Monday, September 27, 2010

800 Fantasy Lane (1979)

Second part of our Svetlana's double features this time with her first film. I must begin by saying that this film is rather different from what she will do later. Not that is has not its share of beautiful actresses (which is her forte), but the fact that the film contains a scene quite violent. So once again the scenario is rather simplistic, but effective. Vic (Jamie Gillis) and John (Sam Grady) two pump attendants pretend to be rich oil magnates seeking an office in Hollywood, using the services of Hollywood Star Realty, an agency whose employees will do anything for a sale.

I begin by mentioning since the question was posed to me several times that this is not the version originally presented in theaters, so the fisting scene between Desiree Cousteau and Serena is absent. That said it is a small disappointment since usually the dvds of Wild Side Video are uncut, but it's the only one I had.

If you're a fan of Jamie Gillis (who isn't?) you will certainly appreciate since he is present in the vast majority of the film and as usual his performance is flawless. If you have already watch this movie you know that the highlight of the film is the scene in the cage where Gillis sees himself as a trainer and he must tame Serena, Aubrey Nichols (with an awesome body painting job) and Lisa DeLeeuws. But for me it's the domination scene taking place in the basement of the Hollywood Hills Mansion that is the highlight. Probably one of the most successful I've seen thanks to the high complicity between Jamie Gillis and Serena (the fact that everything is done for real could displease some by cons). An excellent comedy with, in addition of the names already mentioned, Chris Anderson (her first film), Nancy Suiter, Hillary Summers, and Debi Gunter. Without forgetting the excellent cinematography works of Garry Graver, as you can see in the screenshots below.



 This film is available at Amazon France and countains an interesting interview featuring Jamie Gillis and Serena (she is always great looking).

Next releases in this collection in december with The ecstasy girls and Desires Within Young Girls.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Sex Boat (1980)

As I already mentioned a few weeks ago I expected this month two new titles in the collection "L'âge d'or du X américain" publish by Wild Side Video and I got them yesterday. So without further ado the first title review.
 This is a production of Svetlana, so even before the movie started we can expect a fun movie filled with great looking girls. What will be the case since the distribution includes among others Cody Nicole, Nicole Black, Kandi Barbour, Little Oral Annie, Kelly Nichols, Sylvia Benedict and Loni Sanders. So the story takes place on a cruise ship reserved for a female clientele, which does not happen since two male passengers (Randy West and Turk Lyon) slip on the boat by disguising themselves as women (a scenario that Svetlana will use again four years later in the excellent Bad Girls III). There is also a plot regarding the abduction of a wealthy heiress (Sylvia Benedict), a pirate attack and an introduction that has nothing to do with the rest of the film.
Like most of the other films directed by Svetlana the scenario is not really important and is more a pretext to discover new talents (which I don't like usually, but with the films of Svetlana this is not the case). The interpretation is variable, but Randy West and Turk Lyon give a funny performance. The cinematography by João Fernandes is excellent which is not that surprising since he is one of the best director of photography  in the adult cinema with Larry Revene, Bruce Sparks and Garry Graver. This is not a film that I consider essential (especially at this price), but if you want something fun and enjoyable to watch this movie might interest you. It should be noted that once again the quality of the materials used for this DVD is excellent (as you can see in those screen captures).



This film is available at Amazon France.

Friday, September 17, 2010

After Hours Cinema Grindhouse Director Series

Since I'm an amateur film reviewer and not a dvd reviewer I don't usually talk about the future dvd release, but for this one I make an exception. Why? Easy, the two previous volumes are high quality and I am a big fan of Carter Stevens.
 
After Hours Cinema proudly announces
TEENAGE TWINS COLLECTION
The Films of Carter Stevens Vol. 2: 1976 – 1977

ROLLERBABIES - TEENAGE TWINS - PUNK ROCK
THREE FEATURE FILM COLLECTION!!
LOADED WITH DVD EXTRAS! STARRING TWINS BROOKE and TAYLOR YOUNG! Plus ERIC EDWARDS, TERRI HALL, MARY STUART and others!

This director approved 3-film package also contains one-of-a-kind interviews and commentary tracks with director Carter Stevens, extensive liners notes, trailers and more.

NEW DIGITAL RESTORATION FROM THE ONLY EXISTING FILM ELEMENTS
Approved by director Carter Stevens


You can pre-order at a special price since you will pay only 22.99$ and not the regular price of 27.99$. You can believe me this set worth the price asked for and even more...

You can read my old review of Rollerbabies here

Joy (1977)

Pleasant classic this time. Joy (Sharon Mitchell) is a young girl who is terrified at the idea of having a sexual relationship to the point where her boyfriend (Jay Pierce) leaves her. The day of their split-up she is raped in her apartment by two thugs. After a struggle she perceives that sex is not such a bad thing. As she will not be satisfied by the thugs, she will do the same with the inhabitants of New York. This does not seem like a greatly develloped scenario (one could even think it's pretty sexist), but this is really not the case. Rather it is an allegory about the society in general and its fear of sex in particular. In fact the film clearly shows that sex is not scary and even useful (just see the satisfaction of Robert Kerman after he was attacked). Everything is presented in a positive and pleasant way (if we except the beginning of Joy's rape). I also like the fact that the scenes are really short. I may be wrong but I interpret this as the disappointment that Joy feels after these relationships (she doesn't get enough). Sharon Mitchell (who looks great in this by the way) provides an excellent performance in this film and there is also a police investigation to find her. The head of the investigation is played by Jake Teague and I must admit that it is his best performance as an actor (not to mention that this is not his usual casting).


The distribution includes many familiar faces (Crystal Sync, Philip Marlowe, Herschel Savage, Veri Knotty, Clea Carson, Bobby Astyr, Gloria Leonard, Roger Caine, Dave Ruby, Eric Edwards ,...), but also many unknowns. Strangely it is the only film directed by Harley Mansfield, but this is probably an alias for someone else ...

This film is available from Video-X-Pix and do I need to say that this one deserve a special edition with a commentary track with Sharon Mitchell (getting Teague for it would be awesome but he doesn't want to talk about this part of his life...). Too bad the shitty economy and the piracy prevent us to get this...
 
 

Monday, September 13, 2010

Dr. Bizarro (1983)

Tonight I chose a Phil Prince's film so you already know what to expect without even having seen the film. For those who don't know who is Phil Prince you just need to know that he was the principal director for Avon Productions in the early 80s and he has in his resume some classics like The Story of Prunella, The Taming of Rebecca, Kneel Before Me and Oriental Techniques in Pain and Pleasure. Obviously these films are not for everyone since they are quite violent, but they usually have a story to follow (with the exception of Oriental Techniques in Pain and Pleasure that make no sense). The one I selected this evening did not really have one,  it consists of three short scenarios intersected by the intervention of a doctor (Phil Prince) explaining the different cases.
 
The first case concerns a father (George Payne) who catch his daughter (Velvet Summers) and one of her friend (Ambrosia Fox) on the verge of a lesbian relationship who decide to discipline them. Of course the discipline involves both physical and sexual degradations. We are therefore entitled to a mixture of incest, ass slapping and evidently of verbal degradation since George Payne is present to be the "game master". This parts is the best one (and quite arousing) mostly due to George Payne, who excels in this type of role.
 
The second case is about the sadomasochistic games between a couple (Cheri Champagne and Alan Adrian) . There will be no surprises if I write that Alan Adrian is the masochist of our couple. This guy really has a high tolerance level. Watching a penis pinched with clothespins, slapped, beaten with a stick and  a pair of testicles slapped isn't what I might call the most enjoyable thing to watch on the screen (want it or not  we feel the pain). Everything is fine until an intruder (Big Randy Rod) make his entrance through a window and attacks the woman physically and verbally. It all ends with a rape which also involved her husband. Again this segment is quite successful thanks to the credible performance of the players, at least Cheri Champagne seems to be struggling against her attacker and not enjoying it.
 
The third and last act concerns a case of voyeurism that ends in verbal domination. Ken Yontz is the voyeur who will be dominated by his neighbor (Troy Scalpini). This part is uninteresting, rather boring and does certainly not compared with what preceded it.

As I already mentioned between each case we are entitled to the very non-politically correct comments of Dr. Laurence (but it's more fun to use his real name and to write Dr. Phil).

The version I own doesn't seem to be complete since the version included in the Avon Dynasty Box Set (1980's) countains four cases and not three, but the internet adult film database doesn't seem to agree on that.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

She's No Angel (1976)

Something more interesting this time: a one day wonder directed by Shaun Costello. In this movie Sharon Mitchell is a young 13 years old girl on the eve of receiving an inheritance of five million from her grandfather. This obviously does not please her stepmother (Marlene Willoughby) who wants the inheritance for herself. Luckily for her there is a clause in the will that specifies that the girl must be of sound mind at her fourteenth birthday. She will therefore try to make the girl institutionalized because she is a nymphomaniac. Does the doctor (Shaun Costello) will see clearly in her game or is the poor girl will end her days in an institution?
 
I've never fallen on a production of Shaun Costello I did not like and this film is no exception. As usual the story is well put in place even though the film lasts less than an hour (56 min) and one gets the impression of listening to a movie and not a series of unrelated sex scenes. What makes the film's strength is the interpretation of Shaun Costello (he is a great actor when he wants to be one) and Marlene Willoughby (she has some great lines in this film). The rest of the cast that includes Sharon Mitchell, Beth Anna, Alexandria Cass, David Christopher, Leo Lovemore and Ashley Moore provide adequate performances.
 
The film uses well the flashback technique to tell the events that will bring the decision on the institutionalization of the girl. Obviously everything is not perfect since it takes a lot of imagination to see Sharon Mitchell and  Beth Anna as two thirteen years old girls. But  it's the only criticism I can do and, in fact, it isn't really one as if the girls would have looked too young it would have been really unpleasant to watch. For those interested there is also a  double vaginal penetration scene in this movie (not that I find that really exciting to watch).
 
The film is available on DVD-R from Something Weird Video and in the more costly (but it's fifteen films) Shaun Costello Collection from Alpha Blue Archives.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

On Golden Blonde (1984)

This one is definitely a trip to memory lane. I rented this film on numerous occasions when I was a teenager (obviously the fact that there were only about ten videos available has certainly played a role in this). The story is quite interesting at first, but as many productions of this period it isn't the priority. The film begins in heaven with a discussion between an angel (W.O. Williams) and Alice (Christy Canyon) which seems to be in a very bad mood. Indeed, there was  a case of mistaken identity and Alice should be still alive. The angel will have to correct his mistake and he will do it by finding a new body for Alice. It is from here that the problems begin. Indeed what could be an interesting parody of Heaven Can Wait is only an excuse for a series of sex scene more or less interesting (in fact much less than more). This is surely a disappointment when you consider the fact that the distribution includes among other Ginger Lynn, Gina Carrera (as chance would have it a few days ago I watched Suburbia her first film), Jamie Gillis, Tom Byron and Peter North. The scenario is simply faulty, there is indeed a bit of humor, but except for the first exchange when Alice takes possession of the body of Marilyn (Ginger Lynn) this does not really work. Also having consecutive scenes with the same actress (and twice!) Is quite ordinary. It would be possible to get over these weaknesses considering the time of the production, but there is something else entirely unforgivable. Indeed the film is poorly shot, the cameraman (I can't name him because the credits are  completly unreadable) is unable to find a good angle for filming. What you will agree, does not help when the film part is weak.

So except for the memories of my youth this film has nothing special and certainly does not deserve a positive recommendation. One thing is certain, it was much easier to please me when I was 16 years old  than now at 40.