This week we go back thirty eight years on our stroll down memory lane to 1987. What was the year like? Were you around then? How much do you remember if you were? The 1980’s were quite a decade so let’s see what 1987 had in store.
As always we’ll begin with the cost of living, then some of the news and entertainment highlights and more. The average yearly income was $24,500, the average cost of a new 3 bedroom house was $92,000, and new cars averaged at $10,300. On the other hand you could buy a brand new Hyundai for just $5,200, a car that also got an unheard of , at the time, 38 mpg. At the gas pump a gallon of regular was still below the dollar mark at 89 cents. At the supermarket a pound of bacon was just $1.70 and a dozen eggs only 65 cents. For the kids a Talking Alf was $70 and a kids NASA walkie talkie set $20. (Imagine what they are worth now!) In news headlines in 1987 the USS Stark is attacked on May 17th by an Iraq Air to Sea missile which is called “an accident” and 37 US Sailors are killed. In the UK, Margaret Thatcher is elected as Prime Minister for the third time. Hurricane force winds hit much of the South of England killing 23 people and causing 7.3 billion pounds in damage. In the U.S a rare earthquake 5.0 on the Richter scale affects 14 states in the Midwest and parts of Canada. The Fox Network makes its broadcast debut. It is the year of the big scandal involving Televangelist Jim and Tammy Bakker. The Food and Drug Administration approves the anti-AIDS drug AZT. A new drink called Snapple is in stores.
In the world of entertainment in 1987 among the top Hollywood films were Dirty Dancing, Wall Street, Good Morning Vietnam and Three Men and a Baby. In the world of music hit makers include Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, George Michael and U2. On TV a new show “The Simpsons” debuts. Also popular on TV that year were Wise Guy, Hill Street Blues, 21 Jump Street, Alf and L.A. Law. Among the celebrities we would say goodbye to that year were actor Lee Marvin, entertainer Liberace, comedian/actor Danny Kaye, dancer/actor Fred Astaire and actor/comedian/ entertainer Jackie Gleason.
The porn film industry was now pretty much all being done in California and a big Euro push is underway. More new technology with cameras, special effects and lighting enhance film making. AVN and XRCO industry awards shows are still relatively new, but important. New faces and new looks adorn porn films. Some great movies are released including the one we will take a look back at today, “Hands Off”.
Hands Off – Plum Productions – Director – Anthony Spinelli – Cast – Shanna McCullough, Tracey Adams, Keisha, John Leslie, Mike Horner, Rex Nemo
This is one of those classics from the golden age that slips under the radar and is rarely brought up in conversation. However, it is a film that definitely belongs among the best. Director Anthony Spinelli, who did classics like “Talk Dirty to Me”, “SexWorld” and “Nothing to Hide”, rises to the top with this dark, erotically charged dramatic film. He certainly is at the top of his game with this dazzling and moody stunner.
The film stars the exciting, very sexy and beautiful Shanna McCullough as a woman who has climbed to the top of the business world. The rise comes at a great cost to her personal life away from business. What creates the mood and darkness of the film is she begins to have very visual and startling sexual fantasies. These are brought on by a series of persistent and unending calls from a mysterious admirer. At first the calls don’t do anything to or for Shanna. But the more calls she gets, the nastier and filthier they get from this mystery man. Now these calls begin to play with her mind and the sensual, wild fantasies she begins to have. She is determined to find out just who this person is that is behind this bizarre behavior and why has zeroed in on her.
As this story moves along it also brings to life these fantasies that she is having because of the calls. The sex scenes that take place, there are six of them, cover everything you could think of with both men and women. Spinelli creates a well devised string of events of desire and debauchery allowing this small cast to give some outstanding performances not only sexually but dramatically as well and play it bigger than it is. It all works into the story and plot very realistically as Spinelli takes the viewer along for this moody, dark and erotic ride. Ms.
McCullough is absolutely delicious in her role, looks superb and delivers a tremendous performance with all of the mood changes, sexuality and what comes her way towards the end. The pace of the film as it moves along towards it ending makes it really difficult to see who the more excited one is when the caller and Shanna finally meet in person. When they meet and she discovers who this mystery caller was, the connection becomes immediate and they get into one very down and dirty, all consuming, passionate encounter that is totally off the charts!
Good story line, great cast, some superb dramatic moments and sex scenes that are definitely pot boiling sizzlers. Spinelli’s knack for drawing the best out his cast shows off very well here and the cinematography creates an even more erotic and dark mood. “Hands Off” is truly a golden age classic that should be seen and enjoyed. Be sure you check this one out, you are going to love the aura the striking Shanna McCullough projects throughout this excellent film.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
