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Released by: VCX/Cal Vista Classics
Released on: 12/01/2009
Director: Drew Eden
Cast: Georgina Spelvin, Sandra Stevens, Cindy Bell, Arri Gopen, Dana Kahn, Pharoah Amos, Guy Loma
Year: 1975
Purchase From TLA
Any day that a previously-unknown (to me) 70's XXX feature arrives at my door for review is a good one indeed, and seeing the name Georgina Spelvin attached can only make the experience better, so without anymore futzin', let's go ALL THE WAY
The Film
Novelist Everett (Arri Gopen) and his wife Dolores (Ms. Spelvin) are having some pretty serious marital woes: living on a ranch while Everett knocks out the remaining chapters to his latest work (in which the "hero" takes a mistress and imagines his wife to be cheating), the hard-drinking Dolores is distinctly unfulfilled.
After learning the subject of Everett's storyline all but confirms her fear of his infidelity (fears not unfounded), she succumbs to the charms of Russ (Pharoah Amos, appearing as "Russ Strong") while Ev hooks up with Katie (Cindy Bell). Katie is obviously taken with the scribe, but he is clearly in love with his wife and just wants some snoobage on the side.
Dolores too is not without conflict (like "where did I put my drink?"), but once Russ gives her his best, she demands a divorce from E-man. Knowing full well whom the other party is, he storms out looking for Russ, only to get knocked cold in the process, and once the new couple levels with him, he gets the picture.
So clear, in fact, that he almost shoots them in flagrant dilecto but is luckily distracted in time by stranded bride-to-be Yvonne (Sandra Stevens, as "Lana Semil") who is desperately in need of gas. Everett takes her to a service station run by pal Jeff (Dana Kahn), and wouldn't you know it? She doesn't have the money to pay up, and these two guys decide to resolve the matter in the fashion that only seems to happen in adult films and Penthouse Forum© letters.
Pretty soon, Katie is outside honking for gas, Delores is composing a kiss-off letter ("Too bad!") before her barroom (where else?) rendezvous with Russ, and our resident genius better act fast or he's going to lose it all......
At 62 minutes, ALL THE WAY has "2nd Big Hit" written all over it, and the threadbare plot and production value (it looks charmingly like an Andy Milligan film) and slapdash approach to editing of both sound and image drive this point home, but then there's the magical element.......
Never does one more look forward to a dialogue scene in films of this genre than when Georgina takes the screen: there just isn't that much story here, but she does her best to provide all the exposition she as an actor felt necessary (you can't tell me one-time director Drew Eden cared as much), and the real surprise is always how that seems to carry over to her sex scenes. It must have been lonely, because no one else here can act their way out of a wet paper bag, but therein also lies some of the distinct charm of 70's East Coast smut, it's just that close to underground film.
It's sometimes hard to define just what it is about these lower-tier XXX films that appeal to those of us that were too young to see them in their original context (maybe I just answered my own question): due to film grain, harsh lighting and close-up angles the sex can be seen as sometimes unerotic (though to some that very factor may be erotic, like an old stroke mag come to life), and if (like here) the sound design features jarringly looped music cues and overlapping moans that make it sound like an orgy of two, the effect could be disorienting to the point of nausea.
But then, quite unexpectedly, you as a viewer just go with it and have fun watching it all unfold. Sure, the spell isn't always cast successfully, but those with a twisted hunger for this peculiar form of social history will find enjoyment in films that the more casual smut maven may not. ALL THE WAY is for them.
Video/Audio/Extras
ALL THE WAY is presented full frame 1.33 with a digitally remastered transfer direct from only marginally beat-up elements. Clearly a film that never looked great, VCX's work here is fine replicating the look of a blown-up 16mm one-day wonder, albeit with a tad of color boosting. That's not a complaint, however, and the feature is quite watchable.
Audio is listed as 5.1, but what that amounts to is a nice beefy presentation of the mono elements, which have a raunchy midrange punch that actually compliment the visuals, especially with the use of library music cues that will be immediately recognizable to some (side note: sex scenes accompanied by warbly pedal steel guitar is a match made in heaven).
Extras consist of four bonus scenes from EXPOSE ME NOW (Hershel Savage and the grown girl scout), PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, SEX WISH (Zebedy and Terri Hall!), and TWO AT ONCE (Brigitte Lahaie!!!), as well as trailers for EASY, AUNT PEG (RIP), FLESH FEVER, and SWEET THROAT.
Interestingly, there is a standalone promo for the video companion to Jim Holliday's book ONLY THE BEST that proves the man's Siskel-like status with this immortal bit of voice-over ballyhoo: "anyone, professional or amateur, who would not give this collection of scenes their highest rating, just doesn't understand anything about universal appeal erotica". Way to sell it, Jim!
Lastly is a "Legends Tribute" aka 4mins of quick clips from the Cal Vista Classics line.
Oh yeah, and one more thing: Jessie St. James may be on the cover and menu screen, but she ain't in the film!
The Final Word
VCX and Cal Vista Classics bring you ALL THE WAY, about as far from a true classic 70's XXX feature as you can get, but due to the undeniable presence of Georgina Spelvin and a loveable wonkiness to the entire venture, ekes by with a recommendation to die-hards.
