This week we travel back thirty seven year to1983. What kind of year was it and how much do you remember? The decade of the 80’s would go a long way in shaping the future in so many ways.

As always we’ll be gin with the cost of living back in 1983.The average yearly income was at $22,000 while the cost of a new home averaged $89,000. You could buy a Ford Mustang for $6,600, but a gallon of gas had climbed to $1.24. Some food prices we paid then were a dozen eggs just 86 cents and a gallon of milk $1.75. You could buy a Sony Walkman for $229 and an RCA VCR player for $399, while an Atari 5200 game was $200. A pair of men’s leather shoes was less than $40. In some of the news headlines……….Former movie actor Ronald Reagan was President of the United States………Unemployment in the U.S. rises to 12 million, the highest since 1941………..The UK is the first country to make automobile seat belts mandatory………..Terrorists bomb the US Embassy in Beirut killing 239 Marines and Sailors………..The Supreme Court reaffirms its 1973 (Roe Vs Wade) right to abortion……..Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast, killing 22,  and a 5.2 earthquake hits Central New York……….The first mobile phones are introduced by Motorola……Microsoft Word makes its debut……Peoples Express is a new “no frills” airline……….Sally Ride becomes the first woman astronaut as part of the crew on the Space Shuttle Challenger.

In the world of entertainment in 1983 some of the top movies included Tootsie, Flashdance, Trading Places, Superman III and National Lampoon’s Vacation. In pop music among the hit makers were The Police, Black Sabbath, Johnny, Cash, David Bowie and Pink Floyd. When it came to TV Simon & Simon, Dynasty, Cagney and Lacy, Dallas and The Love Boat were among the big hit shows. In 1983 some of the celebrities we lost were famed football coach Bear Bryant, TV host/entertainer Arthur Godfrey, singer Karen Carpenter, actress Gloria Swanson, actor David Niven and former heavyweight boxing champ Jack Dempsey.

As for the porn industry in 1983 the switch from east coast to west coast continues to expand. New technological advances and the coming of video will make porn a completely different industry. Some female stars are beginning to show a new clean shaven look that will catch on. 1983 also brought out some top notch porn films like the one we take a look back at today, “Hot Dreams”.

Hot Dreams. Caballero Video – Director – Warren Evans – Cast – Sharon Kane, Sharon Mitchell, Joanna Storm, Anna Ventura, Tiffany Clark, Marlene Willoughby, Ashley Moore, Jamie Gillis, Dave Ruby, George Payne, Alan Adrian, Joe Santini, Michael Bruce, Kenny Dee.

The story in this film centers around Lisa Curtis (Sharon Mitchell), who is a photographer, and her husband Bob (Michael Bruce). It seems Lisa has these uncontrollable sexual fantasies that literally come to life almost anytime, anywhere. In the opening sequence we see her and hubby having a quick intimate moment. She follows Bob into the bathroom and suddenly has this fantasy of being ravaged by him in every way possible.

Troubled by what is happening Lisa meets Renee (Tiffany Clark) in Central Park to tell her what’s been going on. She tells Renee about one of these fantasies when she and Bob had dinner with the Van Zandts (Jamie Gillis and Marlene Willoughby) a rich, elegant dinner served by their own butler. It seems Lisa pictured her hostess in full S & M gear and the entire scene becomes an orgy on the table with her and the hostess being taken by their spouses and the butler. After recounting the story, Renee asks, “did you enjoy it, Lisa?” Of course she is referring to the fancy meal. They part and go their separate ways but it doesn’t end for Lisa. She goes on a photo assignment to shoot some studs for an underwear commercial and in her world of fantasy it turns into much more.

The scenes shift back and forth between Lisa and Bob’s apartment and then another fantasy that takes place at a health club. Renee has a key to their apartment and as she walks down the street she takes a call from a perv on a public phone. The caller gives her the phone number to Bob and Lisa’s and then instructs her to get a mirror and repeat the words “cocks and fingers and tongues” while she masturbates. Bob comes home while Renee is there, sees what is going on and immediately takes advantage of Renee as she clutches the mirror and phone.

Next up we see Lisa getting a massage next to the pool at the health club. In no time it turns into another wild fantasy that has the masseuse (Anna Ventura) in charge and joined by Joanna Storm as the three women really go at it with one another. Then the trio are joined by Kenny Dee and the orgy continues in the pool with some great visuals of the action in this sequence. In the end we see Bob enlist the help of a friend to take them out in the New York harbor for a boat ride. Also on board is Sharon Kane, who has a steamy girl/girl scene with Lisa. There is also a solid threeway with Bob and the captain of the boat (Ashley Moore). What really makes this great is the backdrop of the Twin Towers, Statue of Liberty and the New York skyline.

The entire film was shot in New York City and seeing how it looked then compared to now is rather startling. Evans does a solid job of directing this story allowing for the reality and fantasy to come through in a very erotic and telling way. The cast is superb in their roles bringing reality to their characters plus sizzle and steam to the sex scenes. The film was rewarded with three AVN awards in 1984 for Best Supporting Actress (Tiffany Clark), Best Sex Scene and Best Couples Scene. I strongly suggest seeking out there mastered DVD of “Hot Dreams”, a well constructed film that paints an incredible canvas of fantasy.

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