This week we take you back forty one years to 1974. For those of you who were around then, what can you remember from back in 1974? Let’s take a look back at the year, the cost of living, prices, news headlines and more in a year when inflation was at an all time high.
To begin with the average income was only $13,500 a year and the cost of a new 2-3 bedroom home averaged $35,000. The average cost for a new car then was just $3,700 and a gallon of gas was an unbelievably high 55cents a gallon. At the store you could by Kellogg’s Corn Flakes for 49 cents a box, a 6 pack of Pepsi for 88 cents and if you liked Campbell’s Tomato Soup that was only 12 cents a can. There were the new computer watches for $250. Samsonite luggage was $65 and a man’s 3 piece suit went for just $59. As for news around the world and U.S. in 1974 one of the biggest highlights was the resignation of Richard Nixon as President after the Watergate scandal. Gerald Ford takes over and announces an amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft evaders. Henry Kissinger convinces Syria and Israel to agree to a ceasefire on the Golan Heights. President Isabela Peron ( Evita ), Juan Peron’s third wife, becomes President of Argentina when her husband dies. Work begins on the 800 mile long Alaska Oil pipeline and the Sears Tower in Chicago becomes the world’s tallest building. The 55 MPH speed limit is put into effect throughout the U.S. to preserve gas usage. The MRI scanner is put into use, pocket calculators make their debut and the first use of the UPC bar code begins.
In the world of entertainment in 1974 among the hit Hollywood films were The Sting, Serpico, Murder On the Orient Express, The Exorcist and Blazing Saddles. In the world of music hit makers include ABBA, Deep Purple, Paul McCartney, the Beach Boys and Queen. Some of the year’s hit TV shows were Kojak, Six Million Dollar Man, Kung Fu and The Waltons. Among the celebrities we lost in 1974 were newscaster Chet Huntley, comedian Jack Benny, baseball great Dizzy Dean, TV host Ed Sullivan, actress Agnes Moorehead and singer Cass Elliot of the Mamas & Papas.
In 1974 the porn industry was still somewhat in its infancy, but growing much bigger. Most everything was filmed in the New York area and the Mitchell Brothers were shooting in San Francisco. New stars would emerge like Vanessa Del Rio, John Holmes, Constance Money, Andrea True, Ron Jeremy and many more. From the cheap loops that had begun the era, now it was full productions with stories, plots, real acting and sex. In 1974 many theaters were showing full length porn films. Some good one came out in 1974, including the one we look back at today, “Wet Rainbow”.
Wet Rainbow – Arrow Productions – Director – Duddy Kane – Cast – Georgina Spelvin, Valerie Marron, Mary Stuart, Harry Reems, Alan Marlow.
This just might be one of the most forgotten porn films of the ‘70’s, but regardless it remains a classic from the golden age. Back then directors like Gerard Damiano, Henry Paris and Alex DeRenzy were among the best and there were others like “Duddy Kane” the director of this film. While it was never proven the name was supposedly a pseudonym of a well known mainstream director. The reason for a lot of the guessing about Kane and who it really might have been was due to the exceptional high quality of the acting, locales, settings and structure of the film, not mention the excellent Hollywood studio style music that was written and used in the film. The music was not only used to highlight scenes, but one of the songs had huge pop potential but was rejected by record labels because it was in a porn film. With the casting of performers who were not only sexually solid, but with real serious acting chops, it added up to a great film that was definitely mainstream quality.
The film stars two of the earliest icons of adult, Harry Reems and Georgina Spelvin, as a happily married husband and wife. They live in Greenwich Village, he is a photographer and college professor and his wife a painter. They live somewhat of the village lifestyle in a very trendy loft. Their sex lives are good ones as we see in their scenes. Enter Rainbow (Valerie Marron) as the college student. She is saddled with a very sexual roommate, Mary Stuart and it drives her crazy. So she sets out to seduce the professor into some sexual pleasure of her own. She sends him a photograph she hopes will convince him but he doesn’t give in. Instead he discusses the situation with his wife. Turns out she has always had a suppressed desire to make love to a woman but has never acted on it.
From here the film takes on a quite a journey as the story plays out all the pros and cons of having Rainbow become part of their sexual lives. It is well done on all points adding to the overall enjoyment of the sex scenes that do take place and to the story itself. The sex scenes are filled with lust, passion and need and allow for some very enticing visuals. Marron is perfectly cast as Rainbow and carries her role very realistically and convincingly. Reems and Spelvin, two real pros, truly give this production a mainstream feel throughout. The ending of the film does offer a sudden twist regarding the entire relationship and what it brought into each one’s life. Overall, it makes for an entertaining view both from the story and plot as well as the sex.
You should be able to find this gem as it has been re-released on DVD so definitely give this one a look. It is a beautifully constructed film from direction to acting to the settings and of course the sex. The camera work focuses on the characters and brings the scenes to life and the music, as we mentioned earlier, is exceptional and helps heighten many of the scenes as well as the opening. 1974’s “Wet Rainbow” is another true classic from porn’s golden age that should be seen and enjoyed.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
