#quality x

[thirtytwoelvismovies]

Times Square locales in Chuck Vincent’s That Lucky Stiff (1980).

[thirtytwoelvismovies]

Gloria Leonard, Sonny Landham, Leslie Bovee, and a Radio Shack TRS-80 in Chuck Vincent’s insanely goofy Misbehavin’ (1978).

[thirtytwoelvismovies]

Vinegar Syndrome delivers the important stuff.

[thirtytwoelvismovies]

Not quite sure what I just watched, but here’s the incredible Sharon Mitchell in Joy (1977).

[thirtytwoelvismovies]

Lisa Deleeuw and Veronica Hart with some top-notch phone acting in Gary Graver’s Centerspread Girls (1982).

[thirtytwoelvismovies]

It has arrived! Quality X/Distribpix/Vinegar Syndrome/Whatever-it’s-called-now has done an amazing job with this one. Liner note booklet, loads of extras… can’t wait to watch it.

[thirtytwoelvismovies]

Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle | Joe Sarno & Annie Sprinkle | 1981

I haven’t paid much attention to the “Inside” or “Deep Inside” star productions because they’re easy to dismiss as re-packaged best-of compilations. They were low on my priorities in this re-visiting of the Golden Age.

But the Evart Pictures star vehicles were different, offering a refreshingly realistic view into the lives of stars like Jennifer Welles, Seka, and Gloria Leonard.

Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle is the best of them, owing much to Annie Sprinkle’s incredible charisma and her overall sex-positivity. This film absolutely celebrates sex, embraces kink, and there’s something incredibly calming about her presence, sometimes veering into ASMR territory.

When we first see Annie, she sits at a bar and tells us about herself. She shows us childhood pictures. This is not how porn movies normally start out. It’s charmingly disarming.

Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle is a feature-length fourth-wall break. “I love to play with men’s asses,” she tells us, coyly, as the camera pans to the left. There’s a “Well, that's funny, because I happen to have Mr. McLuhan right here” moment as Annie reveals Marc Valentine laying flat on the bed, waiting for some butt play. Every sequence is like this. And none of the scenes overstay their welcome (well, the womens’ orgy is a little too long). But they’re all hot and playful.

The photo shoot scene, which features Annie in blue skin-tight spandex pants, features real-life couple Buddy and Bunny Hatton. Bunny, as Misty Blue Simmes, went on to a wild wrestling career, holding many Championship titles in the women's league of the NWA. The Rialto Report did a fascinating interview with them back in 2020.

Golden age historians will enjoy Sprinkle’s exhibitionism scene at the Distribpix-owned Orleans Theatre on West 47th St. We meet her outside, explaining how much she loves watching herself on film. Lucky for her, there’s an Annie Sprinkle Film Festival going on inside. Once in the auditorium, she doesn’t stay anonymous very long, cozying up with Jake Teague, a very in-character Michael Gaunt, and some other guy. I wonder if the Orleans management cleaned up the joint a bit before the shoot.

(The Orleans was subject to a police raid for showing Behind the Green Door in July, 1972.)

Sprinkle’s earnestness shines throughout. At the end, she thanks the viewers. “I love you.” We love you too, Annie.

And as though this wasn’t already a very intimate experience, we’re treated to a post-credit sequence where she pops out from behind a tree and shares her mailing address. According to the liner note booklet included with the release, she spent several months replying to fan letters.

The new Quality X blu-ray features an archival 2008 commentary with Sprinkle, moderated by The Rialto Report’s Ashley West. Her recollections are impeccable, and she shares her thoughts on the AIDS crisis and the upcoming shift to video and the west coast, things that were looming as this film was being produced.

The film itself looks fantastic, as it was lensed by Larry Levene. The transfer gives his wizardry justice, and lets Annie and her friends sparkle.

[thirtytwoelvismovies]

Joy | Harley Mansfield | 1977

There’s a goofiness in some late-‘70s X parodies that I just can’t handle. I went into the new Quality X bluray of Harley Mansfield’s Joy knowing it was a spoof of Death Wish, I just didn’t expect to enjoy what is essentially a rape-revenge farce — a comedic Ms. 45, if you will. The notion itself is insidious, but just hear me out. In her first starring role, Sharon Mitchell is having a lot of fun as Joy, who takes New York City by storm and inspires a sexual revolution during what was likely the summer of 1977 (the summer of the blackouts, Son of Sam, etc.).

The whole thing is rooted in male fantasy and there are some rather nefarious moments (when the cop stalks Joy on the street, the ensuing scene on the staircase, and that whole thing with the revolver — basically any scene with a cop), but the satire is presented in such a charming and cartoony way that… it works?

Gorgeous New York photography (including a permitted scene shot at Newark Airport, another in a NYC subway car) balanced with a Laverne & Shirley-esque score, shots taken at ‘70s police films, it’s just a sweet-looking movie. The new bluray has two excellent commentaries, a (rather ineptly shot) interview with the queen herself, Sharon Mitchell, and a q&a from a screening of the film. VS has released some duds in the last year but this Quality X release really shines.