The new decade of the 80’s was underway, so what was the first year, 1980, like and what do you remember? To begin this week’s feature, as we always do let’s take a look back at the cost of living in 1980.
The average yearly income was $19,500, the average cost of new 3 bedroom house was $68,700, the average cost of a new car was $7,200 and a gallon of gas had jumped all the way up to $1.19. A pound of ground beef was $1.39, you could by a Magnavox VHS Recorder for “only” $699.00 or a VHS Home Movie Camera for “only”$1,599.00, while a Pontiac Firebird was $5,992. In the news headlines of 1980 Ronald Reagan defeats Jimmy Carter to become the next U.S. President, while the start of a decades long war between Iran and Iraq begins. Japan surpasses the U.S. and becomes the world’s largest auto producing country. The U.S. leads a boycott of Moscow Olympics in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The Killer Clown, John Wayne Gacy Jr., is sentenced to death for the murder of 33 boys and young men. Former Beatle John Lennon is shot to death outside his New York City apartment and fire destroys the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. VHS cameras and recorders are the new big thing as the first domestic camcorders are available as are the first fax machines in Japan. There is the release of the Pac-Man arcade game and CNN becomes the first 24hour news station.
In the world of entertainment among the big films in 1980 are Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Superman II, Raging Bull and Coal Miner’s Daughter. In music the big hits come from Blondie, ABBA, Diana Ross, Black Sabbath and Queen. In the world of 1980 TV, The “Who Shot JR” episode of Dallas is watched by millions. Other hit shows that year include Love Boat, The Jeffersons, Little House on the Prairie and Dukes of Hazard. In 1980 among the celebrities we lost were ex Beatle John Lennon, director Alfred Hitchock, singer Bob Marley, and actors Steve McQueen and Peter Sellers.
In the world of porn the new decade would bring a lot of changes, much of it due to the emergence of the VHS tapes, recorders and cameras. It would be the beginning of the amateur home video craze, that still continues today bigger than ever. New faces emerged and a new look would soon show on many female porn stars with breast enhancements and more. In 1980 there were several top notch films that were released, but none captured audiences and critical acclaim like the one we look back at today, “Taboo”.
Taboo – VCX – Director – Kirdy Stevens – Cast – Kay Parker, Dorothy LeMay, Juliet Anderson, Holly McCall, Brooke West, Miko Yani, Tawny Pearl, Mike Ranger, Don Fernando, Turk Lyon, Ken Scudder, Jesse Adams and others.
As much controversy and popularity that “Deep Throat” created in 1973, this 1980 film took porn to an entirely new level of controversy and popularity. It was film that dared to take on a subject that was considered verboten and turn it into a masterpiece of adult film making. Directed by Kirdy Stevens and with a stellar, professional cast it was a film that pushed the envelope further than it had ever been at that time.
The subject matter of this film is incest. Shocking of course, but it is something that does take place in society. Stevens took on this subject and turns out an extraordinary film that holds your interest from the first frame to the last. It is a study in frustration, something taboo and the end result. The story centers around Barbara Scott (Kay Parker) whose sex life with her husband has no passion, chemistry or love as you discover right in the beginning. He leaves her for his mistress and suddenly the son Paul (Mike Ranger) decides to become the man of the house. He quits school to get a job to help out his mom, who it obvious he has feelings for that are more than normal. He has a girlfriend (Dorothy LeMay) who he enjoys sexually and at one point another girl (Tawny Pearl) joins in the action. But it becomes more obvious it is his mom who he wants. He spies on her taking a shower and watching work over her naked body.
Mom goes out to party that turns into a full blown orgy, but she only watches what goes on and comes home totally frustrated and filled with lust after being at the party. As she heads for her room she sees her son asleep in bed and can’t help notice his manhood. Defying all that is right she goes into the bedroom and the scene that takes place is filled with lust and very explosive to say the least. The next day feeling all kinds of guilt Barbara packs her bags and leaves. She goes to see her horny friend and confidante Gina, delightfully played by Juliet Anderson, to talk about what has happened and this woman gets off on all the juicy details along with some very funny dialogue. Anderson makes this a memorable scene. What else takes place in this film is important to the story and the ending leaves you wondering where does it go from here?
There was no other star of the time that could have played the Barbara Scott role other than the classy, sexy, erotic Brit Kay Parker. She was not only the perfect choice, but her performance was perfection throughout. In addition the rest of the cast were ideally cast in their roles big and small. They could deliver dialogue in real dramatic fashion adding to the entire realism of the story and plot of the film. With subject matter being what it was, the need for performers with real acting chops was essential and Stevens hit a grand slam with the cast he assembled.
The writing by Helene Terrie was mainstream quality, the production values, lighting and sets were all top notch and detailed. The cinematography was exceptional giving the viewer angles, fades, close ups and views that hadn’t been seen or explored before. Stevens direction was beautifully etched, painted and paced throughout the varying scenes.
The immediate popularity of this film, due to its subject matter, and the press it got would spawn a long number of sequels over the years that were not nearly as good. Then again, when you have a such a superlative film like this doing sequels that can equal the original is almost impossible. Stevens would direct several of the sequels and both Kay Parker and Juliet Anderson would appear in some, but in minor roles. Taboo 2 could have been an excellent follow up and was decent but just lacked the power of the original. All those that followed basically used the subject matter as the “hook” to grab viewers and buyers attention, and with few exceptions just did not measure up either in the writing, subject or performances.
There is only one “Taboo” to get and that is the 1980 original. It is now on DVD with a lot of good extras, interviews, behind the scenes stuff and just a good overview of a film done 35 years ago and is a true classic of the golden age that should be a part of every adult film fan’s collection.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
