"Linda Lovelace's Loose Lips: The Last Interview With Legs McNeil" DVD (directors: Alex Chmaj and Legs McNeil)

Revealing doc on tragic porn star

Built around the legendary Linda Lovelace's final interview (before a tragic auto accident in 2002), this excellent documentary places it into a historical context with plenty of side interviews and footage from her short-lived film career. For those not in the know, Lovelace was the star of 1972's "Deep Throat" -- the largest grossing hardcore porno of all-time, and the film that in considered to have made adult film "mainstream". At the time, Lovelace seemed destined for superstardom, but she quickly retreat from the adult entertainment scene, and even spent years rallying against it.

This documentary attempts to answer some of the questions left behind by Lovelace and her claims that she was forced to do "blue movies" by her abusive and powerful manager-husband. Some holes are poked in many of Lovelace's comments, and indeed Lovelace seems to have been proven (at worst) a liar (and at best, a deluded and sad mental case). 

The saga of "Deep Throat" is a fascinating one, and it's peppered with all kinds of sensational claims (Lovelace's reported abuse, mafia involvement, the Anti-Porn Movement that followed, and the Hollywood insiders who befriended Lovelace -- Hugh Hefner, Sammy Davis Jr, and others). "Loose Lips" attempts to tie up some of these loose ends, and is an engrossing and entertaining look at a complex -- and troubled -- individual who never seemed to find the peace (or notoriety) she so desperately desired.

MVD Visual

"Satan's Sex Party 1970s Collection" DVD

Old-time proto-porn with dark inclinations...

This "Grindhouse Triple Feature" combines three 1970 adult films onto one disc, but those expecting some hardcore action will likely be disappointed. Filmed quickly in the pre-hardcore porn era, these are all sexploitation, pure and simple, but lacking much besides (what seems like) simulated sex and nudity. For fans of the "au naturel" look (if you get my drift, man), unkept body hair, and crazy swingers' outfits and hairstyles, this is a set for you.

The first film, "Madame Satan", is a shallow "supernatural"-themed quickie. Plot be damned, though. It all begins with a promise of a seance. Then we quickly dispense with that, and head straight into sunny jazz music and bedtime scenes. A hammy, lamb-chopped brute engages in a number of orgy-like frolics, and the men never actually achieve erections. Huh? 

Second film up is "Sex And The Single Vampire", which features John Holmes himself as a solitary (and awkward) vampire whose home is invaded by a group of horny swingers. Holmes himself doesn't really get involved, but he likes to observe, anyway, as all of his once-vacent bedrooms are made much, much warmer.

Finally, the last film here is the short (36-minutes) "Devil's Handmaiden", which is a weird and almost psychedelic vignette featuring a creepy facepainted loon who stalks free-love kids, while arranging sexual liaisons for them, in exchange for their souls. Yes, it's odd and certainly beyond freaky.

A couple of these films suffer a bit from some scratchy prints, but that's not unusual for these long-lost gems of early adult cinema. And though these may not be essential, fans of obscure adult filmmaking will find these fascinating, if not titillating.

Independent Entertainment

"San Francisco Grindhouse Triple Feature" 2xDVD

This selection of marginal 70's-era sexploitation (aka early hardcore porn) doesn't offer much aside from a curious look at the depths and budgetary constraints of the era. Centered around San Francisco (in itself a hotbed of creativity and free-thinking since the sixties), these three films failed to impress me.

First was "Wendy's Naughty Night", directed by Nick Philips (who, oddly, went on to direct horror later in his career). This 1973 skin-flick was hippie hardcore at it's not-so-finest, complete with weirdly whimsical musical soundtrack. This one was a weird tale of damaged, but free-spirited Wendy, who supported an deadbeat artist boyfriend, but loved to frolic in the sack (when not with her therapist reminiscing about her lesbian inclinations). As it is, "Wendy's Naughty Night" is a mess, with flimsy plot, very little dialogue, and awful acting. And the action was nothing to remark about, either. 

"Siv, A Swedish Girl" was also the work of director Philips, and despite a mismatched audio track (bad overdubbing), this 1971 hardcore features a trippy psychedelic jazz soundtrack. Definitely a period piece, "Siv" is forgettable at best, with most of the "action" being mostly nude writhing. Poetic voiceovers are hackneyed, with amateur imagery and silly effects. Other adjectives I'd use to describe "Siv" are haphazard and disjointed. The murder-suicide "climax" is absolutely unexpected (and, I"m sure, off-putting to period moviegoers who simply wanted a good time), and certainly points to director Philips' future in horror, but it doesn't change that this is simply a bad movie.

Attached to the disc with "Siv, A Swedish Girl" are a series of Joe Sarno trailers, which fare much, much better. Seventies gems like "Butterflies", featuring the amazing Marie Forsa, are previewed here. The great sets and cinematography in these trailers make the feature-length films on this set look just heinous!

The third disc in this set, lest we forget, is an afterthought from 1976, directed by Tom Hofmann.This one features the always-entertaining Joey Silvera as a regular joe who, in need of some cash, takes a job as a porno star, much to his girlfriend's chagrin. Well, the girlfriend, played by Linda Wong, decides to "get even" by hanging out with some swinger friends, so you can imagine the obvious here. It's not a noteworthy or particularly memorable film, but the action does get wilder and steamier than the two supposed "marquee" names in this "grindhouse" collection.

All-in-all, some pretty forgettable work, and worthy only as a time capsule of the early-to-mid-seventies scene. 

(After Hours Cinema)

"Grindhouse Hostage" 2xDVD

This 2-disc, 3-movie set of 70's-era hardcore misses the mark more than it hits, but that doesn't mean there aren't some entertaining scenes here and there. All three films are centered on hostage situations, as the title implies, but all three are vastly different.

Up first is "Virgin Hostage", which would've worked if not for the male characters' saggy, limp performances. And I mean that in every sense. As in the actors can't get, uh, interested in the ladies. It's a tale of a gang of bank robbing fools who abduct several young ladies, and attempt to mount them. Sad, really.

"Play Only With Me" fares much better, as a girl (Kris) has a one-night stand with unwitting Richard, who doesn't realize (until it's too late) that Kris is an obsessive, gun-toting stalker, possibly homicidal, and threateningly jealous of Richard's serious girlfriend (played by the fine Desiree West). This one has some fair dialogue, some solid action, and some well-endowed ladies. No problems there!

The final film here is a Danish import, and overdubbed. It's called "The Blue Balloon", and is a tale of a ruthless lesbian white slave trader who sells a hapless young wife to a series of awful men. It's a sad and lonely tale of a woman broken and degraded, and in today's climate, this is a tough one to watch.

So, in summation -- win some and lose some. If this weren't enough to convince you, there's a plethora of trailers as an added bonus on disc 2. (After Hours Cinema)

"The Early Films Of John Holmes" 2xDVD

This recently-reissued set of early Holmes hardcore films provides nary a hint of the maniac "Mr. 13-And-A-Half" later became, as he plunged into substance abuse and unstable (and criminal) behavior. On the contrary, Holmes here had only marginal roles in these films, and his reserved behavior was in contrast to what was to come. But that's a tale for another time. We're here to review, so we shall.

This trio of fairly forgettable early-to-mid-70s pornos begins with "S.M.A.S.H.", or alternately titled "How To Get Hung" -- a weird and incongruous cornucopia of hospital-themed escapades. Co-starring supposedly well-known early porn goddess Judy Angel (as a prudish nurse), there are some decent scenes (but very little with our man Holmes). Deserving of mention, though, is the rather shocking sex-change "skit" that stupefies even today. I can't say more, but it is weird and well-done, especially on such a shoestring budget.

Second in this set is "Benny's Bungles", which begins as an affirmation of the era itself...shag carpets, turtlenecks, and polyester. Holmes stars as "Benny" -- a weirdo who collects morbid torture devices. Not that he uses them here, as it's a common 70s era set of wife-swapping orgies and madness (likely fueled by some illegal chemicals). Ho hum. Or is that hoes and hum(mers)?

Third and last in this set is "New Girl In Town", which is a groovy early 70s skin flick with little going for it, really. The initial acting and dialogue is diabolically bad. I did, nonetheless, enjoy a shamefully unidentified raven-haired, large-breasted lass (NOT Judy Angel) in her "performance", though (making up for her shameful "acting"). As well, the soundtrack here is a high point, believe it or not! Less gaudy and intrusive than others of its era, this one includes some moody classical and theatrical sounds, rather than the staple funky stuff. 

Another plus of this "lengthy" (hahah!) collection is a series of similar smut-minded trailers that After Hours Cinema filled disc B with. Nice touch! A couple of these I wouldn't mind seeing. Overall, I'd say a solid set for Holmes fans, or collectors of seventies porn, but others will see as little more than a novelty due to Holmes' legendary size and status. (After Hours Cinema)