It was the beginning of a new decade, so what was like going back thirty six years ago? What did it cost to live, what were some of the news highlights and the big happenings in the world of entertainment? Let’s take a look back in time and see just what 1980 was like.
As we always do, we begin with the cost of living.The average income in the U.S. was $19,500, the average cost of a new 3 bedroom home was $68,000 and the average cost of a new car was around $7,000. You could get a new Pontiac Firebird for just $5,900. By 1980 gas had gone over the dollar mark and was $1.19 a gallon (and we thought that was terrible!). If you wanted to spend the money you could buy a Magnavox VHS Recorder for only $699. or a VHS Home Movie Camera for just $1,599. Guys could also go out and by a classy 3 piece suit for $90. Food wise, four cans of Campbell’s Tomato Soup was 97 cents, a Hershey bar just 25cents, ground beef $1,29 a pound and a dozen eggs were just 95 cents. In news headlines 1980 saw Reagan get elected President, Beatle John Lennon is assassinated in New York City and Hurricane Allen kills 235 people in the Texas area. The war between Iran and Iraq begins and we know where that will lead. The U.S. leads a boycott of Moscow Olympics in protest at Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The Killer Clown, John Wayne Gacy Jr., is sentenced to death for the murder of 33 boys and young men. Fire destroys the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. A severe summer heat wave in the southern U.S. causes 1,117 deaths in 20 States. New technology brings about the first available domestic Camcorders and the first Fax Machines in Japan soon to make their way to the U.S. 30% of US car sales are imports. It is also the year when the Pac-Man arcade game makes its debut along with a new item called Post It Notes from 3M.
In the world of entertainment in 1980 among the big hit movies were Raging Bull, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Superman II, Nine to Five and Coal Miner’s Daughter. In music, the big hit makers included ABBA, The Cars, Blondie, Eric Clapton, Queen and Olivia Newton-John. Among the popular TV shows were Taxi, The Rockford Files, Lou Grant, Fantasy Island and WKRP in Cincinnati. The celebrities we lost in 1980 included former Beatle John Lennon, Olympic Gold medalist Jesse Owens, comedian Jimmy Durante, director Alfred Hitchcock and actor/comedian Peter Sellers.
In 1980 the porn industry was ever expanding with more and more top flight productions coming from both New York and California. Despite on going protest groups porn was still flying high and getting a bigger and bigger audience. The new technology for cameras and other innovations would lead to some exciting new looks in porn as well. There were several very solid productions that came out in 1980 including the one we take a look back at today, “Talk Dirty To Me”.
Talk Dirty To Me – Dreamland USA –Director – Anthony Spinelli – Cast – Jesie St. James, Juliet Anderson, Sharon Kane, Dorothy LeMay, Holly McCall, Cris Cassidy, John Leslie, Richard Pacheco, Aaron Suart, Carl Regal
The film centers around Jack (John Leslie) who is a swaggering, bragging ladies man, and his buddy Lenny (Richard Pacheco) who is mentally handicapped to a degree. The film also carries another sub story about Marlene (Jesi St. James) and her husband Frank (Aaron Stuart) that connects all of the characters. As the film gets underway, Jack and Lenny are at the beach and as Jack tries to figure out which chick he’ll get to screw Lenny is fascinated with all the hang gliders. Jack has dumped his girlfriend and she takes it out on Lenny, shoves him and sprains his ankle. Jack takes him to the doctor and when she (Cris Cassidy) tells him the fee, Jack whips out his dick for payment and after her initial shock we get the first sex scene.
As for Marlene, she gives Frank a great sendoff present and then we see her at the beach where Jack spots her and guarantees he’ll get her in bed. Jack flirts with her at a movie theater exit. He and Lenny find the house next to where she lives is vacant so they sneak in to spy on her undressing. Next we see Jack offering to do her yard work putting his plan in motion and she hires him. Then there is a scene with realtor Helen (Juliet Anderson) who is trying to sell the vacant house to a client but can’t get him to commit. Jack comes in, sees the realtor and makes his own offer and before you know it they are at it while Lenny can only watch his buddy from upstairs. There is a lot more that takes place throughout this great film not only with the sex scenes, but the overall story of Jack, his handicapped friend Lenny and the sex hungry wife who wants it every way all the time.
There is a scene between Lenny and Rose (Sharon Kane) that is sexually touching as she coaxes him to explore her and the encounter is beautifully done. Even without seeing a pop shot it is obvious what happened by the facial expressions and his very tender, “Did that make you happy?” It is a very good scene that fits perfectly. It really brings about the bond of the lecherous ladies’ man Jack who seemingly gets any girl he wants and Lenny, who strikes out more than Mickey Mantle did, but has to be content to watch. Still, with all that the bond between these two is a very special one that is extremely well portrayed.
The storyline and plot is well developed with not too much, nor too little and keeps your interest at a high level. However, it is not just the steamy sex scenes that make this a great film but the casting. Leslie, who would become a porn legend and icon in the industry, is perfectly cast as Jack and gives one of the best performances of his career playing Jack with just the right swagger and believability. Richard Pacheco as Lenny is done in a very sincere, understated way that grabs your heartstrings. Jesie St. James is the absolutely perfect choice for the frustrated wife and the rest of the cast really bring their characters to life in solid roles. Spinelli’s direction, cinematography and production settings are all spot on k making this film the classic it has become. If you have never gotten the chance to see this gem, get hold of the re mastered DVD of “Talk Dirty to Me” and thoroughly enjoy one of the true classics from the golden age of porn.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
