This week we travel back forty two years to 1975. The 70’s were a decade of many changes in our lives and the world. One those changes would have a major impact on the U.S. and how the entire world would communicate in the future.
As always, we first take a look at the cost of living in 1975. The average income in the U.S. was a whopping $14,000. a year, the average rent was $200 a month for an apartment. You could buy a brand new 3 bedroom home for an average price of just $40,000. When came to automobiles, the average price was around $4,200, but you could go expensive with something like the Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale for $5,625. A gallon of gas was only 44 cents. You could get a Hershey chocolate bar for 15 cents and a Big Mac for 70 cents. Men’s leisure suits were popular and cost only $39. (I had 2 of them!). In news headlines here and around the world, the Vietnam War ends as Communist forces take Saigon and South Vietnam surrenders unconditionally. The US carries out the Vietnam “Operation Babylift” that brings Vietnamese orphans to the US. Jimmy Hoffa, ex teamsters boss, disappears never to be seen again and Patti Hearst becomes Most Wanted and then arrested for armed robbery. New York City avoids bankruptcy when President Gerald R. Ford signs a $2.3 billion loan. The U.S. Apollo and Soviet Soyuz 9 spacecraft link up in space and Russian cosmonauts and American astronauts shake hands. It is also in 1975 that two young men, Bill Gates and Paul Allen would create a new company called Microsoft. New computers are starting to appear including the Altair 8800 and a new, modern way of communication begins. Motorola obtains a patent for the first portable mobile phones. The battle for video recorder standards of VHS and Betamax begin. The first digital camera is introduced by Kodak.
In the world of entertainment among the year’s big films were “Jaws”, “Young Frankenstein”, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” and “The Godfather II”. In the music world LaBelle, the Eagles, Black Sabbath, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Wings and Chicago are the big record sellers. On TV among the big shows were The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Waltons, All in the Family, M*A*S*H and Happy Days. Among the famous celebrities we lost in 1975 were blues performer T-Bone Walker, actress Susan Hayward, baseball manager Casey Stengel, TV writer and host Rod Serling and comedienne Moms Mabley.
In the world of porn, New York is the prime area for movie shoots while a few productions are done on the west coast. New stars and new camera techniques all play into the growing popularity of porn. Some regular theaters are now screening porn on select dates. Despite protests from morality groups, government threats and new laws, the porn industry is creating a whole new entertainment niche for consenting adults. One of the top adult films in 1975, is the one we look back at today, “3 a.m. the Time of Sexuality”.
3 a.m. Time of Sexuality – Westwood Films/Cal Vista Classics – Director – Robert McCallum – Cast – Georgina Spelvin, Judith Hamilton, Sharon Thorpe, Clair Dia, Rhonda Gallard, Robert Rose. Charles Hooper, Frank Mauro.
When early porn classics are discussed, for some reason this one is left out and shouldn’t be. It is a very well made film with the feel of an Ingmar Bergmann art film with shadings, nuances and a combination of story, plot and music with the characterizations very well portrayed under McCallum’s very well paced direction. It is truly a hidden gem among the classics from porn’s golden age.
The story revolves around a middle class family and the beachfront house they live in on Long Island. It’s a family where Mark (Frank Mauro) and Elaine (Rhonda Gallard) are married with two teenage children, Stacy (Clair Dia) and Ronnie (Charles Hooper). Kate (Georgina Spelvin) is the spinster sister of Rhonda who has been carrying on an illicit affair with Mark for some time. He finally decides he wants to make things work with his wife and end the affair. When he tells Kate this, she accidentally kills him in a boating accident getting knocked overboard and drowning. The title of the film is derived from the time this accident occurred.
After his death, Elaine has a sexual tryst with Morgan (Rob Rose), who is a local tennis pro. Stacy and Ronnie are becoming sexually active and are attracted to each other but nothing really happens at this point. It seems Ronnie has been peeking in on a neighbor, Vicki (Sharon Thorpe), a widow who loves to masturbate. She finally spots him and gives him his first taste of real sex. In the meantime Kate has taken it upon herself to take the virginity away from Stacy in a steamy scene. There’s a lot more that takes place in this dramatic story that will keep your interest level high. But as usual I don’t like to give everything away. However, I will tell you that as the film nears the conclusion Kate confesses into a tape recorder what really happened to Mark. Then in true art film form, Kate walks out on the beach and into the waters of Long Island Sound committing suicide in a very chilling ending to a great piece film artistry.
The cinematography and lighting are all extraordinary. The acting is far superior than what one might expect from a porn film. Ms. Spelvin’s Broadway background shows with her excellent acting chops bringing her character to life. The rest of the cast are also extremely convincing in their roles as they all had some serious training as actors. The sex scenes, with most of them short, are to the point with some scoring more heat and sizzle than others, but overall done well.
This film, now more than 40 years later, still holds up as a true mainstream style porn film in just about every way. It is available on DVD and is visually very impressive. Give “3 a.m. The Time of Sexuality” a look, you will not be disappointed with this hidden gem and enjoy another superb performance by AVN and XRCO Hall of Famer Georgina Spelvin.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
