This week we go back forty five years to 1977. For me and my family, 1977 was the year we made the decision to move from New Jersey to Florida. It turned out to be the right move at the right time in many ways. What do you remember?
As always, we begin by taking a look at the cost of living then. The average income in the U.S. was $15,000 a year and the average cost of a brand new 3 bedroom home was $49,000. A brand new Chevy Nova was $3,900 and gas was just 65 cents a gallon. You could by a 5” portable TV for $150 and complete stereo system for $250. Women’s tunics were in fashion and only $11 and men’s leather slip on shoes just $14. Some of the 1977 news headlines……New York City suffers a total blackout that lasted more than 24 hours……Jimmy Carter is elected President…….the Trans Alaskan pipeline opens…….The Medal of Freedom was awarded posthumously to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr……The much heralded World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York City are completed……The death of Elvis Presley at age 42 shocks the entire world……..Apple introduces the first computers…….Voyager I and Voyager II are launched unmanned to explore the outer solar system………A new diet program called Slim Fast comes on the market And of course, who could forget the introduction of the Chia Pet?
In the world of entertainment some of the big hit Hollywood films include Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Rocky, Annie Hall, Saturday Night Fever and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Among the pop music hit makers were The Eagles, Barbra Striesand, Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees and Fleetwood Mac. As for TV shows The Carol Burnett Show, McMillan and Wife, Columbo, Family Feud and Welcome Back Kotter were among the big hits. In 1977 we lost a number of celebrities, among them comedian Groucho Marx, basketball coach Adolph Rupp, actress Joan Crawford, band leader Guy Lombardo, singer/actor Bing Crosby and comedian/film maker Charlie Chaplin.
In the world of porn it was becoming more popular as films continued to mesh good storylines and good acting with sex scenes. Most were still being done in New York, but there was some west coast movement. Regular movie theaters were showing porn films on a limited basis as popularity among older couples began to increase. There were some excellent adult films in 1977 such as the one we revisit today, “Eruption”.
“Eruption” – J.G. Films/ Cal Vista – Director – Stanley Kurlan – Cast – Leslie Bovee, Susan Hart, Carry Welton, John Holmes, Eric Evol, others
This porn classic went where few had gone in porn’s early days. The entire production was filmed on location in Hawaii and it had, for that time, a large budget of more than $45,000 along with a large cast. It was a solid takeoff of a 1944 Hollywood film that had been nominated for seven Oscars, “Double Indemnity” which starred Barbara Stanwyck, Fred McMurray and Edward G. Robinson. When all was said and done director Stanley Kurlan pulled off an excellent adult film that would go on to become one of the true classics of the golden age.
In this X rated version, the story and plot centers on Sandra (Leslie Bovee) a wealthy heiress. She meets up with an insurance salesman, Peter (John Holmes) on the beach. She wants nothing to do with him the first time they meet and can’t stand his forward style. However, Sandra is a deceptive woman and begins to think he just might be the perfect partner for the plan she has. So they get to know each other and she is convinced Peter will be perfect for her devious plot. Sandra persuades Peter to sell her husband a $2 million life insurance policy. After having a sexual encounter with Sandra it’s hard for Peter to resist her in any way. Now that she has Peter hooked she easily persuades him to knock off her husband so she can get the money, they can share it and live happily ever after. He is so wrapped up with Sandra and the sex they have he gives in and does what she asks. It all goes off without a hitch, or does it? This brings in a hardnosed P.I. and things begin to change. Peter finally puts it all together and realizes Sandra was using him and is going to betray him and leave him hanging.
So he turns to her sex hungry stepdaughter Angie (Susan Hart) to help him turn the tables on her and also Angie’s boyfriend, Scott. As they plan to expose Sandra, they become aware the boyfriend Scott, has been in cahoots with Sandra all along to get the money and then Sandra and Scott would run off together with the money after they do away with Peter and Angie leaving no chance of discovery behind.
The sex scenes are captured very well with great backdrops, lighting and pack plenty of steam. Watching Holmes huge bone getting the oral treatment from Leslie is truly something to see. In turn he gives the ladies a good ride and all of the sex scenes in this film offer plenty of sizzle from a competent cast.
The entire production is extremely well done from every aspect with the great 70’s Hawaiian background. The acting performances are convincing and well done. In probably one of his best roles, Holmes showed some skilled acting chops. Taking a major Hollywood Oscar contender and doing a porn version back then was a very big risk. However, Kurlan and the cast gave the viewers an excellent movie that still holds up today. It has your interest from start to finish because of the dramatic plot as well as the steamy sex that ties the entire production together. You can find it on DVD and I highly recommend getting one of the golden age’s true classics, “Eruption”. It is a film that has everything you could want in an adult offering.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN