From time to time, when I do this Wednesday feature I will also add in a film classic the performer either starred in or was featured in. Hopefully this will give you a little more to enjoy about the former stars of porn’s golden age.

The Opening of Misty Beethoven- VCA Films – Director – Henry Paris – Cast – Constance Money, Gloria Leonard, Marlene Willoughby, Jaqueline Beudant, Jenny Baxter, Mary Stuart, Terri Hall, Jamie Gillis, Michael Gaunt, Grover Griffith, Ras Kean and others.

In her short time in porn Ms. Money was fortunate to appear in several classic films. However, this was the film that made her a true star in every sense of the word, not to mention the awards, both she and the film would win. Working for Henry Paris (who was actually Radley Metzger), she also worked for one the top directors of porn’s golden age. The simple fact is that this film has been lauded by many as being the very best adult porn film of all time.

The film is based on George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion”, which of course became famous as “My Fair Lady” on Broadway and the movies. Here, Paris takes this great work and gives it a totally adult spin that has everything anyone could want. In the film the Aliza Doolittle role is played by Constance Money as Misty Beethoven a down on her luck street hustler. Jamie Gillis essays the Prof. Henry Higgins role as Dr. Seymour Love. He meets Misty in one those seedy adult theaters and he takes a liking to her. He takes her to meet his publisher Geraldine Rich in what is a humorous meeting. She also takes a liking to her and sees potential in Misty. So they decide they are going to undertake the job of turning this unerotic young woman into  porn publisher Lawrence Lehman’s  (Ras Kean) next “Goldenrod Girl.” (Guess who the publishers is modeled after!)

Seymour takes Misty under his wing and begins to sexually educate her at his New York penthouse. He even gets his servants in the act to teach her about sex. He decides they need to take a trip to Rome so she can really get some sex education. There is a scene at the opera house where Misty pleasures one of Rome’s high society  males in the bathroom.  Now Misty is becoming quite talk in gossip circles. Seymour is still not satisfied and decides the crowning achievement would be to seduce and totally pleasure and impotent man. He gets an actress friend, Tanya (Terri Hall) to set it up. There is a tape with instructions for Misty to use on the man. As Misty follows the tape3d instructions she succeeds in getting the man to cum. Still, Seymour decides there is onem more challenge for Misty to take care of before he is ready to have her meet Lehman face to face. That challenge is to make three men cum at the same time. After some failings she finally accomplishes the goal. Totally satisfied Seymour has Misty attend a lavish party and to meet the man and then become his next Goldenrod Girl after she has a sexual liason with Lehman and his lady friend (Gloria Leonard).

From here there is a lot more that takes place regarding the releationship between Misty and Seymour that has some twists and turns regarding the love they have for one another but were always afraid to show. How this film ends is beautifulkly done capping a truly excellent production.

Shot on location in New York, Paris and Rome, the cinematography is outstanding, the writing and pacing is perfection allowing for some exceptional realism. The cast is superb and Ms. Money’s portrayal of Misty is pure beauty and excellence. Paris’ direction is fluid and very deliberate so the characters develop. The fact is, if you took out the hardcore sex, this film would stand on its own as a terrific mainstream film. There is a reason why this film won so many awards and is in the Hall of Fame along with Ms. Money, Gillis and Ms. Leonard. “The Opening of Misty Beethoven” truly is one of the, if not the, greatest porn film of all time.

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