This week we are taking you all the way back forty one years ago to 1974. A lot has changed since in so many ways, whether in our personal lives or in the way we lived back then. For me personally, I was still doing some radio and heavily involved in the country music scene and still living in New Jersey and commuting into the Big Apple everyday (ugh!). Now forty one years later we can look back and see, and remember, just what the year was like, what we remember and what kind of memories it conjures up.
As always we’ll get started with a look at what the cost of living was in 1974. The average income was up to $14,000. a year and the average cost of new 3 bedroom home was $35,000. When it came to automobiles, the average price was around $3,800 (we bought a brand new Ford Maverick for $3,175.) and the cost of a gallon of gas was a ridiculous 55 cents a gallon. Products wise a pound of ground beef or bacon was 79 cents, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes were 55 cents and you could get 10 cans of Campbell’s soup for $1.00. Men’s velour suits were in fashion and cost $32.00 and women’s leather sandals were $29.00. As for the news headlines in 1974 the biggest one was after the findings of the Watergate Scandal, Richard Nixon becomes the first US President forced to resign from office, and VP Gerald Ford takes over the presidency. Ford announces an amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft evaders. The 55 MPH speed limit is imposed nationwide to preserve gas usage in the U.S. The Sears Tower in Chicago opens and at the time becomes the world’s tallest building. Work begins on the 800 mile long Alaska Oil pipeline. In response to the energy crisis taking place in the U.S., daylight saving time commences nearly four months early. Pocket calculators start to appear and offices start using a very primitive word processor that resembles a typewriter and was only a sign of what was yet to come. The MRI Scanner is first developed in the USA. 1974 is also the year we hear about a new puzzle being invented. It is called Rubik’s Cube and will become one of the most popular products invented.
In the world of entertainment in 1974 among the hit Hollywood films are The Exorcist, The Sting, Blazing Saddles, Serpico and The Godfather II. In the music world the hit makers include The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, Deep Purple, Paul McCartney and the Grateful Dead. When it came to TV shows, among the most popular were The Waltons, Kojak, Kung Fu, All in the Family, Six Million Dollar Man and Sanford and Son. Among the celebrities we would lose in 1974 were comedian Jack Benny, band leader Duke Ellington, singer (Mamas & Papas) Cass Elliot, TV Newsman Chet Huntley, writer Jacqueline Susann and TV host/journalist Ed Sullivan.
In the budding world of porn, loops were almost out and films with real story lines and plots were the rule as what would become known as the golden age continued to grow. Porn films were also beginning to be shown more in regular move houses despite protest groups. There were some excellent mainstream like productions being done such as the one we take a look back at today, “Marriage and Other Four Letter Words”.
Marriage and Other Four Letter Words – Caribbean Films – Director: Richard Robinson – Cast – Rainbow Robbins, Brigitte Maier, Sandy Dempsey, Nancy Schwartz, Tom Cantrell, Pete Krump, Paul Castano, Sherman Richmond, Franklin Anthon, Keith Nicholson, Rick Cassidy, Keith Erickson.
This is a film with no real major names and one most people might not remember unless you are a real porn aficionado. Still it is one of the true classics from the golden age. While the story is rather simple, the way it is directed and carried out packs a good wallop. The story is about a young married couple (very well portrayed by Rainbow Robbins and Tom Cantrell) who seem to have it all going for them in every way. It opens with a very steamy sex scene and then advances to the “one year later” frame. Over the past year things have changed with this couple and become very dull at home. Hubby has an outside encounter and as payback his wife has a good sexual romp with the pool boy.
A lot of different characters are introduced into the film and their lives as they decide that maybe the swinging lifestyle which is very popular in the 70’s, is a way to get that “spark” back. Brigette Maier and Peter Krump are the couple who introduce Rainbow and Tom to this new open way of life. They jump right in and take to it quickly and the sex flows freely as our young couple gets very involved in this new and exciting lifestyle. There is one scene in the film done as a flashback that has Maier and Krump being terrorized by a biker trio that adds some roughness to the film and how this may have led this couple to explore even more about their sexuality and what they really like. It is a different scene for this film but it plays well and will figure into how their lives changed.
What really makes this film a pleasure to watch is the extraordinary cinematography that you experience right from the beginning. As we mentioned at the top, the very first scene in the film after some still shots, is captured in three different ways, the shower, the bed and underwater in the pool. Then add in the slo mo pop shots and it is some very masterful filming for the time. The way this movie is presented it gives off a very artsy, mainstream look and feel that brings the story and characters full circle. Richard Robinson created a fast paced, creative portrait in his spot on direction. The cast does an excellent job from an acting standpoint in bringing the characters to life giving the subject matter total realism. As for the sex scenes there are fifteen of them! However, most are very short, to the point and do what they are intended to do.
I definitely suggest you try and find the re mastered DVD of “Marriage and Other Four Letter Words”, as you will be impressed and entertained completely by this stellar production.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
