Sip the Wine (1976)

Something rare tonight, a San Francisco production who was the only film directed by Dan Caldwell, if the name sound familiar it's probably because Caldwell was a TV actor and a lead in Nightmare in Blood.

The film vanished from the face of the earth (technically speaking of course) until one of my friend shared his copy online yesterday. Enough talking, time to jump in the film...

We start at the beach with Virginia and Micheal, a young couple in love, but when Michael try to get his way with his girlfriend she refuses to let him go all the way so he left her.

Anni Long and James Whalen

Flash forward three years after at San Francisco where Virginia arrives to visit her friend Lisa. They go at a restaurant and a chain of events is started by that decision. Indeed they meet the owner and talk with him on the terrace drinking wine. While doing so they learn that he is in the film business and the trio go at the studio where one of his film is made. When they arrive the film director isn't happy since he don't want people on his set but surprise... the director is Michael and the old couple meet again after all those years.

Colin Phillips and Veronica Taylor

James Whalen and Anni Long

Without surprise they revive their ancient romantic relationship and Lisa begin one with Jeremy. Everything is perfect but not for long... Michael's film project have all kind of problem with the cast and the crew, it goes seriously over budget and the new relation doesn't help since he was in a relation with Alameda the film AD before the return of Virginia in his life.

Marion Eaton

Things aren't better for Jeremy who see his relation with Lisa shattered in pieces when an actress fired from the shot come at his house and reveal that he is always married and warn Lisa that he will use and betray her too.

Dianne Montgomery

Don't worry the film end (the one we watch not the one made in the film) on a good note, Jeremy explains to Lisa why he is always married and we go full circle with Virginia and Michael at the beach.

George S. McDonald

Often when a film is lost it's because it isn't that good, but this one was enjoyable. Just don't expect a sex filled movie, indeed the focus is more on the story than the actions (which is fine with me) and part of the sex isn't really hardcore (think early seventies softcore).

The story is simple but interesting, the film is well shot (too bad it's probably the wrong screen ratio since this is sourced from a tape), the acting is very good (most of the cast use alias and some sure look familiar) and we see that a professional crew was used for the film.

Hard to find and you won't find it at any online store, in fact it's an exclusive on the Vintage Erotica Forum, but it's a perfect example of what was made at San Francisco in the seventies.