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Released by: Vinegar Syndrome
Released on: November 18th, 2014.
Director: Carlos Tobalina
Cast: John Holmes, Leslie Bovee, Annette Haven
Year: 1978
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The Movie:
Over the last year or so Vinegar Syndrome has been releasing the films of the late Carlos Tobalina. That trend continues with this latest double feature release, once again under their Peekarama double feature line of DVDs.
Fantastic Orgy:
First up is the sordid tale of Iris Medina, a Latina filmmaker out to direct her very first smut film - or so we're told. We see a few establishing shots of her doing film-related things and then she spends the rest of the movie basically diddling herself for the camera. Someone does, however, narrate this one and give the setup some sort of context. The narration sets into motion a scene wherein Medina heads out to begin a new career in XXX rated filmmaking.
From here, we're treated to what is basically a 'greatest hits' reel in which the newly shot footage of Medina is spliced into various scenes culled from other Tobalina films. The character's voice over work is amusing enough as we learn how horny she gets driving vans and how her aforementioned horniness increases to a fever pitch as the parade of clips rolls past us - hey look, John Holmes, Annette Haven, Desiree West, Sharon Thorpe and all of your other favorites pop up here, kids!
Before it's all over, Medina herself will get in on some hardcore action in a group session and then one last one on one encounter with big Johnny Wadd himself. The loop narration ends with a bit in which we compare the X-rated stars and their work in this picture with that of the Hollywood A-listers many of them no doubt had aspirations to become. This one isn't very good, but the narration is so bad that it almost gets there. Much of the sex is pretty familiar, obviously, but the editing isn't half bad. Go into this one expecting some laughs and you'll do okay but really this just seems like an excuse Tobalina rolled out to reuse a lot of footage previously shot with some 'name' stars to make a few extras bucks.
Champagne Orgy:
The second feature doesn't do much better in the plot department but it does have the added novelty of seeing Tobalina himself act in the film. We start off with three lovely ladies going at it f or our enjoyment, with some nice seventies style music over top. From here were meet Tobalina, basically playing himself as he drives around town in a suit with an impressively huge collar on it, looking for talent.
He first hits a restaurant where he tries to talk a pretty waitress into 'acting' for him for a paltry sawbuck! Later he hangs out with a and then another guy, this second one with a huge white afro. He's having a shindig at his place, they're invited. He makes a few more calls and once he's got his talent assembled, everyone drinks champagne and then has an orgy - the cameras roll…
A plethora of pretty girls and a funky soundtrack may not make a bad movie a good one but they do make an unwatchable film a little more watchable. The ladies do look great here, Tobalina had a good eye this time around - Dorothy LeMay and Bonnie Holliday can both be spotted here. The real novelty here is, as stated, watching Carlos strut around like a player, often grinning like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Both features look great in 1.85.1 anamorphic widescreen transferred in 2k from their respective 35mm negatives. The elements used were in excellent condition and while there is a scratch or two here and there, for the most part the transfers are as clean and as colorful as you could hope for. Expect some grain, but you'd be silly not to and it's never particularly distracting. These are solid transfers through and through, no serious print damage to complain about, sharp detail, very film like but still crisp and clean. Expect some grain, but you'd be silly not to. At this point in time anyone who has been following these releases knows to expect excellent quality - this release continues that trend.
Both movies get the Dolby Digital Mono treatment, in English with no alternate language options or subtitles provided. Both films sound fine. Dialogue remains clear and crisp and the scores sound good. Levels are properly balanced for both features though some might note some minor hiss in a few spots.
The only extras on the disc are static menus, chapter selection and trailers for each feature.
The Final Word:
These aren't the best movies in Tobalina's filmography, which is kind of saying something, but they're amusing enough in their own goofy ways. As to the presentation of the two features, the quality is up to Vinegar Syndrome's typically excellent standards. Fans will dig this for sure.
