I've never actually seen a Johnny Wadd movie and was wondering if I've missed much. I know that I-Candy have released a few of them on disk but have yet to take the plunge and buy one. I know they have a certain historical significance but that's not a reliable enough indicator of quality. Can anyone enlighten me?
Which is the best? Which was the first? What are the disks like?
SDC
"If we couldn't have sex from time to time, what would life be? A futile struggle against joints that stiffen and caries that form." Michel Houllebecq
I have never been a big fan of the Johnny Wadd films. They apparently were the brainchild of Bob Chinn and Holmes himself, bringing together the then current fad of crime dramas and martial arts B-films (and boy, this stuff is done badly in the Wadd films) with the old Hollywood detective characters both men seemed to like. They are generally low-budget fare, with poor scripts, acting, and direction. They also have a certain breezy tongue-in-cheek humor about them though--something typical of most of Chinn's work. Nobody is taking any of it too seriously, and this rather saves them as sex films. Chinn has done better work elsewhere, but it can be said that the Wadd films made Holmes the first real male star in the heterosexual hardcore industry. With the possible exception of Rocco, he still has no successor in that regard.
The first group of films were made while both men were working out of LA; Johnny Wadd is the worst of the series, often dated as late as 1973, but actually made probably in late 1970. Other LA entries include Flesh of the Lotus and Tropic of Passion --the last being perhaps the best of the LA efforts. After moving their base of operations to the Bay Area (the LA porn scene became a maze of busts and harassment by local police during this time, the precise involvement of Holmes being an interesting topic in the recently made documentary Wadd , where he is accused of being a snitch for the police by many industry insiders, helping in the busts of many porn sets during this era), the two, along with Richard Aldrich, their producer, made the five film series that is best known by collectors today. These movies were a kind of serial, loosely connected together although made to stand alone as features. The titles and dates were:
Tell Them Johnny Wadd Is Here (1975) Liquid lips (1976) The Jade Pussycat (1977) The China Cat (1978) Blonde Fire (1979)
Most old fans seem to prefer The China Cat as the best of these films; I prefer The Jade Pussycat . It should be noted that the final film in the series, Blonde Fire , is by far the best produced and best made of the group--it also featured Seka.
After this sequence, Chinn and Holmes parted company, apparently due to Holmes' drug addiction making him impossible to work with on the set--and Holmes' career began it's rapid downward spiral. By this point, he had developed the look most fans remember him by: haggard, emaciated--the proverbial "dick on a stick." It was fairly obvious in many of these late films that Holmes was having erection problems, line problems, and all kinds of other problems that one can only imagine.
With respect to the DVD's, I have no idea about the quality of the transfers; I would only hasten to point out that the VHS prints I have of all these films are none-to-great in terms of preservation quality. I doubt the DVD's have been made from negatives, but perhaps other viewers who have seen them can comment on this aspect. If you are truly interested in Holmes, the best place to start is with the documentary Wadd mentioned above; it is the best porn documentary I have seen, and provides lots of info about Holmes, Chinn, and the films themselves. It also explodes most of the Holmes' mythology (except the issue of his penis size, which Holmes always exaggerated for effect), and provides details into his involvement with the Laurel Canyon murders in 1981 that have since been made into the film Wonderland , playing in theaters now. Most of the sex footage in the documentary, I might add, is taken from the Johnny Wadd films, as it was in the old, fictional Exhausted , which came out in 1981, when Holmes career was at it's lowest ebb.
I imagine interest in Holmes will increase with the release of the Val Kilmer film. I prefer remembering him for the legendary early LA loops, before his drug problems began. If anyone wants to see the one truly good adult feature Holmes played a starring role in, try Eruption , which is available on DVD now. It is a take on the Hollywood classic Double Indemnity , with Holmes in the MacMurrey role. One of the very few adult films to imitate a Hollywood model fairly successfully.
And speaking of Holmes, I just saw Insatiable this morning and at the end of the film he and Marilyn must set the record for shortest anal segment in porno history. Anybody know of a shorter one? I don't know that much about classic porn. Were anal scenes a rarity? How about anal scenes with Holmes, to get back to the subject of this thread. Anybody got a recommendation for the best assfucking ever given by Holmes?
Nothing says I love you so much as a tongue in the ass. 2884 Posts 1/03
Posted - Oct 26 2003 : 2:06PM
One of John Holmes best anal scenes that I can remember is from Night On The Wild Side. His foil in that was Lili Marlene, who may not have been the most beautiful woman in porn, but was at least sturdy. Even at that it's not even close to being the best scene in the film. Janey Robbins doing a mini gangbang has to take that honor. Holmes did a lot of good work with Seka and she seemed to enjoy the experience. Most of his best work probably is not to be found on DVD, and possibly not even on videotape. He was featured in loops when he was young and horny and you could really get a sense of how large he really was.
Lazerus, that's quite a post! Thank you for sharing you encyclopedic knowledge with us.
It recently struck me as rather odd that, despite having seen more adult movies than I'd care to mention, I've seen very few featuring 'The King' himself. I have read his (undoubtedly dubious) autobiography, and a couple of articles on the Wonderland murders, but can only recall seeing him on camera twice - in The Graffenberg Spot and Insatiable . I did actually buy Eruption a couple of years ago but, after receiving two defective disks, settled for something else. I've been toying with the idea of picking up The China Cat having long been aware of the Johnny Wadd movies but, given the information provided, think I'll give it a miss. "Low-budget fare, with poor scripts, acting and direction" doesn't encourage me. Perhaps I'll have a look at Exhausted or Wadd instead.
SDC
"If we couldn't have sex from time to time, what would life be? A futile struggle against joints that stiffen and caries that form."
Sorry to hear about your problems with the disc of Eruption , sdc. It is worth checking out if you ever get another opportunity. I would pass on Exhausted and acquire Wadd instead; the earlier film is all fiction, just a compilation of Holmes material slapped with a documentary label. Wadd is the real item, and will make the mainstream film Wonderland more interesting in contrast.
The scene with Holmes in Insatiable is, as I recall, pretty disappointing. Holmes was in a rather poor state by then. On the subject of anals and "the King", he actually did quite a few, particularly in earlier loops, where the context of story related sex was irrelevant (much like today's all-sex and gonzo features), and the whole purpose was to capture a sexual sequence on film for maximum impact. Anals with Holmes in features is more rare, although he did fuck Eileen Wells (of Candy Stripers fame) in the ass during The China Cat , for example. The most famous, and infamous, anal scene Holmes ever performed was in the immortal LA loop PM (Playmate) #11, "Wild Beauty". This was shot about 1971, and is typical of the fantastic work as a sex performer Holmes was capable in his early days. He is paired here with Linda McDowell, a famous soft and hardcore girl from that period (who did several classic loops with Holmes). She is something to behold, a sort of hippie version of Taylor St. Claire, if you can imagine that. In this scene, she takes a FULLY ERECT Holmes in every orifice, finishing with an amazing anal and oral finish, rubbing his spurting cock all over her face with a passionate enthusiasm typical of her as a performer. This scene, along with several other great Holmes loops, was compiled in the old feature Fulfillment , around 1973 (another famous early loop has Brigitte Maier deep-throating Holmes in an equally remarkable display). You can also get the loops individually on VHS from Blue Vanities, but this is an expensive process. McDowell, by the way, is one of the great forgotten legends of early porn. She was one of the few girls who always aroused Holmes to his full size, and a completely erect Holmes is still a rather shocking thing--much more so than someone like Mandingo today I think, because of the almost soda-can thickness of Holmes' phallus. I have shown the McDowell scene to several curious females, and have always got the same gasps and protests from them at the sheer enormous size of the young Holmes in action--along with the also obvious wide-eyed squirming, flushed faces, and instantly erect nipples!
Nothing says I love you so much as a tongue in the ass. 2884 Posts 1/03
Posted - Oct 26 2003 : 9:33PM
It's unfortunate that Fulfillment isn't available any longer. I remember seeing it as a theatrical release and there are a couple of scenes that are burned in my memory, including a great cumswap between two Girl Scouts selling him cookies and a great deep throat from a beautiful redhead. As far as his size is concerned, I think he was as big and wide as Jack Napier is. Serena dubbed him Mr. Wide-as-a-beer-can. Tom Byron, who graces these boards, worked with him and might have a good perspective.
The movies lazerus listed are the best of the lot. I also liked Exhausted because it was a kind of documentary with hardcore mixed in. Any way, I-candy released Exhausted, Jade Pussycat, China Cat, and Blonde Fire on dvd. Blonde Fire is edited. There is a scene where Holmes catches a girl rifling though his stuff in his hotel room, he cuffs her to the bed and has sex with her, but before he does he tells her not to struggle, she does and he hits her and points a gun in her face, they cut out the part of him hitting her and pointing the gun in her face. This pissed me off because I always want the original uncut movie unedited, and this particular scene was re-enacted in the Boogie Nights movie, so why it was edited is beyond me. I e-mailed I-candy asking them about it and was ignored. I spoke with the online store I ordered from and asked them to ask I-candy the next time they order about the edited scene, all they told them was that the current version is the only one they are releasing, no further explanation was given. I think it's too bad because IMO Blonde Fire is the best of the movies and it would have been nice to have the entire film, original and uncut. If I were you I'd get Exhausted, Jade Pussycat, China Cat, and Blonde Fire.
The deep throat scene you remember from Fulfillment , picman, was the one I mentioned in my post with Brigitte Maier. A truly remarkable circus feat, wasn't it? And yes, Napier is the closest of current performers to Holmes in size, although he lacks the ability as a performer and the sleazy charm that Holmes exuded in his youth. Isn't it odd to think that so many of the sexual preoccupations of porn fans today were contained in a collection of loops made over 30 years ago? Cum swaps, deep throat, anal with a oversized cock, etc. The little brunette in the girl scout scene was dubbed Barbara Barton by Billy Thornberg, who made both this film and the sequel Beyond Fulfillment . The second film is much less interesting than the first, although it has a famous poolside loop with Barton and Holmes, matching a tiny girl with Holmes' giant dick. As I recall, Suzanne Fields (from the softcore classic Flesh Gordon )is also with Holmes in one of these films, with Holmes pretending to be a photographer.
I am not surprised that Blonde Fire is edited. Most of the Johnny Wadd films had some silly violence or forced sex sequence in them. It was completely vanilla, of course, but the sort of thing many companies have edited out of the older titles. And although I have called the Wadd films poorly acted and produced, I am saying that to place them in contrast to something like Metzger's hardcore films, or Pussy Talk , for example. Compared to the porn of their day, or in this era, I would call them average in these areas. They were made by Bob Chinn, who was always a very fine sex shooter, but who preferred limited plot in his features. Candy Stripers sums up his style of a pornographer, and if you like that film, you might like the Wadd films as well. But they are not nearly as good. And Holmes was never much of an actor, so a great script would be wasted on him anyway.
Nothing says I love you so much as a tongue in the ass. 2884 Posts 1/03
Posted - Oct 27 2003 : 6:11AM
I think the trick to that particular deep throat was that he grew to full size in her mouth as she was raising her head off of it. It was a spectacular shot.
Porno movies, sexy videos, xxx. Adult DVD Talk at your service. 6409 Posts 11/99
Posted - Oct 27 2003 : 2:53PM
Zell, what did you think of the rest of Insatiable?
I haven't seen a lot of John Holmes, but I loved both Insatiable and Eruption. Eruption is generally available at good bargain prices (eg less than $10.)
Oh, Insatiable, what can I say? It was one of the first porn movies I ever saw, back in the mid-80s. I just watched in again this weekend having not seen it since then. Don't hate me for saying this, but I was a bit disappointed. The premise of the thing is fine; I like the idea of tracing a woman sexual history and her fantasies, and the first scene of her masturbating I agree with you is first rate, and the last scene with Holmes and the other guys does have its moments, but it's too brief. Heck, that anal segment of this scene last only about 30 seconds! But there are some quick cuts during that scene that struck me as innovative and powerful. (you can see some of both of those scenes in the compilation Legends of Porn.)
I've seen other classic films that I liked better, and for significantly cheaper prices, than Insatiable runs for. For instance: Amanda by Night, Afternoon Delights, Aunt Peg, Barbara Broadcast, Outlaw Ladies, Playgirl, and Hot Rackets. I just started watching these classics about a month ago, partly because I was curious to see the sources of Veronica Hart's excellent films and partly because I've been talking with another person a lot about porn of this era, and have been very pleasantly surprised by them. I plan on buying many more soon. These films are, in their own terms, first rate porn. Not to be missed, I think. There's some great stuff sitting out there waiting to be rediscovered. So refreshing to see a porno movie that looks so much like a mainstream movie of the age, or a tv show. All those outdoor shots and scenes in real rooms, not barren sets. And they way they talk to each other in dirty sentences, not just in dirty words, when they are having sex gives me one hell of a thrill. Perhaps we should revive a golden age thread and talk more about it there? I'm interested in hearing more about why you favor Insatiable over other quality classic porn titles.
And to close with a Holmes reference, and why not since this thread is on him, I haven't seen Eruption but it's on my wish list now!
Porno movies, sexy videos, xxx. Adult DVD Talk at your service. 6409 Posts 11/99
Posted - Oct 28 2003 : 10:07AM
Zell,
Of course I don't hate you for saying you didn't love Insatiable :) You have a much better frame of reference than I do.
For no reason other than I haven't seen them all. I was a total porn newbie when we started adt. And still I haven't seen that many movies - 90% of my porn knowledge comes from other people's opinions (reviews, forum, etc.)
Insatiable was the first porn movie that actually turned me on. Hence my enthusiasm :) When I first saw Insatiable and spoke to the owner of i-Candy it opened my eyes to a whole new side of porn. It was refreshing.
Hey, good news, Eruption just came in the mail today, along with a few other ultralow priced golden age discs. Looking forward to seeing it. Thanks for the recommendation. You know, I've been watching a lot of these classics lately, and man oh man do they ever seem couples friendly and with strong and free-spirited (not simply bitchy and mean and oversexed and cock hungry) female characters. I can't wait to get the reaction of my S/O to these films, who I unfortunately haven't been able to watch porn with lately. I think she's going to love them.
I think you'll enjoy Eruption , Zell. Despite the hundreds of features and loops in which Holmes performed, he starred in relatively few great films. Usually he was a "stunt cock," or a novelty act, wheeled in for a big scene--sort of like what you see in Insatiable . In comedies, such as The Autobiography of a Flea , Hard Soap, Hard Soap , and The Erotic Adventures of Candy , his penis was the butt of a lot of the films' jokes. All of those movies are good, though. Another famous Holmes feature was Taxi Girls , but I always found this one a bit routine, despite the presence of Nancy Suiter. Holmes lacked the acting ability of Gillis or Edwards, the goofy charm of Silvera, or the confident swagger of Leslie. I don't think he ever quite fit in with the San Francisco porn sub-culture, in the way he had in LA. After he returned to the industry in 1982, he appeared in a few good features (Girls on Fire , where he does a bit in drag and has a hot scene with Ginger Lynn, is probably the best), and then tried to start up his own video company, which didn't last. Tom Byron appeared in a couple of features with him at this time. Then came his HIV positive test, trip to Europe, and ultimate demise. He also did work in the gay industry, although this is rarely mentioned in his bios. How he contracted HIV remains a matter of speculation, but he appeared to be using drugs up to the end of his life, so who can speculate?
It is interesting that many fans are rediscovering a lot of the older porn films from the 1971-84 era. There is slight discontent with the formulaic nature of both the feature and gonzo markets today. I had considered dropping a few posts in this forum, discussing some of the classic films of the "old days," especially for people just coming to porn who want some perspective, but I have been hesitant to do so. For one thing, I haven't seen most of these titles on DVD, so I could not compare quality and edits with the original prints. Secondly, I'm not sure there is really enough interest. I'm still thinking about it. What do you all think?
Don't want to completely derail the thread but what do you guys make of Taboo ? This is the only Classic porno that has made its way into my DVD player and it would be interesting to hear some of your opinions on it . For my own tastes it was very impressive in terms of acting and story but was let down by the poorly shot sex scenes . Way too many close ups ( I've read the reviews but they don't really touch on this ) ! Is this a tendency that stretches across all these older features that have been mentioned in this thread ? Some of them sound like they would be worth checking out but if they fail ( IMO ) in the sex department then I'd probably give them a miss .
It would be great if you felt the urge to write some reviews of these titles ( Zell1728 and Lazerus ). I'll check through the ones that are available today but not all films are covered and one ( Eruption ) has possibly the poorest review I've ever read ! Seriously though any extra input on all these titles is very much worthwhile . Can't get too much information on which to base a potential purchase .
Maybe some reviews about classic Euro features would be a good thing too . I know that you taught me quite a bit about the Brigette Lahaie days of porn in an earlier thread . It would be interesting to find out more , especially about performers that ' do it ' for me . Unfortunately Brigitte isn't the girl for my tastes .
Lee O somewhere thinking 'if Steph reads this I'm '
IAFD, supporters of beastiality. Just say no. 7564 Posts 11/02
Posted - Oct 30 2003 : 10:21AM
I don't know if you have access to French satellite porn channel XXL, but they are airing a French classic porn film every Monday. I am really glad they do this. I am rediscovering the likes of Marilyn Jess, Julia Perrin, Dominique St. Claire, Helen Shirley, Cathy Stewart, Ellen Earl, Marianne Aubert (aka Sylvie Esnault), and many more. btw, you should check out EGAFD. They are the best source for classic European porn I know of.
Sir Noel Plum said: "x > y Where x = sales revenue y = total cost of production/marketing and distribution." (More proof that porn is an exact science: Sir Noel's formula for success in porn.)
Porno movies, sexy videos, xxx. Adult DVD Talk at your service. 6409 Posts 11/99
Posted - Oct 30 2003 : 1:20PM
Lee, I have no ego attached to my reviews. I've wanted to change the name on them so no one knows I wrote them :) It would be great if someone with a wider breadth of knowledge would review Eruption.
(classics tangent ahead, unrelated to johnny wadd)
Another good title that we don't have a review of is V The Hot One. I didn't see the whole thing, but Annette Haven has an incredible masturbation scene. She's truly a classic beauty.
Thanks Walter , you're just like this girl I know . How's that ? Your a terrible tease ! About 3 months ago I tried to receive some European stations ( only free ones ) because I'd developed a thing for Sabrina Ferilli . Apparently she hosts or hosted a Saturday evening football show on the Italian station RaiUno . Unfortunately it turns out that my satellite dish is incapable of receiving the Astra satellite or Blue Bird ( or whatever it's called ) as the angle is too great . Effectively a new dish was needed . My interest waned somewhat at the thought of all that extra expense . So , I'm glad you are enjoying channel XXL but for now I'll just have to listen and learn here - with some occasional DVD purchases thrown in .
EGAFD has now been hungrily gobbled up by my favourites section , sitting alongside Sbando's Eurobabe Index . Again Thanks .
Steph , I don't know why you would even consider having your name removed from any of your reviews :) It was only a puny attempt at a joke on my part . Hell I've got real respect for your writing style , it's smooth and easy to read - which contrasts with my own somewhat forced , controlled manner . Shame you don't write anymore , still I guess you're more than busy these days !
Speaking of Holmes, a film starring him that I just finished watching is sadly one that I can't recommend: Stormy. Diville reviewed it a couple of years ago for ADT and I like was said there.
Something good to say about the film is that there's a DP scene with a lady and Joey Silvera taking the pussy and Holmes working her ass. I haven't really been keeping track of the dates for these classic films, but I suspect this is one of the earliest DP scenes that I've got in my collection.
Also notable in this scene is a near/possible episode of A2M, but the effect is ruined by either bad editing or else this wasn't really A2M and the editing was a kind of cover up. Holmes takes his dick out of the woman's ass and she starts to go down him, but just before he lips touch his cock, there's a cut in the film to Silvera fucking the woman. After this, we cut back to the woman sucking off John. So close, yet so far.
Yep, you're right, that is a great scene and Annette is a beauty and she does an excellent job in this film. The problem for me is that the film so damn dark! Porn tragedy. While it's true that it's easy to find light hearted easy going swinging classic porn, it's also easy to find these porno downers as well.
Almost every sex scene has some troubling aspect to it: such as the star's mother in the very beginning of the film discovering her just after having had sex and calling her a whore, and another scene that ends with Annette asking a man who she's just fucked not to go until she's had an orgasm too, but he leaves anyway saying "Whore's don't cum."
I don't want to give to many of the films secrets away, but while I admit this is certainly a first rate film and some of the sex is VERY hot, it's for me a serious downer of a movie (if you think thinks like marital rape and spousal abandonment and stealing from hookers are downers) so be warned before you buy or rent.
It can easily be found online for under 10 bucks. Certainly worth checking out at that price. It's without a doubt an adult FILM where the sex is intimately connected with the plot and it has some of the best acting that I've ever seen in porn.
If Stormy seems a little random and thrown about to you, Zell, there is a reason. The film is actually just a collection of older Swedish Erotica loops that were stuck together, with a bit of linking material filmed for the occasion to create a premise for the action. We call these sort of films "vignette" porn today, but old-timers called them "loop carriers," which is exactly what this one was. A quick way to use some previous material to make a buck. Of course, most loop carriers of the era used new footage made for the occasion, not previously viewed stuff. The blond in the DP scene was credited with all sorts of names; she is a significant performer from the period. She is also in Expensive Tastes , for example.
I haven't researched the first DP footage filmed; I know it goes back to the stag film era, however. The first really famous example in 1970's hardcore was from Devil in Miss Jones . It was far from new at the time. Fisting, urination, and bestiality scenes go back at least as far as the 1930's.
While I'm on the JCH thread, has anyone actually seen the new film Wonderland ? Despite the big budget Hollywood cast, it doesn't seem to have made the usual theatrical rounds. Community standards, perhaps?
