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ART OF ADULT – Porn Classics Revisited – Eruption – Cal Vista – 1977

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

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ART OF ADULT – The Porn Classics Revisited – “The Autobiography of a Flea” – 1976

Our trip down memory lane takes us back forty six years to our Bicentennial year, 1976. The 70’s were quite a decade of moving forward, so what was our life like back in 1976.

As always, we begin with the cost of living along with the news and entertainment headlines. The average yearly income was just $16,000 a year and a new 3 bedroom home averaged $43,000. If you rented an apartment the average rent was $225 a month. When it came to automobiles, the average price ran between $3,500 and $4,500 and gas was just 59 cents a gallon. You could by a new microwave oven for $179 or a Zenith 25” color TV for $600. The popular Polaroid Camera (remember them?) was just $28. In news headlines……….In July of 1976 Legionnaires Disease affected 4,000 delegates in Pennsylvania…….The Concorde makes its maiden flight going from London to New York in an amazing 3 1/2 hours……… Jimmy Carter defeats Gerald Ford to become the 39th President of the U.S. and Fidel Castro becomes Cuba’s President……… The U.S. Mint issues the $2 bill……… A new company called Apple Computers begins and will change the world forever……… The CN tower in Toronto, Canada is completed and is the tallest free standing structure in the world at the time………The first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, was unveiled by NASA……..In New York City, the “Son of Sam” begins a series of attacks that terrorize the city for a full year….. Matsushita introduces the VHS home video cassette recorder to compete with Sony’s Beta Max system………There are Bicentennial celebrations throughout the year taking place all over the country.

In Hollywood among the big hit movies in 1976 are Taxi Driver, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Omen, All The President’s Men and Rocky. The hit music makers include Queen, Bay City Rollers, Diana Ross, Paul McCartney and Wings and Rod Stewart. TV’s hit shows include Happy Days, M*A*S*H, The Carol Burnett Show, Hawaii Five -O and Charlie’s Angels. We lost  a number of famous people in 1976 including singer/actor Sal Mineo, actor Lee J. Cobb, aviator/businessman Howard Hughes, writer Agatha Christie, actress Rosalind Russell and songwriter Johnny Mercer.

The porn industry continues It’s growth and adult films are being shown in many regular theaters all over the U.S. One of the biggest adult film hits of 1976, is the one we take a look back at today, “Autobiography of a Flea” from the San Francisco based Mitchell Brothers.

Autobiography of a Flea – Mitchell Brothers Films – Director – Sharon McNight – Cast – Annette Haven, Jean Jennings, Joanna Hilden, John C. Holmes, Paul Thomas, Dale Meador, John Leslie, Mitch Mandell, John Rolling, Michael Dolan, Ken Scudder, John Tate and the voice of Warren Pierce.

This masterful production is a period piece and prime example of the era’s best-made films. The story line comes from 19th Century French erotic literature that portrays a young and very innocent girl who is slowly corrupted by the evil doers that surround her life. What makes this film even more outstanding is the girl’s story is told by a flea who lives in her privates. The voice over of the flea is an absolute brilliant piece of work done by Warren Pierce. In the literature it was taken from the girl Belle is just fourteen. In this adaptation the role is played by Jean Jennings who was in her mid 20′s, so there was no problem with the film’s release because the girl’s age is never mentioned in the film as it is in the original French literature.

The film’s beginning has Belle meeting a young man in church. They leave and decide to go to the park and have some sexual fun. Then a priest, Father Ambrose (Paul Thomas), happens to spot them as he walks through the park. He insists that Belle must come and see him privately to receive her punishments and also her salvation from sin. Of course Father Ambrose has other things on his mind, like getting to penetrate Belle sexually and lead her into a depraved world. He also has three of his other priests violate her, one them being John Holmes. From here on Belle’s life tumbles downward as she discovers the love of sex and pleasure and how to bring others into this new world that Father Ambrose opened her to. The movie goes at a brisk pace with some clever plot twists that in some cases become more interesting than the sex. As for the sex scenes they are cleverly wrapped in both soft and hardcore and work very well in context to the story. They are not overly long but pack some solid eroticism and delivered well by the cast. However, as the film continues you do catch on that the Mitchell Brothers put this together with their tongues firmly planted in cheek to keep it from going completely over the edge. Keep in mind this comes from French literature of the Victorian age so the humor that is displayed along with the eroticism plays well for the period this entails. What makes “Autobiography of a Flea” a classic is how this entire story is told. The script is sharp, humorous and the cast is extraordinary in their roles. The period costumes and settings are masterful and the direction by Ms. McNight moves with a tightness that keeps your interest throughout.

One thing I will caution you on. If you are one who likes long, drawn out sex scenes, you won’t find that here. While the hardcore scenes are done very well they are short by today’s standards. However, if you like a story, plot, twists and turns, good actors along with a well done mix of soft and hardcore sex, then the classic “Autobiography of a Flea” is a definite must see film. The reissue is available on DVD and is extremely well reproduced.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN

 

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Throwback Thursday – Hall of Fame Stars – Annette Haven

Annette Haven – Inducted 1986

A True Pioneer of the Golden Age

Annette Haven is another porn star who calls Las Vegas her birth home. She was born on December 1, 1954 to very conservative Mormon parents. After graduating from school with good grades, Annette took on several different jobs before the world of porn films came calling. She held jobs as a nurse’s aide, massage therapist and also took her turn as an exotic dancer. According to Ms. Haven, the reason she got into porn considering her religious background, was to prove sex was not sinful. She wanted to show that it could, and should be, pleasurable and enjoyable.

She left the regular job world behind and began doing some gigs as an exotic dancer in San Francisco. It didn’t take long before she became a full fledged stripper. With her natural body, full breasts, a butt that was just about perfect, very expressive and telling eyes she was a real dazzler on stage. Add to that Annette was truly enjoying herself and the reaction she received. Then a chance meeting with porn star Bonnie Holliday during one of her stage shows happened and that opened the door for her entry into adult hardcore films.

Right from the start when she made her debut in Alex De Renzy’s 1973 film “Lady Freaks”, Ms. Haven became a major fan favorite and that popularity is still very evident today almost 47 years later. After that auspicious debut, the extremely talented performer/actress would go on to make many memorable award worthy films in her career. They would include the 1976 classic “Autobiography of A Flea”. She also starred in films like “Femmes De Sade”, “Easy Alice”, “Tell Them Johnny Wadd Is Here” with John Holmes, “Honky Tonk Angels”, “Lust At First Bite” and “Barbara Broadcast” among them.

During her career Ms. Haven did just over 100 films. She was very selective about the productions and cast members she’d work with. She was a class act with a discerning taste in men for her movies and very selective when it came to a film’s content. Ms. Haven was opposed to violence of any kind, facials or bondage. If a film had any of that included she would refuse those scenes. While some producers in the business have let a performer go because they wouldn’t do certain scenes that wasn’t the case with her. Ms. Haven’s star status and her total professionalism ruled. She was not only a tremendous all out sexual performer, but an extremely competent actress who could deliver dialogue with the best and was always the consummate professional on the set.

Ms. Haven retired from adult films in the late ‘80’s. After leaving adult she was able to get in some mainstream work that included the movie “10” with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek. She was even set to have a co starring role in the 1981 hit “The Howling” but turned it down because of her stand on violence. In 1984 Ms. Haven was also very heavily considered for the lead role in the Brian De Palma film “Body Double”. He was very taken with her acting skills and really wanted her for the film’s female lead. However, just as it is today, the big studios would never allow a porn star to have a lead role in a major mainstream movie. So rather than Ms. Haven possibly setting a precedent, the role went to Melanie Griffith, but Annette stayed on as a technical advisor to the film and coach to Ms. Griffith.

Today, at 68, Ms. Haven has been totally divorced from the adult industry since the ‘80’s. She is a member of both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame. The last that was known about her was that she was happily married and living a good life in Marin County, California. Thankfully many of the great films of Ms. Havens are available today on DVD, so fans, both old and new, can enjoy one of early porn’s true stars. In addition there is also a website www.annettehaven.com that fans can check out as well.

Annette Haven was definitely one of the most sought after and popular female stars of porn’s golden age and will always be remembered as a major part of the industry’s early growth and success. If you have never had the opportunity to see this very talented Hall of Famer then please check out a couple of the one’s mentioned in this piece and enjoy one of porn’s all time great stars.

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN

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