The 1980′s were another defining decade in the U.S. and around the world. What was it like, what do you remember, what was it like living thirty three years ago? Let’s take another trip down memory lane. As is our custom with this feature, let’s start by looking back at what the cost of living was back then.
The average cost of new 3 bedroom home was $82,200, the average income was at $21,000 and the cost of a new car now averaged $8,000. A gallon of gas was making it’s way up to the $1 mark at 91 cents. You could go out and buy a GMC 1500 Pickup for $5,400, a Sony 19 inch Color TV was $500., an outdoor gas grill was $200. You could go to the Post Office and buy stamps for 20 cents! (You remember snail mail?) The first issue of a brand new newspaper, USA Today, is published. Disney’s Futuristic Park EPCOT opens in Orlando, Florida. Graceland, the home of the late Elvis Presley is now opened to the public. The Smiley emoticon makes its first appearance and the first CD players are introduced. Liposuction is now being done and the first heart transplant takes place. On a historical note, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. is dedicated and Sally Ride becomes the first female astronaut. The Delorean automobile company goes out of business. There is a big Tylenol scare that kills 7 people.
In the world of entertainment a few of the big movies in 1982 are E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, On Golden Pond, Porky’s and An Officer and a Gentleman. In music the biggest star was Michael Jackson with his Thriller album. Also popular are Chicago, Olivia Newton John and the Steve Miller Band. TV shows from 1982 that were popular include Magnum P.I., Hill Street Blues, Dynasty and Knight Rider. Among the celebrities we lost that year were, Princess Grace (Kelly), actor Henry Fonda, comedian Paul Lynde and actor/comedian John Belushi.
In the porn industry new technical advances were being made in every area. More and more productions were being done in California rather than New York and “on location” shoots taking place. Former porn stud John Holmes was ordered to stand trial for murder. In 1982 a lot of very good porn films were released including the classic we take a look back at this week, “Roommates”.
Roommates – Video-X-Pix – Director – Chuck Vincent – Cast – Samantha Fox, Veronica Hart, Kelly Nichols, Gloria Leonard, Margo DuMont, Patricia Dale, Jamie Gillis, Jerry Butler, Bobby Astyr, Jack Wrangler, Phil Smith, Josh Andrews, Rex Capizo, Frederick Foster and Ron Jeremy.
When the words “golden classic” of porn are mentioned, few people remember this film. Still it is an extremely well done film in every sense of the word and deserving of the “classic” title. Directed by Chuck Vincent it is a very tense, but realistic story about three New York women with a history of sex and drug abuse. These three totally different women lives are intermingled when they share a New York apartment together.
There is Billie (Samantha Fox), an ex-call girl, who is trying to do everything she can to find a new life and second chance as a casting director, but her past continues to haunt her. There is Joan (Veronica Hart), who just finished drama school and is trying to make her mark on Broadway. She’s living on her own for the first time and thrown into a world where she grows up fast and she is also having an affair with her acting teacher (Josh Andrews). Then there is Sherry (Kelly Nichols), a very sexy California model in awe of the Big Apple. She chases every piece of excitement and thrill she can, every high creating a drug problem bringing her close to the edge. When she meets Joel (Jamie Gillis), she finds herself fighting for her life! Three women, three lives at a make or break turning point.
They each have a hard road ahead of them and find life is not easy when they try to change. Despite their attempts to overcome who they were and what they want and their total support for each other, all three face challenges that threaten to sabotage their efforts. The nine sex scenes that take place throughout the film are a varied mix and fit well into the story line. From passionate to rough and intense they bring a reality to who these women are and the characters they portray. The sex works well because there is a good chemistry that comes through with the performers in each scene adding to the realism. The story, as well as the sex, will hold your interest right until the end where there is a totally unexpected and exciting ending to this story.
The film works not only because of the excellent script written by Vincent and Rick Marx, but also the acting chops the three female leads display, along with their male stars. The acting was above par by the entire cast. So good was this film that it became one of the few X-rated films to be re-edited and released as an R rated film in regular movie houses all over the country. As further proof of the depth, finesse and professionalism of this film, it won a total of eight awards in 1982 that include Best Actress (Hart), Best Supporting Actor (Gillis), Best Director (Vincent), Best Screenplay (Vincent & Marx) and Best Film. It is now available in DVD form and I highly recommend getting a hold of this porn chestnut.
This film is so good in so many ways I would love to see someone like Paul Thomas redo this just as he did with the “Behind the Green Door” remake. “Roommates” is a much overlooked excellent piece film making that deserves to be seen. It will entertain you and keep your interest at a high level throughout. So be sure you find the time to check this classic out.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
