This week we travel back forty years to 1977. For me, 1977 was the year we made the decision to move from New Jersey to Florida. Let’s take a trip back down memory lane and see what the year, the news headlines, entertainment news and of course prices and the cost of living were like.
As always, we begin by taking a look at the cost of living in 1977. The average income in the U.S. was $15,000 a year and the average cost of a brand new 3 bedroom home was $49,000. A brand new Chevy Nova was $3,900 and gas was just 65 cents a gallon. You could by a 5” portable TV for $150 and complete stereo system for $250. Women’s tunics were in fashion and only $11 and men’s leather slip on shoes just $14. Among the news headlines here, New York City suffered a total blackout that lasted more than 24 hours. Jimmy Carter was elected President and the Trans Alaskan pipeline opened. The Medal of Freedom was awarded posthumously to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The much heralded World Trade Center twin towers in New York City are completed. The death of Elvis Presley at age 42 shocks the entire world. It was the year when Apple introduced the first computers and Voyager I and Voyager II are launched unmanned to explore the outer solar system. A new diet program called Slim Fast comes on the market and who could forget the introduction of the Chia Pet?
In the world of entertainment some of the big hit Hollywood films included Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Rocky, Annie Hall, Saturday Night Fever and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Among the pop music hit makers were The Eagles, Barbra Striesand, Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees and Fleetwood Mac. As for TV shows The Carol Burnett Show, McMillan and Wife, Columbo, Family Feud and Welcome Back Kotter were among the big hits. It was a year when we lost some big name celebrities such as comedian Groucho Marx, basketball coach Adolph Rupp, actress Joan Crawford, band leader Guy Lombardo, singer/actor Bing Crosby and comedian/film maker Charlie Chaplin.
In the adult film world porn films were becoming more popular as they continued to mesh good storylines and good acting with sex scenes. Most films were still being done in New York, but there was a move beginning towards the west coast. Regular movie theaters were showing porn films on a limited basis as popularity among older couples began to increase. There were some excellent adult films in 1977 such as Barbara Broadcast, Baby Face and the one we revisit today, “Eruption”.
“Eruption” – J.G. Films/ Cal Vista – Director – Stanley Kurlan -Cast – Leslie Bovee, Susan Hart, Carry Welton, John Holmes, Eric Evol, others.
This porn classic from 1977 went where few had gone in porn’s early days. The entire production was filmed on location in Hawaii and it had, for that time, a large budget of more than $25,000. It also had a large cast of performers and characters. It was a solid takeoff of a 1944 Hollywood film that was nominated for seven Oscars, “Double Indemnity” which starred Barbara Stanwyck, Fred McMurray and Edward G. Robinson. But when all was said and done director Stanley Kurlan pulled off an excellent adult film that would become one of the true classics of the golden age.
In this version the story line revolves around Sandra (Leslie Bovee) a wealthy heiress. She meets up with an insurance salesman, Peter (John Holmes) on the beach. She wants nothing to do with him the first time they meet and can’t stand his forward style. However, Sandra is a deceptive woman and begins to think he just might be the perfect partner for the plan she has. So they get to know each other and she is convinced Peter will be perfect for her devious plot. Sandra persuades Peter to sell her husband a $2 million life insurance policy. After having a hot sexual time with her it’s hard for Peter to resist her in any way. Now that she has Peter hooked by her sexual charms she pretty easily persuades him to knock off her husband so she can get the money and they can share it and live happily ever after. He is so wrapped up with Sandra and the sex they have that he willingly gives in and does what she asks. It all goes off without a hitch, or does it? This brings in a hardnosed P.I. and things begin to change. Peter finally puts it all together and realizes Sandra was using him and is going to betray him and leave him hanging.
So he turns to her sex hungry stepdaughter Angie (Susan Hart) to help him turn the tables on her and also Angie’s boyfriend, Scott. As they plan to expose Sandra, they also become aware that the boyfriend Scott, has been in cahoots with Sandra to get the money and the plan would be for Sandra and Scott to run off together with the money after they do away with Peter and Angie leaving no chance of discovery behind.
The sex scenes are captured very well with great backdrops, lighting and pack plenty of steam. Watching Holmes huge appendage getting the oral treatment from Leslie is truly something to see. In turn he gives the ladies a good ride and all of the sex scenes in this film offer plenty of sizzle from a competent cast. Keep in mind that back then no shaved genital areas, no boob jobs, no toned hard bodies, it was all natural.
The entire production is extremely well done from every aspect with the great Hawaiian background. The acting performances are very convincing and well done. In probably one of his best roles, Holmes actually showed some skilled acting chops. There are some great lines in this film and taking a major Hollywood Oscar contender and doing a porn version back then was a big risk, but with “Eruption”, Kurlan and the cast gave the viewers an excellent movie that still holds up today. It holds your interest from start to finish because of the dramatic plot as well as the steamy sex that bridges the storyline and plot. You can find this great film on DVD and I very highly recommend getting and enjoying one of the golden age’s true classics, “Eruption” that has everything you could ask for in an adult film.
Final Footnote: Leslie Bovee and John Holmes are inductees of both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame and the film itself is in the XRCO Hall of Fame.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
