1976 was the Bicentennial Year in the U.S celebrating 200 hundred years of independence from England. Everything was centered around the red, white and blue and celebrations of every description took place all over the country. It was also a year where new directions, new products, new ways of living came along. It was a year that saw some tragic events take place around the world as well.
As we always do let’s get underway and look at the cost of living back in 1976. To start, a gallon of gas was now at 59 cents, the average income was only $16,000 a year (try living on that today!) and the average for rent was just $220. You could by a Polaroid camera for $28 (remember them?), a micro wave for $189 and a brand new Plymouth sedan for $3,100 fully equipped. Men’s corduroy suits were the in thing ( I had one!). The first commercial Concorde took of from the UK for New York, a new computer company is begun by Steve Jobs called Apple. Legionnaires Disease affects 4,000 delegates in Pennsylvania. The CN Tower in Toronto opens and from its top level rotating restaurant you can see 5 different states. (Been there and an incredible view!) Betamax is introduced in the U.S. and VHS tape makes its debut in Japan. For fans of comic books, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man, is the first major intercompany crossover, co-published by DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
In Hollywood among the big films of 1976 are Rocky, Taxi Driver, Network, Carrie and The Bad News Bears. In pop music Elton John, Queen, Barry Manilow, ABBA and Diana Ross were the top sellers of 1976, and disco music is taking hold.For TV watchers some of the hity shows in 1976 included Hawaii Five-O, M*A*S*H, Serpico, The Bionic Woman, Columbo and The Carol Burnett Show. Among the celebrities we lost that year were author Agatha Christie, actor Sal Mineo, singer Florence Ballard of the Supremes, billionaire Howard Hughes, actress Rosalind Russell and musician Vince Guaraldi.
On the porn front, most of the productions were still being done in New York. However, a shift to California and some locations in Europe were beginning. The coming of Betamax and the impending future of VHS would have a big effect on the industry. Not only would it change how films were being made, but a different look in the performers would begin to take hold. In 1976 some really good adult films like “Ecstasy in Blue”, “Night After Night” and the classic we take a look back at today, “Naked Afternoon”.
Naked Afternoon – Westwood Films – Director – Alan Colberg – Cast – Abigail Clayton, Annette Haven, Lynn Harris, Clair Dia, John Leslie, Ken Scudder, Joey Silvera, others.
Back in the 1970’s most porn films were heavy on storylines, plot and shot on film on actual locations. That is one big reason why so many films from the golden age have a very special look to them. They actually tried to make them real movies, not just “fuck flicks” and in many cases succeeeded.
The story of this classic is about a young girl Thomasina (Abigail Clayton) who has big dreams of becoming an actress. She has talked about it with her boyfriend and he just goes along with her not convinced she is serious. While he heads off to work, she meets a girlfriend (Clair Dia). They discuss her dream and they also get it on in a very sexy and erotic girl/girl. She takes a job in a very upscale Beverly Hills spa as a masseuse and that’s when opportunity knocks, or so she thinks. At the spa she meets a big time movie producer (John Leslie) who tells her she has it all and promises her she will have a big time fabulous film career. It turns out to be a small part in a porn film, not main stream like she thought. But she decides to do it this one time because the money is good. While she has certain innocence, she is also a very sexual being. She does her part in the film and is hooked by everything that takes place. This begins a rapid climb up the ladder to porn stardom and all that comes into her life with it. What happens with her and her new found career is the basis for the rest of the movie that gives the viewer a look at what really happens behind the scenes in Hollywood. It is all very well chronicled and put together by director Colberg. The use of some exterior shots of the actual Paramount lot adds to the realism of the film.
There is a lot more going on in this production as the characters develop. It is a good mix of drama, with some humor, characters that become very realistic and believable. However, as I always do in my reviews I don’t like to give away too much and spoil it. So find this classic and enjoy it from beginning to end.
You’ll find no lack of sex scenes as there are nine of them incorporated in this story, some with very good chemistry that make the scenes really sizzle. Back then the girls were all natural sporting a full bush and real boobs. The guys also were natural in every way and rarely had the toned hard bodies we see today. That natural look had a lot to do with the total realism of both the film itself as well as the sex scenes. The sex scenes blend well into the story and the acting is above par with Ms. Clayton displaying some good acting chops and Leslie, who would go on to become one of porn’s biggest male stars and later become a very successful director/producer for Evil Angel, as has Joey Silvera. Add to that the elegance and talents of Annette Haven, who unfortunately was under used in this film, and this is still a worthy must see film classic.
It is now available on DVD and comes with a load of extras pertaining to the film and a bonus scene with the late Shauna Grant. I highly recommend getting hold of “Naked Afternoon” a very enjoyable, entertaining and sex filled golden age classic.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
