This week it is a trip back in time forty years to 1975. What was it like back then, what did it cost to live, how has the world changed? What were news headlines, entertainment news and new products and inventions from then? Let’s take a look back at the year and also one of the great porn classics from 1975.
As always we begin with what the cost of living was like back then. The average income in 1975 was a mere $14,500. The average cost for a new 3 bedroom home was $39,000. You could go out and buy a brand new Ford Mustang for just $4,200 and a gallon of gas was just 44 cents. Kellogg’s Corn Flakes were 45 cents, a 6 pack of Pepsi was 88 cents and Foster Grant Sunglasses were just $5.00. A Lionel train set for the kids was $39 and the popular Mr. Potato Head was $1.99. In the news in 1975, President Ford signed a $2.3 billion loan so New York City can avoid bankruptcy. The Vietnam War ends as Communist forces take Saigon and South Vietnam surrenders unconditionally. The U.S. carries out Vietnam “Operation Babylift” bringing Vietnamese orphans to the U.S. The United States Apollo and Soviet Soyuz 9 spacecraft link up in space and Russian cosmonauts and American astronauts shake hands. Bill Gates and Paul Allen create a new company called Microsoft. The first of the new hobby computers start to appear including Altair 8800. The battle for video recorder standards of VHS and Betamax begins. Jimmy Hoffa, the ex teamsters boss, disappears never to be seen again and Patti Hearst becomes Most Wanted and arrested for armed robbery.
In the world of entertainment in 1975 among the hit Hollywood films were Jaws, Funny Lady, The Godfather II and The Towering Inferno. In music the big hitmakers would include Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Chicago, Paul McCartney and Wings and Elton John. In TV land in 1975 a new show called Saturday Night Live debuts and other TV hits include All In The Family, M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore, Little House on the Prairie and Barnaby Jones. Among the celebrities we lost in 1975 were actress Susan Hayward, TV writer and host Rod Serling, baseball Hall of Famer Casey Stengel, comedienne Moms Mabley and three Stooges comic Moe Howard.
In the porn industry, most all production was being done in New York, but a few companies operated on the west coast. The advent of VHS and Betamax would have a big influence on how porn would be made in the future. In 1975 future porn legend Ron Jeremy was getting his degree at NYU. The year saw some great porn classics like The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann, The Story of Joanna and the one we take a look at this week, “Naked Came the Stranger”.
Naked Came the Stranger – 1975 – VCA Pictures – Director – Radley Metzger – Cast – Darby Lloyd Rains, Mary Stuart, Helen Madigan, Levi Richards, Alan Marlow, others.
This film is a true work of art and is based on a best seller that was on the N.Y. Times list back in the day. How the best selling book came about is a story in itself. But the film adaptation immediately became a major porn hit. Starring Darby Lloyd Rains as Gillian, or Gilly, in one of her best ever performances she is not only was sexually appealing, but she was also blessed with fantastic acting chops which made this exceptionally produced film even better. With Metzger (aka Henry Paris) at the helm his films always had somewhat of way of using the imagination as you watched the film unfold.
In the film Darby and her husband play radio talk show hosts who discuss sex on the air with their listeners and callers. But away from the mic, hubby Bill is having an affair with their assistant Phyllis. When Gilly finds out, she decides what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. They attend a costume party and that’s when she decides to get back at Bill and have an affair of her own. This turns their lives both around and off the air it morphs into one wild round of sexual pleasure and excitement as they try to keep their own lives together. There is humor, whimsy, drama and wonderment that all blends together extremely well. There is so much to like about this film and how it is put together and performed, we could go on all day. Suffice to say, I would rather you find a copy of this classic and enjoy it from beginning to end and then you will realize why I have kept this review short
The sex scenes are very well done and offer a lot of exciting visuals. The scenes at the costume party are very steamy, but also played with some humor as well that doesn’t detract from the action. The stairway solo scene with Darby in the film listening in on her husband and Phyllis is one of the great scenes in the film. Ms. Rains really gets into her sex scenes and her penchant for real sexual connections and feelings made her performances even better. There are extremely solid performances all around from the cast, bringing their various characters to life and reality. While some of the cast never reached superstar hieghts in porn’s early days they were very solid performers sexually and dramatically. Ms, Rains was gifted with exceptional acting chops and would go on to become and dual Hall of Fame performer and pioneer. In addition, a very big plus is the terrific music track that accompanies this film. It is very well done and lends to the overall feel of the film that provides some excellent entertainment for couples.
You can find this film today in completely remastered form on DVD, as most all of the classics are now available. There are some good extras added that really enhance watching this film even more. If you are looking for a great porn classic to add to your library, “Naked Came the Stranger” is a great place to start.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
