This week we go back twenty seven years ago to 1988. It is amazing that in those years how many changes have taken place. How much do you remember from that year? I do know that in 1988 being part of the adult industry was the furthest thing from my mind. So let’s take a look back at the year and also one of the true porn classics from 1988.
As always we begin with the cost of living back then. The average income for the year was $24,500. When it came to buying a new 3 be3droom home the average price was $91,000 and if you rented a 2 bedroom apartment that average was $420 a month. When it came to cares, the average price was between $8,500 and $10,000, a Ford Taurus was $9,400, but a gallon of gas was still under one dollar at 91 cents. Food wise some of the prices in 1988 were 65 cents for a dozen eggs, 1.89 for a gallon of milk and pork chops were 40 cents a pound. Want to go to the movies? Tickets were just $3, you could go to a major league baseball game for $10. Want a computer? You could buy an IBM PC with 30Mb Hard Disk, Mono Monitor and 512K Memory $1249.00. As for news headlines in 1988, the Hubble Space Telescope Goes into operation to explore deep space. The U.S. Shuttle program resumes 2 1/2 years after the Challenger disaster A bomb is exploded on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in Scotland on December 21st. Prozac comes on the market and sold for the first time as an anti-depressant. The U.S. unveils the Stealth bomber. The first laser eye surgery is performed successfully.
In the world of entertainment some of the big Hollywood films include Rain Man, Beetlejuice, Die Hard, Big and Crocodile Dundee II. When it came to pop music that year some of the hitmakers were Robert Palmer, U2, Kylie Minogue, Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan and Guns n’ Roses. For the TV watchers some if the hit shows in 1988 included The Golden Girls, Cheers, L.A. Law, Matlock, Who’s The Boss and Alf. Among the celebrities that we lost that year they included rock and roller Roy Orbison, jazz trumpeter Chet Baker, actor John Houseman, basketball player Pete Maravich and singer Andy Gibb.
By 1988 just about every porn film was being done out on the west coast now. In addition to the big west coast shift, there was also an influx from Europe as well that would continue to grow in the years to come. As for the stars, both male and female were sporting a more buffed look and many of the females had gotten breast enhancements. 1988 provided some very good adult films including the one we take a look back at today, “The Catwoman”.
The Catwoman – VCA – Director – John Leslie – Cast – Kathleen Gentry, Meagan Leigh, Nikki Knights, Laurel Canyon, Veronica Hall, Alexa Parks, Peter North, Joey Silvera, John Leslie, Buddy Love
John Leslie’s “The Catwoman”, marks one of his last, if not the last, of his sex roles is a moody, electric and very erotic masterpiece. This film helped establish him as a top flight director, a position he would relish and gain critical acclaim and a number of awards for.
Kathleen Gentry stars as Jennifer, a photographer who is having problems with her boyfriend Stefan (Joey Silvera). While she is walking home from work, she gets this feeling she is being followed. She literally bumps into a stranger (John Leslie), who invites her for a drink. As they talk, there are hints of sexuality. He offers to call her a cab, but instead she says she would rather walk him home. He smiles and doesn’t turn her down.
When they get to his home, they get it on as soon as you can blink an eye. It is a powerful, super charged scene that is a standout. He rips off her clothes and passionately starts licking all over her body. She gives him one very ferocious blowjob. When they start to fuck they so into it you can see Gentry’s scratch marks on his back. He pops all over her body and then goes down on her in the final finish.
The next day, while sorting through photographs at work, a strange feeling comes over Jennifer. She has the urge to rip off her clothes and lets out a roaring sound. She goes back to the bar to find Leslie there. She asks him about what’s come over her and he explains to her that she’s a cat, just like him. Of course, she doesn’t believe him, but can’t shake off the feeling that some of what he tells her makes strange sense.
While in the bar, two men get into a fight over a girl, a tough-looking black guy (Ray Victory) and the girl’s wimpy boyfriend (Blake Palmer). The boyfriend backs out and Ray gets the girl (Lauryl Canyon), as they get it on right there in the bar for everyone to see. This is another super charged scene. While they get it on, Jennifer has that feeling come over her again. She does a bar dance, which looks a little silly at first, but then appears to perfectly fit with the mood of the scene. Besides being a great sexual performer, the girl can dance.
The next day, Jennifer talks to her model (Veronica Hall) about the stranger and being a “cat”. They argue about who is the best “cat” before Derek Lane comes out for his shoot. This is the one scene that drags the movie down somewhat. Back at the bar, Leslie, who tells Gentry that he is the “king of the cats” has two challenges for her. One is she must pleasure the other queens (Megan Leigh, Nikki Knights); the other is she must hunt the most dangerous of all creatures: Man. The all girl scene is a scorcher filled with hot, unbridled passion. In the second challenge, Jennifer hunts Stefan, who has come back to her. As they enter the bar, everybody clears out as they get it on right on top of the bar. It is a pretty good scene with these two as they go for broke in the scene that ends with a great pop shot
If couples are looking for a moody, erotic film this is it. The cinematography sets the perfect mood as does the jazzy blues music track. Leslie, besides being one of the best ever actors in adult, knew exactly how he wanted to present this movie with the setting, his directorial style and mood. The casting was perfect and added greatly to the total realism. Truly one of the very best films John Leslie ever did, both in front of, and behind the camera. He was truly one of a kind in this industry and I strongly recommend finding the DVD re-issue of “The Catwoman”.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
