Unfortunately, this manages to be yet another soft affair but it's easier to watch and almost erased the trauma of the "Scarlacc" in Sex Odyssey.

Adult film legend, Georgina Spelvin plays a feisty bartender in the next feature, Honky Tonk Nights. This is by far the best looking production wise of the four and looks to have been kept in the best shape, but again very little action is on display for us perverts. Just a lot of mediocre singing. Honky Tonk Nights almost has the feel of a film that may have two versions - a soft and a XXX.

Our final feature (and best), Satan's Daughter, is heavier on the sex and takes a bizarre horror angle with Satan's Daughter having her birthday. This isn't your average birthday cuz there's a lot of fuckin'- including an energetic living room orgy. Again, of the soft-core variety.

We get a few extras on the disc in the shape of some entertaining liner notes on the films and a host of Alternative Cinema/After Hours trailers. The reel is fun if you haven't seen the trailers before on the their other releases. Overall it's a mixed bag. The Uncle Farts cartoons are an interesting touch but are rarely funny. Apparently there are more volumes coming in the series so hopefully the films get better.

New Titles Coming July From After Hours Cinema!!

2011-05-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

The RENE BOND SLEAZY 70s TRIPLE FEATURE is a toast to the lady herself - The Californian Queen of Sex - the "It" girl of the West Coast! SOUNDS OF SEX - Rene Bond and partner in grime Suzanne Fields are your giddy guides through an assortment of freaky sexual fantasies! CITY WOMAN - Three women decide to bare their bodies, explore the city and see the sights! SHOW AND TELL HOTEL - There's always something to see at the Show and Tell Hotel! From oral Olympics to incredible feats of fucking; you'll check in, but you won't want to check out!

Retail Price:$29.95

Three psychotropic features by filmmaker Eduardo Cemano, available for the first time on DVD. The Healers -Dr. Darby and his nurse are practitioners of a revolutionary sexual system of healing known as Orgasmic Free Flow. Fongaluli -This wild sex odyssey tells the story of Professor Wurtsis, whose adventures lead to encounters with strange sex-starved beings including the evil Fongawitch and her orgy-practicing disciples. Madame Zenobia -A beautiful, sad young widow continues her love affair with the "spirit" of her late husband.

Retail Price: $39.95

Both drop on 07/26/11!

Check out more info here: www.Afterhourscinema.com

The Playground of the Mind: An Overview of Shaun Costello's HOT DREAMS

2011-05-06T19:49:00.000-07:00

Movies have been one of the strongest forms of escapism since the days of the beautiful, ghost like image of famed belly dancer Little Sheba tantalizing/horrifying curious viewers on a Nickelodeon. Art is the safest way to explore facets about your own humanity and all of its murky little corners. With this, it only make sense for numerous directors working in the 70's and 80's to incorporate themes of adult fantasies in film. This concept is front and center in Warren Evans aka Shaun Costello's 1983 film, HOT DREAMS.

Lisa (the great Sharon Mitchell) seemingly has it all. She's beautiful, lives in a nice and roomy loft in New York City and is a successful beefcake photographer. The problem? She's married to a total schmoe, in the form her of her businessman husband, Bob (Michael Bruce). The film opens with the two in bed, all lovingly framed and lit, including some nice, tight composition. Soon, Bob starts rubbing her side, initiating what I like to call “the international sign of your partner waking you to get nookie” maneouver.) She's very receptive but just as things start getting good for Lisa, Bob finishes without making things equal. Even worse, his neglect is excused with him saying he has to get ready for work but then takes, like, 15 minutes to shave his non-facial hair. What?

Bob (Michael Bruce) shaves. Schmuck.

Lisa, being an enterprising young woman, decides to get his physical attention back by taking a very blatantly seductive bath five feet away from him while he is shaving. Of course, Bob is Captain Oblivion, which is even worse as a hand comes out of nowhere, covering her mouth aggressively. Up until this point, there has been little to no soundtrack but as things turn instantly sinister, the soundtrack swells into a Martin Rev-like wave. Before this turns into a total horror show, Lisa looks up at her attacker and the slightly blurry face turns out to be her husband, revealing that it was just some intensely weird daydream fantasy.

Lisa (Sharon Mitchell) confides to her best friend, Renee (Tiffany Clark).

A little freaked out, Lisa calls her best friend, Renee (Tiffany Clark) and confides to her that she has been having a series of highly vivid sexual fantasies. So vivid that she doesn't even realize what is real until they are finished, often confusing unsuspecting coworkers and associates around her. Renee is naturally captivated by this tidbit and encourages her to explain more. Lisa is apprehensive at first but then gives in, leading to the next scene. A dinner with Bob's rich business associate, John (Jamie Gillis) and his wife Ellen (Marlene Willoughby) Van Zandt. The edges of Lisa's dream world start to push through a little bit at John's use of the phrase “creative restraint” unwittingly inspires her. All that talk of corporate matters turns very corporal with Lisa seeing Ellen suddenly half naked in chains, with a ball gag in her mouth. The guests and Bob snap her out of it but then her husband makes a crack about how much she knows about sex. (Or does he?) This just entrenches her back into the fantasy with Lisa becoming the main course for the table, with even the butler (Alan Adrian) joining in.

Marlene Willoughby.

Renee eats this up and points out that there is nothing wrong with fantasy. Lisa mentions that her husband is well endowed because that is exactly the thing you want to mention to your horny friend who then asks to borrow your apartment keys while you have to run off to a photography job. Subsequently, this is exactly what happens. On her way to her friend's apartment, Renee walks by a pay phone that rings. Picking it up with the pithy line, “Weight Watchers Suicide Hotline,” only to have a creepy breather on the other line ordering her to do some pretty rude (or polite, depending on your mood) things to herself. She points out the obvious, that participating in such shenanigans in public would be not the best thing in the world to do. Scary phone guy suggests to move this somewhere private and promises that he will only call her once, if she gives him her phone number.

Renee. She makes bad life decisions.

Of course, Renee does what any sane person would do, tells him to shove off and hangs up the phone. No, I'm just kidding. She gives him Lisa's phone number and talks to him from her apartment. What an awesome friend. Meanwhile, Lisa's busy at a muscleman photo shoot. Boy, you want to talk about being doomed. If having vivid erotic daydreams born out of physical unfulfillment is a problem then working around a trio of oiled up musclemen who are wearing nothing but little red undies is not going to help. Especially when one of them is George Payne, looking especially hunky. (Coincidentally, George had real life beefcake modeling experience, so this was beyond perfect casting.)

Beefcake a go-go: George Payne in the center, being awesome.

All the while, Renee talks to her obscene phone caller, who orders her to find a mirror. This takes her a minute, since it isn't her apartment, she's not sure where everything is. Oddly enough, she apparently has no problem finding a dildo!?! Creative liberties or unique easy to find decoration? You be the judge. He seduces her into repeating an obscene sing-song-chant. She gets so into it that the sound of Bob opening the front door and entering the apartment does not disturb her saucy revery. He stumbles upon the obscene, surreal sight of his wife's best friend in a very vulnerable position. Bob being a schmuck and Renee having the sex drive of an insane, lubed-up charwoman can only lead to the inevitable.

Lisa, worn out from a day of hot dreaming but no physical scratch heads to the gym. Before working out, she signs up for a massage. It's her lucky day since the masseuse in question ends up being busty Anna Ventura. Fantasy emerges again with club goers Joanna Storm and Ginger Jaye joining in the fun. Unfortunately, so does the towel attendant who is sporting the worst Limahl style mullet this side of “Neverending Story.” But Lisa has a good time and that is what fantasy is all about.

Kenny Dee: Bastard brother of Limahl.

After having real life sex, Renee encourages Bob to be more open with Lisa about his fantasies and sexual habits. He at first falls into that whole dumbass, sexist trap of “Oh no, not my wife.” But then starts to listen to Renee and comes up with the perfect way to salvage his marriage. By arranging an orgy! Of course. Lisa eases into his covert plan quite smoothly, finally getting her swerve on. So she's happy, her husband is still a loser and Renee connects again with her beloved breather. (Though if you ask me, I think Lisa should have dumped her husband and ran off with George Payne. Rowr.)

HOT DREAMS is a well made piece of erotica. It's definitely more on the fluffy side of things but with enough of an edge to make things interesting. In some ways, it is almost like Costello's own spin of BABYLON PINK, both in terms of lovely cinematography, soft often pastel like color schemes and the focus of the wild playground of an unhappy mind. Also, other than the first fantasy where Lisa initially gets attacked, the film has a very decadently dream-like feel. Almost breezy.

The wonderful Sharon Mitchell.

The acting is all very good, with Sharon Mitchell looking gorgeous and exuding her usual on-screen charisma. Her Lisa is a likable free spirit in the cage of a sham marriage that seriously needs to break free. The late Michael Bruce is also good as her neglectful husband whose outdated ignorance leads to the catalyst of his wife's vivid fantasies. Tiffany Clark is cute and spunky as Lisa's well meaning but borderline skanky friend. The supporting cast is like a veritable buffet of talent, including Jamie Gillis at his flirty best, the uniquely beautiful Marlene Willoughby, the lush Anna Ventura from BAD GIRLS and an early role by Joanna Storm. Plus the aforementioned George Payne who manages to steal the 2 or 3 minutes he is on screen.

Pink Flamingo Entertainment have done a really lovely job here. On their website, they state “We actually care about our products and customers” and it truly shows. In addition to this sweet looking print, there's a great booklet featuring a well written and fairly in depth article by Nicolas Rioult about Costello's life and career. The DVD features two interesting print interviews with both Costello and still photographer Maryse Alberti.

While a far cry from the intense psycho-sexual art-house dramas from earlier in his career, HOT DREAMS is a very well-made and fun, candy-coated shell holding assorted earthly delights of a film.

THE ID IS A LONELY HUNTER: A REVIEW OF SHAUN COSTELLO'S MIDNIGHT DESIRES

2011-03-09T21:31:00.000-08:00

“We hide our desires, even from ourselves.”

The way a person approaches their sexuality can often reveal a lot about their innermost workings, to the extent where that is often more fascinating to explore than the act itself. But how many people can honestly face their sexuality and the mental machina behind it? You are probably wondering where in the hell I'm going with all of this, but never fear, since this psycho-sexual road leads directly to Shaun Costello's mid-70's film, MIDNIGHT DESIRES.

After some disconcertingly nice instrumental music (think the bastard offspring of Leonard Bernstein and 1,000 Strings), the film begins with a chauffeur, finishing his cigarette and waiting. Not for too long though, as John (Eric Edwards) and Amy (Karen Regis aka Jenny Baxter) soon arrive and are escorted to the spacious estate belonging to one Martin (Jamie Gillis) and Elaine Van Nostrand (C.J. Laing). On the way there, Amy warns him not to talk about pedestrian sports like football and stresses the importance of being “socially acceptable.” He's less status conscious than his wife and reminds her that they were invited simply for “an evening of games.”

The evening of games is about to begin.

Right after arriving, Martin is handed some bad news in the form of a newspaper headline announcing “Hitler Invades Poland.” Having family in Warsaw, he is naturally upset and cries out about the world being “swallowed up by global holocaust” before walking off. Elaine takes them aside and implores them to play along with whatever she does to lighten her husband's mood. The evening of games soon begins with Elaine wanting something risky and “dangerous.” John, seeming every bit the square, suggests charades, which is rightfully squashed. Instead, Elaine brings up the idea of everyone divulging their wildest sexual fantasies with the best and most honest being the winner. Initially hesitant, John and Amy decide to play along.

Bad news.

Since it was her idea, Elaine goes first. This is really where things start to get interesting, with her fantasy involving having an experience that is so good, that it is riddled with guilt. Like a lot of bourgeoisie types, she possesses the deep need to be punished. She is locked in a stark, white room, completely naked except for chains around her wrists and ankles. The camera, seemingly stilted before, comes alive with some ghoulish and beautiful fluidity. The sexy-horror movie style show continues with the door opening, revealing men in dark hoods and even darker intents. They lead her to a shadowy room littered with candles and bondage equipment. Her hands and neck are bound, leaving her open for some good ole pre-Meese commission style whipping and action of a more primitive sort with her yelling out “I'm scum! Fuck me!”

Waiting for the threshold: Elaine's fantasy.

Elaine's fantasy gets a good response from the group, though Martin, playing armchair psychiatrist, starts to analyze her fantasy. He points out that it is inherently dishonest. Why? Because while she is playing the role of helpless submissive, she is ultimately the one in control. In other words, she is a bossy bottom.

After that, Martin gets more bad news, this time in the form of the headline, “France Surrenders.” Okay, now, this is just getting silly. Elaine comments that it makes sense due to the fact that “The Germans are very industrious people.” Martin's response? “Shut up, Elaine.”

"Shut up Elaine."

The game must go on, with John being the next up. His fantasy starts off deceptively pedestrian, with him playing the role of a businessman who hires a pretty hooker to come into his motel room and seduce his girlfriend. The prostitute, played by the raven haired Brie Anthony, enters the room dressed up in a black tuxedo, complete with matching top hat. (Nice little nod to Marlene Dietrich.) She starts to seduce the passively passionate girlfriend, a lithe blonde in a violet top, but soon enough lets John take over. She watches them for a couple of minutes and then slowly starts to disrobe, ultimately revealing a male-shaped apparatus. In a surprise twist, John is the one she focuses her dingus related attention on. Undoubtedly this scene has probably made some of the straight guys in the audience very, very uncomfortable, which I fully endorse. The whole scene is pretty bold on both the filmmaker's and certainly Eric Edwards' part. Imagery like this is rare in film, especially those aimed towards a presumably heterosexual audience. Having it entrenched in something so standard, like a menage a trois with a man and two women, is borderline brilliant.

Passive male madness: John waits and watches

The amazing Brie Anthony.

Amy actually loves his fantasy though expresses some subtle jealousy at the same time, obviously feeling a little left out. Martin discusses the fact that John, with his fantasy, was exploring his homosexual side in a safe, straight-guy sort of way. Having a masculine, handsome guy like John possessing this deep rooted desire to go beyond the standard confines of his orientation is a ballsy move.

A pensive Amy.

Martin is up next, with his fantasy revolving around a sport he loves very much, boxing. Growing up in a family born and bred into old money, however, his mother forbade him from ever pursuing this dream. Which is a great irony given how worried Amy was in the beginning of the film about John revealing his love of blue collar sports. Anyways, Martin's fantasy is that he is Kid Kelly, a brash, up and coming boxer clobbering his way to the top. His career looks promising until he is asked to throw a big fight by a local mob boss. Kid storms over this until he decides to take it out on the gangster's gum chewing, eye rolling moll, Lola (Vanessa Del Rio under the weird pseudonym Ursula Pasarell). After roughing her up a bit, he drags her into the locker room, where it basically becomes mook a go-go on poor Lola, with Kid's assorted friends having a time. This is the big ugly, folks.

Kid Kelly is not pleased.

Elaine scoffs at Martin, calling him a literal “motherfucker,” while John agrees that the Lola character is basically a receptacle of all the anger and hostility Martin felt towards his mother for squashing his unborn dream. Martin seems fairly open to this assessment, which is fascinating, since admitting some kind of violent Oedipal complex is a pretty outre thing.

Highwaymen, though they are FAR from dandy.

This leaves Amy, who is initially resistant to tell her fantasy but of course gives in. She is a medieval peasant girl who ends up at a tavern with a couple of highwaymen and one saucy bar-wench. (Note that the highwaymen are strangely cleaner looking than any of the guys from the boxing segment. This despite being set in an age where regular bathing was not that common at all. Not a complaint, if anything it's a relief. Trust me.) This segment out of all of them has a quiet and almost romance novel element to it, especially compared to the others. This is certainly not lost on the group, with everyone noting that Amy's fantasy is the purest since it is less sexual primal scream and more just a nice, randy daydream. Therefore she is the winner! As dawn breaks, John and Amy leave, thanking Martin and Elaine for a fun evening. As they watch their guests ride off, the butler hands Martin one last newspaper, causing him and Elaine to burst out laughing. The headline? The End. Cute.

MIDNIGHT DESIRES was Costello's first 35mm film and despite being limited by an extremely tight shooting schedule, he made a film with some smarts and ambition. While the print that has made it on to this DVD has seen better days and looks like it may have come from a VHS master, it still looks uncut. Big kudos to Video-X-Pix for releasing such a bold and unique film.

Despite some of the obvious budgetary restrictions, the cast and crew really made the most of it. The whole psychological examining aspect is great and usually lacking in films of this stripe, especially as open and in your face as it is. It does make one wish that they would have more time to flesh out some of the ideas and characters, especially since there is a slightly stilted feeling with the non-fantasy segments. On the flip side of that is the fact that the wraparound scenes are a nice contrast to the color and energy of the fantasy segments.

Actor wise, this is a great little cast, with C.J. Laing and Eric Edwards coming off the best. (Though Brie Anthony gets a special mention for her striking appearance as the Dietrich inspired hooker. She honestly looks like she was born to wear that suit and hat.) Gillis is good, though he doesn't really shine until he is playing the Kid Kelly character, where he is instantly inhabiting that role like a second skin. Laing's raw charisma is in good bloom here. Given the fact that her filmography is fairly small, it's a testament to how standout she is that she remains one of the bigger cult stars from the '70's. Eric Edwards is uniformly great here and is one of the most underrated actors in the business. Like he does with all of his roles, he manages to bring a sense of depth and interest to John. There should be shrines built to this man.

If you like your fringe cinema to be on the smart side of sleazy with some talent on the film making front, then definitely give MIDNIGHT DESIRES a go. It's not for everyone but anything worth watching usually isn't.

Movie Review: Driller: A Sexual Thriller (1984, Devil's Den)

2011-02-14T12:44:00.000-08:00

When done well, parody in porn can translate into something that transcends the sole purpose of porn – to get people off. It can be humorous; tickling your ball-bag as well as your funny bone. After previously reviewing The Passions of Carol (a parody of A Christmas Carol) which does parody the Dickens’ story quite effectively, I thought why not cover another parody on Cinema Head Cheese that’s target is on the “King of Pop” called Driller: A Sexual Thriller from Devil’s Den DVD.

Timothy Greene Beckley, whose best known to micro-budget movie fans as schlock-meister, Mr. Creepo (Skin- eating Jungle Vampires, Barely Legal Lesbian Vampires) put together Driller: A Sexual Thriller with his partner, Joyce James, who also is the feature’s director. Adorable Louise (Tajia Rae) is fixated on pop-star, Mr. J, so much that after his show performing a song that sounds a lot like Jackson’s Billie Jean – she then summons his larger than life presence to her bedroom. Mr. J breaks out into a groovy dance routine while Louise waits patiently in her bed … then comes the transformation. Our pop-star has now turned into a werewolf with a two foot twirling penis. A drill...if you will. He enters the minx, spurts some of his blue colored ejaculation all over Louise and her room, than takes her to his place – a dungeon.

The first half-hour does have the feel of Thriller but then it just ventures off into the downright absurd, which is not unlike the late singer’s life anyway. The sex is non-stop. There are a few ridiculous dance routines in between but for the latter part of the film we’re exposed to one crazy sex scene after another, including orgies, glowing dildo diddling lesbians and maybe the most outrageous finger-fuck scene in the history of film featuring a hunchback who looks amazingly like The Toxic Avenger and Esmerelda the squirting dungeon skank. This girl blows her load right in front of the gurgling hunchback.

One of the most surprising things about the DVD release of Driller: A Sexual Thriller is the transfer. The original source materials were used in the restoration, and it shows. The movie is very, very dark which is really not a big concern as it fits the mood of the picture but the colors look very good and it also appears that the element used, was store very well. No splices or anything major . The sound was quite solid as well so the soundtrack is bound to be in your head moments after you shut off the DVD.

Devil’s Den even put together some quality supplements : An interview with Esmerelda “the squirter” that’s audio only but accompanied by some interesting photos. A gallery for the film that’s complete with press materials and other Driller photos. The main extra is an interview with Driller: A Sexual Thriller creator, Timothy Greene Beckley. Beckley can talk and is full of "Driller" related anecdotes. I’m actually surprised that he didn’t do a commentary on the film. Most of what comes out of his mouth is very entertaining as he talks about his career as adult film reviewer for Hustler magazine and how that allowed him to rub elbows with porn producers and stars. He also seems to have a beef with Roger Watkins (Last House On Dead-End Street), who at the time was putting together adult projects himself.

For a brand-new company, Devils Den has come out of nowhere to create an excellent release of one of the most bizarre pornos ever produced. Driller: A Sexual Thriller has that rare quality that could make it a party DVD that you can throw on for your jaded friends . Hell, you can even try and do some of the wacky dance routines. Why not do your own Esmerelda squirting contest?? Options are endless Cheesers, just mop afterwards. Here's hoping Devil's Den puts out more vintage adult oddities such as this fine release.

Movie Review: The Passions of Carol (1975)

2011-01-27T22:58:00.000-08:00

It’s been over a month since Christmas ended and I still can’t help but wonder why there haven't been more Christmas themed porn films produced over the years. I know, It’s a sacred holiday to folks of the Christian faith, and the thought of Santa in an orgy with Mrs. Claus and the elves is beyond morbid, but still. Over the summer I learned from a pal that an adult film from legendary "Golden Age" director, Shaun Costello, called The Passions of Carol (based on A Christmas Carol), was discovered by a persistent archivist. As a fan of both porn and Christmas, I was overjoyed. The Passions of Carol had been released previously (by Video-X-Pix)to DVD from an inferior quality master, so the actual movie has been around, but film elements were unfortunatley thought to be lost – until now. Video-X-Pix recently added Shaun Costello’s, The Passions of Carol to their critically acclaimed line of Platinum Elite DVDs (Blonde Ambition, Maraschino Cherry and Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle all have recieved the Platinum treatment). Now, with the participation of Costello (Forced Entry, Waterpower, More than Sisters), Video-X-Pix delivers a brand-new remastered release of this tinsel covered porn oddity.

The Passions of Carol surrounds the life of the bitchy owner of Biva magazine, Carol Scrooge (Mary Stuart). She’s no different from Ebenezer, as she shows zero respect to her employees. Bob Cratchet (Costello regular, the late Jamie Gillis) takes the brunt of Scrooge’s cold, slave-driving treatment, by being forced to work extra hours at Christmas time to fix the flaccid cocks in the photos for her publication . Well as they say ,"karmas a bitch”. Soon Carol's visited by the the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. The story is amazingly comparable to the Dicken’s classic, just with a few subtle changes, like hardcore sex... lots of it!

That hardcore sex is fairly enjoyable, if not absolutely bizarre in some scenes (including one where a toy doll arm disappears in a vagina). "Mr. 10 ½ inch", Marc Stevens, in my opinion steals the film. As the ghost of Christmas past, he’s hilarious and brings some comedic energy to the role of the chained-up ghost. Stevens' sex scene with Mary Stuart isn't too bad either. Stuart, while not a great looking woman, makes up for it nicely by showing some true blow-job skill by handling the over-sized members attached to Marc Stevens and Sonny Landham with the ease. One of the biggest surprises in the film was seeing Sonny Landham screwing on film. I’m so used to watching this guy pop up in the numerous Walter Hill action flicks of the 80s that he had bit parts in and as Arnold's Indian pal who cuts up his chest in Predator - seeing Landham flopping his wang at the camera like tiger taffy, just added even more absurdity to the already wildly surreal experience.

Costello and cinematographer Bill Markle did a fine job shooting The Passions of Carol. With the budget they had for the 1974 production, it really looked quite lovely in spots and embodied the “spirit” of Christmas quite well visually . The usage of colors, dissolves, and fog machines we’re very helpful to the setting of the Christmans mood that they successfully achieved. And the music! Well, it’s loaded with all the public domain Christmas music that's played consistently during the holidays. The Exorcist theme is also part of the track during Stuart’s furious office three-way in the beginning of the film. If you’ve seen Costello’s other pictures ( More Than Sisters used Psycho’s theme), it was a common practice for the director.

The film quality is without a doubt the best it’s ever looked. There is some noticeable grain and minor damage in spots, but it’s obviously been remastered with much tender love and care. The colors are excellent ( the Christmas green and reds are vibrant) and the skin tones are also spot-on. The audio track has been repaired as well after some heavy restoration, which is noted in the commenatary. Apparently the audio was in some really bad shape in spots when it was initially ran . Overall it's a very nice looking presentation.

Now here is my favorite part of the disc, the extra features. This is where Video-X-Pix takes their release to the "elite" level. As mentioned earlier, Costello is involved with the extra features. Costello contributes extensive liner notes about his career, but more specifically his relationship with Capri Theater owners, Teddy Kariofilis and Tom Gioulos. It’s twenty-pages and a fun read. Video-X-Pix has also included a nifty historical featurette called, “The Deuce” . “The Deuce” of course covers some of the great porn theater hot spots on 42nd Street. Those fascinated with 42nd Street (like myself) will enjoy the nostalgic photos of the film Mecca. The photos are also accompanied by some historical notes on each of the theaters.

Costello also contributes to a lively and at times very humorous commentary moderated by one of the gentleman responsible in bringing this lost treasure to DVD, Joe Rubin. The anecdotes that Costello provides are very entertaining. One involving himself, sex and public transportation, amused me quite a bit. His observations of the film were funny as well. It's playful, technical and rich with information on the stars and crew from the movie. Rubin also does a fine job with questions and by consistently bringing up appropriate observations on the film. Specifics on the restoration process are also added, thankfully. It just moves along perfectly, with no uncomfortable dead-air. I’ll more than likely listen to it again soon.

Video-X-Pix/ DistribPix hits another home-run with their Platinum Elite release of The Passions of Carol. The Passions Of Carol is not only a pleasurable experience as an adult feature but at the same time it also works perfectly as a cult film, for the simple fact that it's completely different from the norm. Highly Recommended.

If you're interested in purchasing the Platinum Elite DVD of Passions of Carol go ahead and click on this link to the Video-X-Pix website :videoxpix.com

Driller: A Sexual Thriller coming soon from Devil's Den/ MVD Visual

2011-01-25T15:41:00.000-08:00

Zombies! Werewolves! Psychos! Pop stars! A depraved dungeon full of werewolves, zombies, mutants and hunchbacks converge for creepy copulations and outrageous orgies in this seldom-seen slice of 35mm vintage XXX sex and slime from 1984. Unsuspecting female fans of music megastar 'Mr. J', including adult legend Tajia Rae, are subjected to the sick and sinful advances of horribly hung hunchbacks, sex-starved psychos and the flesh-hungry undead when he leaves the stage from his latest tour and decides to give his groupies the grope of a lifetime! You will not believe the secret sexual weapon that this shape-shifting superstar unleashes to turn his fans' screams into creams, but it lives up to the title of the film... and did we mention it's a musical?

Bonus Materials
•Brand new transfer from original 35mm elements, Interview with producer 'Mr. Creepo' himself, Timothy Greene Beckely, Audio interview with Esmeralda: Driller's spooky squirter, Image gallery

Driller: A Sexual Thriller arrives on DVD, January 25th!

Movie Review: Pornographi (1971)

2011-01-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

So far Pink Flamingo Entertainment in their short life as vintage filth purveyors have consistently shown a knack for giving some quality treatment to Golden Age classics that include their acclaimed “The Shaun Costello Collection”. Now the Danish company has brought a European adult film classic, Ole Ege’s Pornagraphi.

Comprised of ten short films, including such silent Ole Ege gems as: The Dream Girl (1966), Harem, Spanking (1970), The Pornmodel Ilse (1969), The American Girl (1970) and The Jolly Shave (1964), Crazy Strip (1966), Three Lively Girls (1964), Group Sex (1969), Springtime in Tivoli (1969). All the shorts were shot when porn was illegal so there’s an added naughtiness to the proceedings. One thing that’s constant about Ege’s short-films is that none are at all completely tasteless and it’s apparent with his craftsmanship that Ege’s as much an artist as he is a pornographer. Yes, we are talking porn here.

Ege’s sense of humor is very evident in the shorts as well as his hunger for lingerie clad ladies and good old fashion S&M. Some of the lingerie the ladies wear in Crazy Strip(that they quickly dispose of) are downright goofy. From the goofy to the sultry. He then segues nicely into the very seductive The Dream Girl, which highlights a brunette lovely slowly teasing, smiling and eventually spreading to show her lady bits. It’s all very hot stuff and it's also 40 plus years old too!

The audio is all just added composed tunes but each film is fitted with the appropriate music. I didn’t really know what to expect when I noticed the whole compilation was silent, but it works better than you may think . The picture quality is outstanding. The colors are rich and right on, with accurate flesh tones matching the many naked participants. There is also, thankfully, minimal damage to the element. Pink Flamingo has done some solid work with their Shaun Costello Collection but Pornagraphi is without a doubt their best looking release to date.

The extras on this DVD consist of Ole Ege’s first sound film, The Chinese Mask. It’s basically a strip-show showing a young lady wearing a Kabuki mask taking her under-thingies off. We're also treated to some very detailed liners by Nicolas Barbano. An extra I did notice that was deleted from this export version for obvious reasons is a short film called A Summer Day, starring the notorious animal lover, Bodil Jensen. I believe it still should be available on all other releases that do prohibit this material in their territories.

Pornographi really hits the mark in terms of quality retro-raunch. It’s fun, it’s sexy and looks damn good for a film that very well could have been lost or destroyed. Pink Flamingo’s done a top-notch job with a great piece of European adult film history.

Be sure to venture on over to Pink Flamingo’s website for Pornagraphi and many other excellent vintage adult film DVDS: www.PinkFlamingoEntertainment.com

"Uncle Farts' '70s Grindhouse Sleazefest" Coming Soon!!

2011-01-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

In this animated and live-action collection, the always inappropriate Uncle Farts and his sex-starved nephew Scooper are just settling in for a raunchy 1970s Soft-Core DVD Marathon when their prudish nosy neighbor blows the whistle, and their house is raided by the authorities! Luckily, it's the Vice Squad that arrives, and soon Uncle Farts and the whole gang kick back to enjoy four sleazy gems from the grindhouse era: Sex Odyssey, Dionysius, Honky Tonk Nights (starring Carol Doda, Georgina Spelvin of The Devil in Miss Jones and Serena of Pleasure Palace)and Satan's Daughter. More offensive than Family Guy and featuring crappier animation than South Park, UNCLE FARTS' '70s GRINDHOUSE SLEAZEFEST contains over three hours of soft-core sex films from the weird, wacky and very hairy '70s, delivered by our favorite cartoon family, Uncle Farts and Scooper "the boy wonder". The price is a meager $19.99 for this hanky soaker and is set for release on 3/22/11.

Only from Independent Entertainment and MVD Visual!

Pre-order at MVD's website here: http://www.mvddb2b.com/

Rickshaw Sideways: The Amero Brothers Blonde Ambition

2010-12-18T23:50:00.000-08:00

There are moments in film history where a tag line serves not only as the greatest bait but also as the perfect description. Keep in mind this sort of creative/promotional kismet is about as rare as contraception at the Duggars', but unlike that poor-taste metaphor, it does happen. Vid-X-Pix's latest Platinum Release of BLONDE AMBITION is a fantastic example of this. The tag line in question...

If you liked Singing in the Rain and Deep Throat, then you will love Blonde Ambition!

Funny, yes, but incredibly accurate. Both films actually have the same light-hearted zaniness, but despite Damiano's brilliant theme song (Deeeep Throaaatt....deeper than deep your throat....don't get your goat...that's all she wrote...), DEEP THROAT doesn't really qualify as a proper musical. And unless there is some kind of hidden reel rotting away in some billionaire's attic in Zurich, there is zero sex and nudity in SINGING IN THE RAIN. (Too bad though. Gene Kelley in his prime is a beautiful, beautiful thing y'all.)

But this film is more than just a cute tag line. It is a beautifully made tribute to the that lost era of technicolor, light-as-meringue topping musicals, all courtesy of those legends of quality fringe cinema the Amero Brothers. Every classic musical needs a charming lead and here we get two of them, in the form of the Kane Sisters. There's Candy (Dory Devon), the beauty and brains of the pair. Then there's her sister Sugar (Suzy Mandel), who is the beauty and erm....beauty of the operation.

The Kane Sisters, Candy & Sugar.

The talent-challenged but pugnacious pair hoof it up in a dinge palace known as the Tumbleweed Cafe in the middle of Coyote Fang, Wyoming when they are discovered by rich jet setter Stephen Carlisle III (eternally handsome Eric Edwards). Turns out Stephen, along with his butler, Eric Smythe (Robert Kerman), are in town to rescue the valuable Buckingham Brooch, a bejeweled spectacle that looks startlingly similar to a brooch Sugar has bought from a gypsy. Stephen is charmed by Candy's stage presence and Sugar's airy naivete and offers to fly them to New York on his private jet. (Beats the hell out of taking the bus!)

Their humble origins. Also dig that color composition!

Despite Sugar leaving her love interest, the handsome but hair follicle challenged cowboy Luke (David Morris), the girls are excited by their new adventure and their new companions. Especially Candy, who gets to have some private time with Stephen. His generosity ends up coming to play in a different way when the girls end up stranded and gig-less in the big apple. Stephen lets them stay in his penthouse while he and Eric fly back to the England to present the brooch to his Aunt, Lady Sybil Buckingham (Molly Malone.)

Now if you're predicting in your head that there is going to be a mix-up between the actual Buckingham Brooch and the piece of costume jewelry Sugar bought, you would be correct-a-mundo. But that's not all. Further intrigue is added when Sybil, finding out about the two female entertainers staying with her nephew, hires a private investigator (Wade Nichols) who also works as a two-bit sexploitation actor, to dig up some dirt on the girls. Turns out ole Auntie is afraid of anyone other than Stephen and of course herself getting their mitts on the family fortune.

Further shenanigans ensue when Sugar lends her brooch to Stephen's drag queen neighbor (Kurt Mann), right before she gets to sample some sweet loving off of his Greek God looking boyfriend Bob (George Payne). Will the Buckingham Brooch be saved? Will Sugar and Candy escape the cunningness of Aunt Sybil? Will the magical tan-lines of Eric Edwards save your soul? You will just have to watch and find out!

Mr. Chameleon himself, George Payne, who is dubbed over Steve Reeve's style here.

If this film was a pastry, it would be a sugary, pastel colored cupcake full of nudity and goodness. It's fluff in the best possible way with a stellar cast, great attention to visual details (costumes, sets, etc) and corny but funny jokes. On the excellent commentary track with none other than John Amero, he talks about the great love he and his brother had for the old MGM musicals and it shows.

Better than the original!

Some of the comedic highlights include the Kane Sisters finishing up a musical number by saying “Up Yours!” and the entire extended cameo of Jamie Gillis as a pissy porn director doing a dirty version of Gone With the Wind. That whole sequence is worth the price of admission alone, with some inspired casting with the handsome, mustached Nichols playing the Rhett Butler character.

A fantastic actor and one of the VERY few guys that can actually rock that shirt, Eric Edwards.

Speaking of the cast, this is a veritable dream team, featuring such great actors as Eric Edwards, Kerman, Gillis and Nichols, who are all great in everything they ever did. Tony Danza aka the late David Morris, while not quite as great of a thespian as the other guys, is still funny as Sugar's hayseed sweetie. The ladies are all equally fab, with Dory Devon and Suzy Mandel being the stars in every way. Devon was an off-Broadway actress who had dabbled a little in the adult world before, with parts in films like BREAKERS BEAUTIES, GULP and my personal favorite, ORIENTAL BABYSITTER. (All under different pseudonyms, naturally.) She pulls off tarnished class with a dash of moxie perfectly, even performing a pretty good tap dance number with great relish. Oddly enough, DIVERSIONS star Heather Deeley was originally going to be Candy, which for anyone who has seen that particular UK adult oddity featuring Nazis, vampires, castration and moodiness, is a bit of a surreal thought.

The lovely Suzy Mandel.

Then there is the British vision of blonde hair and a bit of Judy Holliday thrown in for good measure. Suzy Mandel, whose physical and comedic charms have been featured in such notably ribald British films as THE PLAYBIRDS and the Mary Millington feature, COME PLAY WITH ME, is a huge stand out. The sexy ditz archetype is as old as Moses but is never an easy one to pull off. In the hands of a non-talent, lovably dumb is going to come off more as “annoying dumbass.” So getting an experienced and likable actress like Mandel was a great coup. (For the record, during the hardcore scenes, that is not Suzy you're seeing but a well concealed and made-up body double.)

The DVD itself is a treasure trove of a release. If a special edition could ever make you feel like you're getting a back rub and a martini with its feature, it is this one. Platinum indeed. The disc alone is cherry, with a gorgeous print, two different cuts of the film (hot and cold), a gallery of related ephemera and a lovely tribute to Jamie Gillis. Speaking of the man, there are also two separate commentary tracks, one with Gillis and the other with John Amero himself. The one with Jamie is a lot of fun and full of the good and slightly twisted humor that was part of his charm. There is a little lull in some spots but between his natural talkiness and the good job of the moderator to keep the pace going, it is well worth a listen.

Jamie Gillis!

The real gem, however, is the Amero track. Getting to hear this veritable legend talk about the history of the film and all of the attached tales is beyond a treat. Amero's memory is really solid and he comes across like a very warm and friendly soul. The only gripe about this track, and it is a minor one, is that there are some audio issues with the moderator's voice. But anyone in the field can tell you that audio is truly the hardest part of video and Amero is as clear as a bell.

Now, this is where I break into a hearty “And that's not all, folks!” The set also includes a 20 page booklet about the film's background with some gorgeous color photos, a B&W photo card of Suzy Mandel and a 35mm film strip. (The one included in my set was the scene where Sugar meets Bob.) Very cool and amazing to see an adult company actually put this much love and care into their library. In an era where classics like CAFE FLESH and NIGHT DREAMS are given shoddy releases, Video-X-Pix is truly a breath of fresh air.

BLONDE AMBITION is a light hearted musical-comedy that has something for everyone. Stunning dream sequences including a strip tease on ice and a surreal study of self-love? Got it. Great silly humor? Yep! A fun and talented cast? Si si! It's all that and more. If you like your films saucy but not sleazy and well-made to boot, then you must get BLONDE AMBITION. Viva los Ameros!

Review: Sleazy 70s Stags

2010-12-14T16:41:00.000-08:00

Since my younger days as a miniature perve, one of my absolute favorite things to witness in a film (be it, XXX, X, R or PG) was God’s greatest invention, the bare breast. I thought it would be most helpful to start out this review of After Hours Cinema’s exhaustive titty loop compilation, Sleazy 70s Stags, with a proper definition of our jiggly pals: Breast - “The breast refers to the front of the chest or, more specifically, to the mammary gland. The mammary gland is a milk producing gland. It is composed largely of fat. Within the mammary gland is a complex network of branching ducts. These ducts exit from sac-like structures called lobules, which can produce milk in females. The ducts exit the breast at the nipple.” Ok, the “milk talk” is a little bit of a turn-off, so why don’t I just give you guys my definition of the breast: Boner-inducing mounds of loveliness.

After Hours has dug deep into the archives for these 24 loops that amount to three amazingly fleshy hours of high quality 8mm bra-busting madness. Here we get to see mostly solo loops (aside from Candy Sample's loops) of incredibly well-endowed starlets aggressively squeezing and licking their sweater-puppies. Included on the compilation are a few popular skin-flick legends, Rene Bond(Please Don't Kill My Mother), Candy Samples( Beyond the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens) and Uschi Digard( Super-Vixens, Kentucky Fried Movie). Along with these classic bodacious babes, we’re also treated to the welcome nakedness of, Dolly, Jaki, Keli, Maggie, Carla, Julie, Teree, Ginger, Mona, Joyce, Sharon, Nori, Helen, Samantha, Carol and others.

I probably looked most forward to seeing Uschi Digard on this set. After Hours delivers on the Uschi content, with three hot loops starring the famous Meyer girl - who in my opinion has the most remarkable pair of boobs in all of film history. As I said earlier, the majority of these loops are solo but we do get to see Uschi and Candy square off in a battle of the breasts, during the final furious loop of the collection, “Busty Lovers”. One very lucky dude gets to play with these two titans of tits. My friends, these ladies are basically the Godzilla and Gamera of gazongas. Some of the surprises on the set include: Helen, whose easily one of the smallest ladies in chest-icle stature, but simply gorgeous to look at. Ginger’s loop is also nice energetic, raunchy fun. Much of the compilation is a hard X, with some close-ups of back-doors and snatches. No penetration or messy jizz shots here, but it’s still a whole lot of crazy adult fun.

Three hours have past now, what should I watch now? How about an After Hours trailer reel?? This is the lone extra on this DVD but it’s extremely entertaining. Some great stuff here, that I need to see: All the Sins Of Sodom, Deep Throat Comedy Collection, Curious Obsessions, Girls, Girls, Girls of The 1970s, Night of Perverted Pleasure, Run Virgin Run and few of XXX historian, 42nd Street Pete’s offerings.

The overall quality on this set is very good considering the age of these loops. There is no sound ,of course, but there is an the authentic noise of a projector rattling in the background. This lends a lot to the atmosphere. The clarity of the picture is in area where this DVD shines as its quite colorful. The materials used for the telecine were obviously in the care of someone who knew how to take care of vintage material.

In the end, the breast-fiends win with Sleazy 70s Stags. Highly Recommended!

The Henry Paris Library coming soon from VIDEO-X-PIX!

2010-12-13T14:58:00.000-08:00

Video-X-Pix is proud to announce the addition of the first four legendary ‘Henry Paris’ films to its historic collection of golden age adult films.

Made in the mid 1970s by famed director Radley Metzger using the pseudonym ‘Henry Paris’, these films are regarded as being among the greatest adult films ever made.

The films, The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann (1974), Naked Came the Stranger (1975), The Opening of Misty Beethoven (1976), and Barbara Broadcast (1977), will be added to the Video-X-Pix Platinum Elite collection – the industry gold standard for the re-release of classic adult films of the golden era

By partnering with Radley Metzger, Video-X-Pix will release the ‘Henry Paris’ films in high definition re-mastered form, with a wealth of extras including the first commentaries and interviews that Metzger has done for these films, and a series of material that will shed light on the work of this important ground breaking director.

When asked about the acquisition, Video-X-Pix president Steven Morowitz was very vocal: “We are honored to have been entrusted by Radley Metzger to present these films in their definitive versions. This venture will confirm Video-X-Pix as the pre-eminent company in this market. I am so damn proud of this license deal and partnership with Radley. He is probably the most influential and well known erotic filmmaker of all time, having directed many critically acclaimed features of the 1960s and 70s. Radley is one of the nicest ‘old school’ guys I have ever met and each time I meet with him, I like him more and more. So far working with him has been nothing but wonderful."

"I have not been happy with the way in which the most recent versions of these films have been released to the public. I have been a huge fan of them for years and I am finally going to get my chance to bring them to the 21st century consumer…. and one of my goals is to focus on the mainstream market: I want Henry Paris to be a household name. Toward that end I have been working with several film historians, critics and even fans to help analyze each of these films in order to properly restore them. A huge point of discontent on the film forums today is the fans’ rejection of original vintage films being cut and re-edited. The fans want to see them uncut, in high-end collector’s editions, with HD transfers, many extras including the involvement of the director, cast and crew. My goal is to restore each of these films, bring a new awareness of these jewels and introduce them to a new audience.”

Speaking about the deal today, Radley Metzger expressed his pleasure saying, ‘It’s exciting to have these titles in the proper hands. I look forward to working closely with Steve during the restoration process’”

The company is also planning public showings of the films and considering striking new 35mm prints for film festivals which will be attended by Radley with appearances by a number of the featured stars. Further details will be announced in 2011.

For further updates please keep your eye on their website: WWW.VIDEOXPIX.COM

The Passions of Carol: A Real XXX Christmas Parody

2010-12-05T14:33:00.000-08:00

Video-X-Pix presents their latest Platinum Elite remastered DVD release; a restored, edition of acclaimed cult filmmaker Shaun Costello's THE PASSIONS OF CAROL, an X rated parody of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. This classic adult comedy, which was first released theatrically in 1975, has long been sought after by fans of both its director and the sexploitation film genre, and is finally available in an ultimate collector's edition.

THE PASSIONS OF CAROL mixes humor, sex, and lavish costume and set design in its ribald retelling of Charles Dickens holiday classic. Mean-spirited Carol Scrooge runs Biva Magazine, a cheap sex mag, and refuses to allow her employees to take Christmas off from work. However, on Christmas Eve, Miss Scrooge is visited by three wise spirits who, through sultry visions, show her the evil of her ways and teach her the importance of Holiday kindness and giving.

This DVD release features an all new High-Definition transfer from the only known film elements, as well as the first ever audio commentary track by director Shaun Costello, plus a fully illustrated 20 page liner notes booklet written by Costello. Costello himself is overjoyed with the project and stated, "This thoroughly delightful re-release of THE PASSIONS OF CAROL, one of my favorites, is a result of Joe Rubin's resourcefulness, in bringing out the best picture quality possible from the High Definition transfer, and fixing those frustrating audio problems. And, the determination on behalf of VXP/Distribpix to make a high quality version of this film available to the public for the first time in 35 years. Thanks guys, for a job well done".

With a cast that includes legendary performers Jamie Gillis, Kim Pope, Marc "10 1/2" Stevens, Mary Stuart, Sonny Landham, and Alan Marlow and direction from one of the most innovative directors in the history of X rated cinema, Shaun Costello, whose other works include FORCED ENTRY, WATERPOWER, MIDNIGHT DESIRES, and DRACULA EXOTICA, PASSIONS is a perfect cinematic gift for any time of year.

Please head on over to the Video-X-Pix website for this title and many other classics!

WWW.VIDEOXPIX.COM

“Happiness, too, is inevitable”- A Tribute to Jamie Gillis

2010-12-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

By Heather Drain

Let’s face it, folks, the past two years have been horrible for losing great artists, especially for those of us who are into the fringe arts. Damiano, Lux Interior, Bill Landis, Ron Asheton, Brian “Smerdley” Shane, Jack Wrangler, Sky Saxon, Erica Boyer, Juliet Anderson and now Jamie Gillis.

Search Amazon.com for Jamie Gillis

I can’t even convey to you properly how weird it feels to type out that sentence, especially since the news only broke out a few days ago. Death is always a surprise but this was a case of it being genuinely shocking. This was a man that lived life to its fullest and for being 66 years old, he looked damn good. Better than anyone has a right to. But it’s not just appearances. There was something truly bigger than life about the man. Part of that was persona. Any fan of blue films worth his or her salt should be more than familiar with “the dark Prince of Porn. But Gillis was more than that, both as an actor and as a man. This was someone you could never just write off as this or that. When you do that, you’re usually missing the most beautiful and brilliant part of the picture. It is the layers of Gillis’s talent and intelligence that has always fascinated me.

Being an actor in the adult genre is a thankless job. If horror is the redheaded stepchild of “respectable” film criticism, then adult film is the illegitimate child that gets locked in the basement. This brand of creative snobbery frankly should have died as soon as it reared its snot-nosed head. Gerard Damiano was a better director than Steven Spielberg and Jamie Gillis could out-act the majority of 70’s mainstream actors. How many actors could pull off the psychological damage and intensity of the main character Burt in Water Power (1977) and then be able to switch to romantic and even funny in so many other films? Watching him keep up with the equally underrated Jack Baker in New Wave Hookers (1985) is proof positive of someone with serious comedic chops.

I never got to know the man personally, save perhaps for a very sweet Facebook rejection where he explained that he wanted to limit his account to friends and people actually within his real social circle, which I can definitely respect. I wouldn’t have blamed him or anyone for hitting the ignore button, but just the fact that he took the time out to politely explain himself spoke very well of his character. The fact that he was dealing with cancer and kept it a secret until the very end is incredibly humbling. Most of us whine, blog and tweet if we have a head cold, so to carry that kind of secret around with as much privacy and grace has to take an almost superhuman strength.

I do have friends who were lucky enough to know the man proper and had the chance to work with him on various levels and all of them only had great things to say. The detail that sticks out the most for me was being told that Gillis was the kind of guy that could talk you out of jumping off a building in less than five minutes-calmly, coolly and with a sensitive type of logic. Others spoke of his intellect, humor, no bullshit approach to life and a love of the arts.

Judging by various interviews I have read and seen with Gillis, I would add unnecessary humility to that list. This was someone who really didn’t give himself a lot of credit for the great offerings he gave to film. Anyone can screw, but few could do it with as much tenderness, aggression, passion, anger, humor and acting chops like this man. This is someone who is already very missed by fans, friends and loved ones alike.

Stereotypes are for the unimaginative and uninformed and someone like Jamie Gillis broke any stereotype one could have about an actor in fringe cinema. Period.

Wherever he is, I certainly hope he realizes what a talent and star he truly was.

*It has been requested that in lieu of flowers, Jamie had requested that contributions be made to the NYC Police Athletic League, an organization that helped him out as a boy and continues to assist children in New York City. Visit them ONLINE to help.

Pornagraphi (DVD) - Pink Flamingo Entertainment

2010-11-17T21:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a very interesting title available now from the great Danish adult film company, Pink Flamingo Entertainment.

Buy Pornagraphi now! Right here: www.absurd-online.dk

Pornografi consists of a series of short-films done by Ole Ege before the legalisation of pornography. Also included on this DVD is the notorious film about the farmgirl Bodil.

Extras:
“Bodil, en sommerdag i juli 1970” (1970)
“Den kinesiske maske” (1964)
Plus slideshow & 4-siders booklet af Ole Ege
Released by Pink Flamingo

Above description from Absurd-online.dk!

Movie Review: Maraschino Cherry

2010-11-13T23:30:00.001-08:00

Growing up in the '80s and '90s and being exposed to much of the XXX films of both eras, it was rare that a film was pleasing to the eye - aside from the copious amounts of naked bodies and sexual acts on display. Porn wasn't suppose to be something that you could hold up to other genre films in the technical sense. This is precisely why I love the '70s era of porn. Radley Metzger under his pseudonym of Henry Paris produced several soft-core, artsy erotica before he started producing much of the "high-class" pornography he's known for. Films like The Opening of Misty Beethoven and of course today’s Blue Cheese review, Maraschino Cherry. Maraschino Cherry along with Blonde Ambition and Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle are apart of the Elite Platinum Series from Video-X-Pix - a newer brand of adult DVD that really dwarfs most similar releases in every department.

Maraschino(Gloria Leonard, All About Gloria Leonard) is a madam for an upscale brothel in a high-rise building deep in Manhattan. She loves her job and does it well. Maraschino’s family want to get in on her business, namely her sister, Cherry(Jenny Baxter ,Hot Wives, Bloodsucking Freaks). Cherry wants to learn the trade and open up a brothel back home. Sounds simple enough right? Well, Metzger makes you think that early on, than it's off to fantasy land with our always creative frame-filler giving you the guided tour of Maraschino's house of pleasure. Maraschino Cherry is very heavy on the sex, it's also beautifully shot and damn colorful to boot. I found myself checking the areas around the sex act, as well as taking in the very hot "love scenes". Of course..then it was back to the sex on-screen .

Another thing I noticed about Maraschino Cherry is that some of the women are absolutely gorgeous. Annette Haven is lovely, but it was really Constance Money and C.J Laing that kept my attention . Gloria Leonard is perfect as "Maraschino", she takes full command and is perfectly believable as a cathouse authority figure. She imposes plenty of the said authority,in ample amounts. One scene in particular involves Leonard and Susan McBain, who plays a very sore dungeon prostitute-slave. Leonard spits out a memorable line to McBain pre-whipping, that had me rolling, "You'll have to be punished this morning. You're not disgusting enough". Classic!

Maraschino Cherry also has plenty of comic moments to go along with the rampant sex and rich scenery. A john in Maraschino's brothel has an interesting problem, every time this guy sneezes ,he blows his load. This man does have manners though, so of course he very casually wipes his wee wee with his very crusty handkerchief. Could it get any weirder? YES! This leads me to the world's first cinematic blumpkin. It's the worlds first, because it's the first time I've seen it. A toilet takes the place of a bed in this very odd scene. "Toilet Seat client"(Michael Gaunt, Babylon Blue, Corruption) really wants to engage in carnal activities on a commode, but he's terrified that he'll get an some social disease from the seat. This prompts yet another bit of dialogue that may stay buried in my brain: "Can I get V.D from a toilet seat??" Utter brilliance from Mr. Gaunt!

Video-X-Pix's, Platinum Elite Edition of Maraschino Cherry not only sports a lovely new transfer from original elements, it also has a wealth of supplementary materials including: Interviews with star ,Gloria Leonard, a booklet covering the production of Maraschino Cherry and the "Aristocrat of Erotica", Radley Metzger from “golden age” historian Benson Hurst, trailers for All About Gloria Leonard and Inside Seka, bonus scenes from All About Gloria Leonard and Misbehavin' and possibly my favorite goodie, an original film cell from Maraschino Cherry in protective plastic. The Leonard interviews are incredibly insightful as she is as candid as can be. The actress talks about everything. Ladies actually got payed a minimal amount back in the '70s ($200 to $400 dollars) and that it wasn't by the scene, it was for a whole day! If you had to fuck all day, you did. She was a true blue collar porn-star who brought her lunch pail everyday. Leonard is also proud of the fact that during her career she never had to fuck Ron Jeremy. Some of the more eye-opening anecdotes I caught involved her dating of a few very notable wealthy celebrities - Ted Turner, Larry King and the very "romantic" Robin Leach. The production of Maraschino Cherry is also brought up, Leonard was introduced to Metzger by her friend, the late Jamie Gillis.

I really don't know how long Video-X-Pix is going to do these superb Platinum Elite releases but I sure hope it continues for many of their other current catalog titles as well as new releases they may unearth . They really are true DVD collector’s items. Maraschino Cherry is easily in the top five adult films of all time, if I were to make a list. The fact this release is also packaged so well, with the slip-case and inserts to go along with already amazing material on both DVDs, is a vintage porn fan’s wet-dream come true!

Make sure you head on over to http://www.videoxpix.com/ for Maraschino Cherry and other fine golden age adult films!

Sleazy 70s Stags on DVD!

2010-11-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

Available for the first time to home entertainment, this astounding authentic 8mm Home Projector Loop Collection from the Sleazy '70s features Big-Busted-Beauties Uschi Digard (ILSA, SHE-WOLF OF THE SS, SUPER-VIXENS), Candy Samples (FLESH GORDON, BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE ULTRA-VIXENS) and Grindhouse Hottie Rene Bond (FANTASM, CHIC '69). 24 Loops Plus Over 30 Minutes of Vintage Sexploitation Trailers on 1 DVD Over 3 Hours of Content!

Get your gigantic sloppy knocker fix now! Only from Independent Entertainment and MVD Visual.

Sleazy '70s Stags
http://www.mvdb2b.com/

Movie Review: Joy

2010-11-06T16:02:00.000-07:00

After reviewing Shaun Costello's classic rape-themed porn sickie, Forced Entry, another title dealing with rape included in its narrative came to my attention. This time it's a comedy, titled Joy, from director, Harley Mansfield. Joy's premise is actually quite original. The story involves a frigid young woman named Joy(Sharon Mitchell) who has no desire to have sex with her very eager boyfriend, Rick(Jay Pierce). On the way home from school one day, Joy is attacked by two hoodlums. She's forcibly knocked to the ground and raped by one of the slime-bags. As he pulls away upon ejaculation, Joy lunges toward him asking for "more". This scares the shit out of both. They bail as if they were the one victimized. Joy is now a new woman, exhilarated and very sexually charged from her unorthodoxed encounter.

Not before long, Joy is hailed a hero and sexual liberator of the city. This isn't something Lt. Handcock(Jake Teague) finds at all kosher. He even goes so far to build his own army of penile mercenaries determined to wipe that infectious smile off of Joy's face. One of Handcock's soldiers is packing some serious firepower, in the form of a 10 inch soup can shaped member. What's a girl to do?

Joy certainly lives up to her name, as she pleasures many of the city’s men and women by surprise. R. Bolla (Debbie Does Dallas, More Than Sisters), plays a business man, unsatisfied with his sex life who gets caught in "Joy" mania when he's cornered in an alley by the "female rapist". It's a pretty amusing scene as we get to see Mitchell and Bolla screw on a pile of garbage. The sex scenes in Joy overall are pretty good. Mitchell gives a highly commendable blow-job in both its technique and execution on Jay Pierce in a shower. Sharon knows how to handle a mans goods, as she enthusiastically chugs away on his wang. She even ends it with a kiss on the tip. Now that's just sweet.

There is one scene I wasn't too fond of, where Joy is pleasuring a woman in a God-awful Sideshow Bob wig. I can understand anonymity but please maybe go for something a little more subtle like say...dreadlocks. Another interesting scene that was towards the conclusion of our feature involved Teague and Mitchell finally meeting in a hospital room. All I can say is that a gun is involved in they're lovemaking process.It certainly pushes the limits a bit... but hey it's the dirty '70s!

Joy is definitely not politically correct - the story line alone would not fly in today's porn, but it doesn't ever feel too mean. It's actually quite funny at times (Bolla's explosion in the alley made me chuckle) and does not get boring, as Teague and Mitchell are quite enthusiastic in both of their roles. You can find Joy and other fine "Golden Age" films at the Video-X-Pix website: http://www.videoxpix.com/ .

Movie Review: Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle

2010-11-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

Meet Annie Sprinkle. She’s an incredibly curvaceous red-head, sporting colossal DD breasts and vanilla skin. Annie loves sex. All kinds of sex - rough sex, soft sex, wet sex, smelly sex, any kind of sex with a woman or man(or both at the same time). Annie is an exhibitionist who would also like you to watch her have sex with numerous partners, exploring nearly all avenues of sexual fulfillment including: anal sex, cunnilingus, analingus, golden showers, titty fucking, "Dove"fucking(a nipple is used to rub on a clit) and good ol' fashion fuckin'. Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle: Platinum Edition from Video-X-Pix shows Annie doing all the above. If you like gigantic melons and truly wild sex please continue reading.

Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle is somewhat of a personal venture for Sprinkle. It’s almost like Annie invited you over to her house, chatted with you a little, showed you some pictures of her as a child, pictures of family then coaxes you to watch her do her favorite thing, have sex…lots of it. The first thing Annie would like to bring to your attention, is that there are two naked men arm-wrestling(!!) in front of her fireplace. Annie loves muscle-bound beefcake. She swiftly takes control of the situation, draining both gentlemen of their life-giving fluids.

As I mentioned earlier, Annie enjoys all people – even a tiny young lady waiting in her bedroom. Sprinkle enormous rack gets suckled for a good five minutes before, Annie lays the tiny minx on her bed and uses her tongue on her clit until the girl literally has an orgasmic seizure. It’s either really good acting or this woman had the tingle of her life. Of course after this session of frenzied box-munching, Annie could use Ron Jeremy’s mammoth member between her creamy white jugs for some titty fucking. This is the early ‘80s, so Ron is very svelt. The “Hedegehog” penetrates her cleavage until he leaves his milky coating all over Annie’s chin.

We all know by now, Annie doesn’t have any sexual hang-ups. She’s willing to do anything. Annie begins to tell the audience about her fresh manicure.”You ever wonder why I have my nails short”. I moved a little in my chair here. Our lovely pornstar’s digits begin to stimulate the prostate of her very content male partner. She’s loving every minute of it to! Again, Annie is alpha-female – in full control.

Probably the most amusing scene in Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle is when Annie, all dolled up from head to toe, enters a porn theater playing one of her films. She enjoys surprising her fans. A few very lucky Annie fanatics get to experience any in “real” 3D. Fuck Avatar! This is also a hell of a way to market yourself. More actresses need to do so. Jessica Alba?? Scarlet Johansen?? Anyone??

Video-X-Pix’s, Platinum Elite Collection release of Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle has a tremendous amount of quality bonus features. Annie does a live video commentary over the film on disc two. This lady has a ton of stories to tell including on production and how she really aimed at getting the audience involved in the film. She also talks about how she was a bit prudish until the age of 17, when she had finally lost her virginity. After 17, she explored sex high doses. Some recollections of Joe Sarno and Arthur Morowitz are also brought up and bring a cool element of vintage porn nostalgia to the unique track.

Disc three contains yet another informative interview on all things Annie Sprinkle, that lasts about 40 minutes. We’re also treated to some steamy bonus scenes from Consenting Adults and Slippery When Wet. Rounding out the extras are a finger puppet of Annie that will make fans want to do their own Annie Sprinkle puppet show. Finally, we have a booklet, jam packed with information. It’s titled Deep Inside “Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle” and written by XXX film historian Benson Hurst. The booklet is well written and yet another treat in this fine package.

Now you’re probably wondering, how does the image and sound quality fair? For one, Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle is digitally re-mastered from the original 35mm negative. The color looks excellent and the sound is very clear. Being an adult film this is a top-notch transfer. The feature is presented in its original aspect ratio, 1.66:1 and is anamorphic widescreen. Oh, and yes, this is the Uncut version! Any truncated golden shower footage is completely intact. Grab your umbrella...cuz it's gonna rain!

Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle is an outstanding release all around. I encourage Annie Sprinkle fans and vintage porn enthusiasts to head on over to Video-X-Pix’s website: www.videoxpix.com and purchase this essential “golden age” DVD.

Movie Review: The Voyeur

2010-11-02T11:02:00.000-07:00

Take a look to the left at the cover of Brass's soft core erotica film, "The Voyeur (L'uomo Che Guarda)". Like what you see? Well good because Voyeur is chalk full of dairy aire supplied from naked curvaceous European women. This is a Tinto Brass film and if your acquainted with his work then you know what you're in for. The Voyeur however is my first foray into Tinto's work. I've known about him and his legendary status as an erotica filmmaker but have never had the chance to see it for myself until now. I can't say this is the best place to start in his vast catalog (Caligula, Salon Kitty) but it definitely suffices. The plot centers around Eduardo "Dodo" who is, you guessed it, a voyeur.

The plot goes like this. Dodo is a professor of French literature and lives in a nice penthouse with his bed ridden father Alberto and busty in house nurse Fausta. Silvia, Eduardo's blonde and beautiful wife has left him for another man. Dodo becomes extremely jealous and turns to his voyeur fetish in her absence. Dodo begins to watch everyone around him perform sexual acts. Dodo even secretly watches Fausta as she does more than just take care of Alberto, at his request. Eduardo also daydreams frequently, especially about Silvia. He also has flashbacks from when Dodo was younger about watching his mother and father having sex. All of this ties in together to form a predictable finale but it is an enjoyable watch.

When watching The Voyeur I actually felt like one myself. Many shots are first person, giving the notion that you are observing the carnal acts through Dodo's eyes. Tinto also directs scenes from a bird eyes view, giving the impression that maybe others are watching. Eyes are a very important factor in this film, pictures of them are all over the walls in Dodo's penthouse. Tinto's loving affection for asses is clearly shown. Whenever a female character is on screen, you know a behind shot is not far away. Breasts are on full display as well. Fausta struts around the house with her jugs popping out with zero care. Only thing that was pretty, shall I say oft putting, was the various women with chewbacca mane vagina's and...armpits. Seeing a beautiful woman with hair protruding from her pits is, well, gross. Moving along now...

Voyeur is actually a pretty good film. If you look past the strange customs of Europeans, how Silvia rubs her vagina in restaurant's for others to see, Alberto having a dildo for a cock (not joking) and Fausta masturbating with a cigar then this should be up your alley. As stated previously, it's a Tinto Brass film...you know what you're in for.

Cult Epics brings Voyeur to DVD in a Special Edition with a good anamorphic widescreen transfer. I had no problems with it, it's an independent erotica film from the 90's, it's a good as it allows. There a two audio tracks. One is the Italian language with optional English subtitles and a newly recorded English language track. Extras include: Photo Gallery, Trailers for Private, Cheeky!, Frivolous Lola, Miranda, All Ladies Do It, The Key and The Voyeur. A 20 minute interview with Tinto himself. Brass discusses his career, Voyeur, the novel it's adapted from, music and the director's cut. Also there is a Sneak Preview of Tinto's latest film, "Kick the Cock". Overall I have to say Cult Epics continues to give erotica films the respect they deserve.