This week we go back thirty five years to 1981. The decade of the 80’s would provide a lot of looks into the future and what the coming decade and new century might hold for everyone. What do you remember from the year 1981?
As is our custom let’s first take a look back at the cost of living then. The average income was just $21,000 a year and a new 3 bedroom home averaged $78,000. A gallon of gas had climbed to $1.25. In the grocery store turkey was 55 cents a pound and a dozen eggs were only 90 cents. A new Zenith 19” color TV sold for $400 and a Tandy TRS 80 PC1 was $150. The kids could get the new Star Wars figure set for $30 (imagine what that is worth today!) and ladies leather boots were the big fashion and went for $50. In news headlines around the world and in the U.S. Ronald Regan was now the 40th President of the U.S., Iran releases 52 American hostages who had been held for 444 days. In the UK, Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales. In Egypt, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is assassinated. In the U.S. Sandra Day O’Connor is nominated and becomes the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. The introduction of the first Frequent Flyer Miles AAdvantage is introduced by American Airlines. The first American test-tube baby is born. Reagan fires the air controllers after they strike. Walter Cronkite retires as CBS news anchor and is replaced by Dan Rather. The first flight of US Space Shuttle Columbia takes place. IBM launches its first PC which uses Microsoft Software MS DOS and the term INTERNET is first mentioned.
In the world of entertainment in 1981 among the hit movies were Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Stripes and Porky’s. In pop music the big hit makers included Air Supply, Blondie, Kool and the Gang, Dolly Parton and REO Speedwagon. On TV some of the most watched and popular shows were Dallas, Three’s Company, The Love Boat, Hart to Hart and Dukes of Hazard. We were saddened by the deaths of many celebrities among them former actress Princess Grace Kelly, actor/comedian John Belushi, actor Henry Fonda, rock and roller Bill Haley, reggae singer Bob Marley and former Heavyweight boxing champ Joe Louis.
1981 saw the growth continue in porn and while New York was still producing a lot, more and more films were now being done in California. The VHS craze was not far away and would change the face of porn forever. 1981 produced some great adult fare such as “Bad Girls”, “Vista Valley PTA” and ”Never So Deep” But one film would become an all time classic and we take a look back at this week, “Amanda by Night”.
Amanda by Night – Caballero Video – Director – Gary Graver – Cast – Veronica Hart, Lisa De Leeuw, Samantha Fox, Lee Carroll, Arcadia Lake, Frank Hollawell, Eric Edwards, Jamie Gillis, Richard Bolla, Ron Jeremy, others.
The film had several things going for it that would make it a porn classic. First it had an excellent story line and plot that kept your interest. Second it had a cast that is a porn aficionado’s dream and third it had a mainstream look and feel to it. It was a murder mystery with twists and turns that kept you wondering and guessing about what might happen next. Then there were the sex scenes, ten of them, that were spaced into the film at the right time and fitting into the overall story very well. It was film that had everything in just the right doses.
The film centers on Amanda, with Veronica Hart in the title role and one of her very best performances. Amanada is a former high priced call girl, who has now become a madam. She has a boyfriend Friday, well played by Jamie Gillis. He asks her for a favor and play a dominatrix role and get a couple of her girls for a client, a big time city politician. She sets up the meeting with two of her girls, Gwen (Samantha Fox) and Bev (Lisa De Leeuw). However, they make fun of the guy, especially Gwen and he drowns her in his pool. Both Amanda and Bev see what he has done and now their lives are in danger. Friday happens to be tied into the politician because he wants to open a night club and needs a zoning change. So now he is aware of what Amanda saw and he winds up getting whacked by this politician. A detective, Lt. Hart (Richard Bolla) perfect in a Sam Spade kind of way, is brought in to protect Amanda while the search for the killer goes on.
The detective isn’t happy about protecting a hooker while Amanda has no use for him either. So she just refuses to cooperate. Considering the danger she is in, and knowing he has a job to do, they begin to form a bond. There is also another detective, Rosario (Ron Jeremy) he plays in a sleazy way. Let’s just say he is not the nicest guy on the force and can’t be trusted. As the story moves along with twists and turns in finding the killer, the detective and Amanda get close. However, when the confrontation does take place, Lt. Hart has been delayed getting to her so Amanda has to take on the killer by herself. What happens from that point on is pure Hollywood murder mystery action that makes for a very good film all around.
As I mentioned there are ten sex scenes in the film. Ms. Hart is in four of them including a solo scene. Even with that many sex scenes it doesn’t take away from the film because they are not dragged out, but provide plenty of heat. The sex scenes are well orchestrated, have the right lighting, setting and come across very well. They take nothing away from the story line and plot and in certain scenes add more to the overall mystery that is taking place.
The film is very crisply and artfully directed by Gary Graver with cinematography, lighting and music that has somewhat of a nior feel of a mainstream or TV film. The writing is excellent and the cast displays some top drawer acting chops with their characterizations and performances. It is the kind of porn film that holds your interest from the first frame to the very last.
Proof of it’s worth was that the film was a six category winner at the AFAA awards including Best Actress for Ms. Hart, Best Director for Graver and Best Film. It is definitely a true classic from the golden age that is thoroughly enjoyable. It is now available on DVD, but the transfer to disc is not that sharp color or sound wise. Unless you can find a VHS copy, this will have to do. “Amanda by Night” is definitely worth finding and is one of the best films from porn’s golden age.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
