This week we’ll go back thirty nine years to 1983. It was a year when a big boom in technology was taking place giving us a sample of what the future would hold. What do you remember from back then?
As we always do, we begin with a look at the cost of living in 1983.The average income was $21,000. The average price for a brand new 3 bedroom home was $82,000. If you paid rent the average was $350 a month. You could buy a Dodge Ram 50 truck for just $5,600, or a Ford Mustang for $6,600. The price for gas had risen to an outrageous $1.55 a gallon. In the area of technology, Microsoft Word is introduced, ARPANET officially changes to use the Internet Protocol, thus creating the Internet. IBM releases the IBM PC XT. Motorola introduces the first mobile phones that were as big as a shoe! It was the year the Cabbage Patch Doll craze begins (admit it, you had one or know someone who did) and Atari’s 5200 is a popular game playing item. Swatch introduces their first watches. In the UK seatbelt use for drivers and front seat passengers becomes mandatory. Some of the news headlines, President Reagan orders the invasion of Grenada. Unemployment rose to 12%, the highest since 1941. A 5.2 earthquake hits central New York. The U.S Embassy is bombed in Beirut, killing 63 people. History is made when Sally Ride becomes the first American woman to go into space on the Space Shuttle Challenger.
In the world of entertainment, among the big hit films of the year are Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Tootsie, Octopussy, Trading Places and Flashdance. The year’s hit makers in pop music include The Police, Michael Jackson, Duran, Duran, Lionel Ritchie and Phil Collins. As for TV shows some of the hits were The Dukes of Hazard, Fantasy Island, Dallas, Newhart. The final episode of M*A*S*H airs and a record 125 million watch the finale. Among the celebrities we lost were football coach Bear Bryant, singer Karen Carpenter, TV legend Arthur Godfrey, actress Gloria Swanson and former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.
In the porn world more new technological changes take place as video is the new wave. It was a year when a number of top flight adult films came out such as “Private Teacher”, “Nasty Nurses”, “Memphis Cathouse Blues” and the one we take a look back at today, Henri Pachard’s “Sexcapades”.
Sexcapades – VCA Films – Director – Henri Pachard – Cast – Sharon Mitchell, Sharon Kane, Lee Carroll, Mai Linn, Tiffany Clark, Joanna Storm, Ashley Welles, Eric Edwards, George Payne, Michael Bruce, Alan Adrian, Jack Rivers
This was one of the better sex comedies to come out of porn’s golden age of the 70′s and ’80′s. It was cleverly written and directed and aided by some terrific performances by the cast, most notably Eric Edwards and Sharon Mitchell, who would win a Best Actress award for her performance in this classic. The sex in the film covers all the bases from light and mild to hot and heavy, but always with a lot of fun attached to it thanks to some sharp dialogue.
The story revolves around Harry Crocker (Eric Edwards) who was top porn director and had made his name and money. But after leaving porn and going into documentaries, he begins to fall on hard times and the money is no longer there. He is offered a chance to do one more porn film much to the dismay of his prudish wife Miriam (Sharon Mitchell). Producer Lorraine Loveborn (Lee Carroll), who is also Harry’s ex wife, entices him back to do the film. She is something else and has her own way of auditioning talent for this movie. That becomes very evident in her eye popping, over the top scene with Sharon Kane. There are other twists, turns and comedic moments that take place in this film that make it very entertaining, fun and sexy.
One of the things that Harry has to deal with is that the producer wants to shoot the film in Harry’s home. This gives Sharon Mitchell a chance to really show her comedic side and why she won the Best Actress award. Some of the lines, the looks and actions are simply priceless. When she finds out the film will be shot in their home she says “Not on our good sheets and they can’t use our towels either”. The way it’s delivered and the look she has is pure mainstream comedy. When it comes to the sex scenes with Ms. Mitchell, who was known for her voracious anything goes style, here she does a complete about face. As the prudish wife she gives a totally “is it over yet?” type performance for the most part and pulls it off beautifully.
The film was shot in New York offering up some great city exteriors and it is extremely well done with good camera angles. Led by the solid trio of Edwards, Mitchell and Carroll, the entire cast give outstanding performances. The writing is sharp, witty, and clever. The cast deliver in a fun, almost ad libbed and realistic way with some of the flubs almost as if they were being done on purpose. But it all pulls this story together in a neatly wrapped and sexy package. The sex scenes cover everything in style, reaction and enthusiasm and come off very well.
Like many from the era, this one is now on DVD with some added extras and well worth your time as one of the best comedy films from the golden age. Check out “Sexcapades” from 1983, I promise you are in for an entertaining and fun time.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN