Change Your Image
lor_
Served as Chairman, New York Film Critics Circle: 1993/94.
Favorite interviews were with: Michael Douglas, Sophia Loren, DeForest Kelley, Joan Chen, Joe Henderson, Ismail Merchant, Klaus Kinski, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Spike Lee, Malcolm McDowell, Zoe Lund, Melvin Van Peebles, Ultra Violet, Wolfgang Petersen, Claudia Cardinale, Serge Silberman, Margarethe von Trotta, Alec Guinness, Leonard Nimoy, Susan George, Joseph Losey, Gale Anne Hurd, Dennis Hopper, Peter Greenaway, Katt Shea, Ken Russell, Maggie Greenwald, Jim Jarmusch, Peter Brook, Jurgen Prochnow, Andy Warhol, Judy Davis, Chuck Vincent, Fred Zinnemann, Wim Wenders, Max Von Sydow, Michael Moore, Terry Gilliam, Rita Jenrette, Karen Lynn Gorney, Bruce Beresford, Jack Thompson, Russ Meyer, Sam Raimi, Abel Ferrara, John Sayles, William Greaves, Nino Manfredi, Lee Van Cleef, Michael Cuscuna, Bille August, Jewel Shepard, Andy Sidaris, Michel Deville, Claude Sautet, Claude Lelouch, Alfonso Arau, Alan Parker, Reinhard Hauff, Traci Lords, Jim Jarmusch, Martha Coolidge, Candida Royalle, Giuseppe Tornatore, Edward James Olmos, Paul Hogan, John Mackenzie, Peter Hyams, Jennifer Beals,, Adrian Lyne, Samuel Fuller, Dario Argento, James Toback, Lasse Hallstrom, Fred Williamson, Gabriel Axel, Joe Bastianich, Aaron Sanchez, Danny Meyer, Steve Hanson, Matthew Kenney, Douglas Rodriguez, Simon Oren, Stanley Donen, Lindsay Anderson, Helena Bonham Carter, Edward Pressman, Harold Becker, Larry Cohen, James Ivory, Jack O'Connell, Michael Phillips, Kevin McClory, Jackie Mason, Joan O'Brien, Stanley Donen, Joseph B. Vasquez, Don Bluth, William Lustig, Al Goldstein, Simon Wincer, Valeria Cavalli, Dave Fishelson, Lizzie Borden, Roberta Findlay, Rob Cohen, Doris Wishman, Robert Tapert, Bruce Campbell, Bill Cosby, Pasquale Squitieri, Menahem Golan, Yoram Globus, Tim Kincaid, Joel M. Reed, Gregory Dark, T.L. Lankford, Fred Olen Ray, Victoria Paige Meyerink, Lawrence D. Foldes, Rick Marx & Ted V. Mikels
Reviews
Transfixed: Good Lap Dances Make Good Neighbors (2024)
Robert Frost influences porn -NOT
This is the best of the boy/trans episodes recently introduced to the previously trans lesbian-oriented label "Transfixed". It has met with good reactions from the subscribers, unlike most of the previous attempts to add this genre.
The convincing performances by Ariel Demure and Gay Porn star Roman Todd are what make this a winner. Plenty of time is devoted to the setup, wherein neighbor Demure makes a house call after Roman requests her exotic dancing on recommendation from his pals. He's more than satisfied, as a sexy dance plus lap dance leads to hot sex.
No pegging here, as Ariel plays the bottom role for a change. Her costume is a plus, and director Jim Powers puts more effort than usual in making this a sensual scene rather than just raw sex.
Kept Husbands (1931)
Sincerity is the key
Nearly a century old, this romantic dramedy starring Dorothy Mackaill and Joel McCrea is surprisingly fresh and heartwarming, thanks to the utter sincerity of the performances, and a terrific commitment to tried and true dramatic arcs. What a breath of fresh air compared to current facetious and downright silly trends in rom-coms.
McCrea is one of the great actors who is taken for granted, no cult for him, and not a name bandied about among Hollywood legends. I suppose his sin was being hard-working and rising to the occasion when cast in great roles -at least the '30s through '60s filmmakers knew his talent, ranging from Preeston Sturges all the way to Sam Peckinpah.
The revelations here for me were the actresses: Mackhaill as his wife and Mary Carr as his mother. The vivacious and rather amazing performance by Dorothy - captivating in the early reels, then downright hissible with her elfishness later on, on;y to bring a tear near the end - that's a style that would be worth bringing back -she really poured her heart into it. And in a sentimental role, I was with Carr 100% as the bedrock underneath all the film's frivolity.
This is surefire Depression Era entertainment (with a solid director of that aera, Lloyd Bacon, in charge). One can't help but immediately identify with Joel's all-American boy character and live vicariously in the glamour of the upper class during the Depression, while the script carefully makes clear their shortcomings. Dorothy's bad behaviour and comeuppance are expertly delineated, and the lack of censorship only adds to the power of certain risque scenes, such as their wedding night and her dalliance with a scoundrel at Joel's lowest moment.
Surprised by Mom (2024)
Four Golden Oldies
Some favorite actresses from Mommy's GIrl's original era when Alan was directing are resurrected on this Girlsway VOD of reissued material.
In the title scene, India Summer, in her blonde phase, has fun with her daughter and a toy in this rather indulgent vignette from the "Mommy's Girl" series. Fans who like to watch natural Sapphic sex without any toys need not apply.
She catches her cute kid Jenna Sativa masturbating on the couch with a strap-on dildo in hand, and gets turned on. India feels it necessary to show Jenna the proper use of a strap-on, not intended for masturbation, and needless to say both women are highly satisfied with the result.
One treat for fans is seeing Jenna Sativa in her earlier form, before she succumbed to the oddball fetish trend of fans demanding big butts.
"I'm In Control" is filled with dumb flashbacks of mommy Dava Foxx making her daughter Jenna Sativa almost a sex slave definitely runs the concept into the ground.
"A Most Special Occasion" is an overly cheerful vignette is credited to website member Metalhead42 for its inspiration. It concerns Alina Lopez and Vera King serendipitously giving each other engagement rings (Alina goes first) to get married, after King has divorced Alina's dad. Vision of Woody Allen's sleazy hook-up (and marriage) with his and Mia Farrow's adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn flashed through my mind. So what is intended by good old Metalhead42 to be a cute and friendly variation on taboo themes didn't hit me that way.
However, the lovey-dovey relationship and the actresses' convincing depiction of sincere affection for each other makes up for the bad taste story.
In "Mommy's Little Black Book", conflict sets up the Reagan Foxx/Scarlett Sage vignette, as Reagan catches her kid reading her old diary. In purple prose the journal documents mom's lesbian affairs when she was a young college student (experimenting with lesbianism back in one's student days is among the most used and over-used gimmicks in Bree Mills' world of storytelling). Reagan gets angry at this gross violation of her privacy but within seconds she has been seduced by the young and desirable Scarlett Sage.
These two all-time greats are an excellent match in this vignette, and Scarlett looks especially fetching with her bangs hair style.
Body Shots (2005)
Randy Spears in hell (metaphorically)
Chi Chi La Rue directed this bottom of the barrel Vivid Video release set entirely in a bar. End credits sadly reveal that the great Sharon Kane is responsible for many key credits, with nothing to show for it.
Randy Spears inherits a bar from his uncle and in very bored voice-over narration tells us about the boring events, all sexual, that took place there. It's as lifeless as porn can get.
What passes for story is his hiring a coatcheck girl, namely contract star Steffani Morgan. She has a 3-way with Johnny Castle and Kelly Kline instead of checking coats, and Randy ends up falling in love with her after she does a stripteae at a special (and boring) party at the bar.
Everything about the video is depressing, cynical and half-hearted, plus the 100% reliance on voice-over is a drag.
The Scent of Desire (2024)
Less story, more sex
A trend away from storytelling is evident in this trio of Girlsway romances united on a VOD.
An exception is "Earning the In-Law's Approval". Dana Vespoli's acting expertise is displayed in high relief in this rather droll Girlsway segment, casting her as Kenna's prospective mother-in-law.
Kenna is asking for her blessing as she plans to marry Dana's daughter Carrie, and shows the mom an expensive ring she's bought to give to Carrie. The way that Dana controls the rest of the scene, and delivers her demands to Kenna is terrific - utterly convincing and yet simultaneously somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
Basically, she demands proof that Kenna can satisfy her daughter's desires for a lifetime? A demonstration is necessary. Kenna is a bit shocked, but overcomes her reluctance and goes toe to toe sexually with Dana, and comes out a winner. But don't tell Carrie!
More straightforward is "You Can Stay With Me". The directing team of Siouxsie Q and Michael Vegas once again demonstrate that they don't need a script to crank out a sexy and mediocre vignette, in this case starring Queenie Sateen and Ana Foxxx, a randomly cast couple.
Queenie is all broken up at the treatment she receives from a cheating boyfriend, so Ana invites her to hang out at her home, as per the title dialogue. Queenie proves to be bicurious and Ana comforts her first with an innocent shoulder massage but then easily seduces the forlorn girl.
There's no denying they are effective making out XXX-style on Ana's couch, but the improvised dialogue and pointlessness of the scene are also on display.
In the title segment, director Stella Smut brings an element of style to this otherwise lovey-dovey vignette of Sapphic sex, as busty Kenzie Taylor primps for her date with her lover Gal Ritchie. Though the storyline by Lapis Afterglow is thin, the actresses definitely act convincingly to make one believe they're deeply involved lovers, rather than random players booked for a porn scene assignment together.
Both are clad in striking lingerie worthy of a Dorcel movie, with garter belts yet, as Ritchie gazes at her pal, and enjoys a dream-like erotic fantasy of Kenzie at her mirror spraying perfume on herself. The brief interlude presented in monochrome and slow motion plays like a perfume commercial, but without the product placement.
This turns into a pleasant, sensual scene, consistently positive in content.
Mommy's Girl: Mommy's Little Black Book (2018)
Diary as catalyst
Conflict sets up the Reagan Foxx/Scarlett Sage vignette, as Reagan catches her kid reading her old diary. In purple prose the journal documents mom's lesbian affairs when she was a young college student (experimenting with lesbianism back in one's student days is among the most used and over-used gimmicks in Bree Mills' world of storytelling). Reagan gets angry at this gross violation of her privacy but within seconds she has been seduced by the young and desirable Scarlett Sage.
These two all-time greats are an excellent match in this vignette, and Scarlett looks especially fetching with her bangs hair style.
Mommy's Girl: A Most Special Occasion (2019)
Leaving dad out of the occasion
An overly cheerful vignette is credited to website member Metalhead42 for its inspiration. It concerns Alina Lopez and Vera King serendipitously giving each other engagement rings (Alina goes first) to get married, after King has divorced Alina's dad. Vision of Woody Allen's sleazy hook-up (and marriage) with his and Mia Farrow's adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn flashed through my mind. So what is intended by good old Metalhead42 to be a cute and friendly variation on taboo themes didn't hit me that way.
However, the lovey-dovey relationship and the actresses' convincing depiction of sincere affection for each other makes up for the bad taste story.
Girlsway Originals: Earning the In-Law's Approval (2024)
You can't say no to Dana
Dana Vespoli's acting expertise is displayed in high relief in this rather droll Girlsway segment, casting her as Kenna's prospective mother-in-law.
Kenna is asking for her blessing as she plans to marry Dana's daughter Carrie, and shows the mom an expensive ring she's bought to give to Carrie. The way that Dana controls the rest of the scene, and delivers her demands to Kenna is terrific - utterly convincing and yet simultaneously somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
Basically, she demands proof that Kenna can satisfy her daughter's desires for a lifetime? A demonstration is necessary. Kenna is a bit shocked, but overcomes her reluctance and goes toe to toe sexually with Dana, and comes out a winner. But don't tell Carrie!
Girlsway Originals: The Scent of Desire (2024)
Stay at home lesbians
Director Stella Smut brings an element of style to this otherwise lovey-dovey vignette of Sapphic sex, as busty Kenzie Taylor primps for her date with her lover Gal Ritchie. Though the storyline by Lapis Afterglow is thin, the actresses definitely act convincingly to make one believe they're deeply involved lovers, rather than random players booked for a porn scene assignment together.
Both are clad in striking lingerie worthy of a Dorcel movie, with garter belts yet, as Ritchie gazes at her pal, and enjoys a dream-like erotic fantasy of Kenzie at her mirror spraying perfume on herself. The brief interlude presented in monochrome and slow motion plays like a perfume commercial, but without the product placement.
This turns into a pleasant, sensual scene, consistently positive in content.
Girlsway Originals: You Can Stay with Me (2024)
Friends, maybe lovers?
The directing team of Siouxsie Q and Michael Vegas once again demonstrate that they don't need a script to crank out a sexy and mediocre vignette, in this case starring Queenie Sateen and Ana Foxxx, a randomly cast couple.
Queenie is all broken up at the treatment she receives from a cheating boyfriend, so Ana invites her to hang out at her home, as per the title dialogue. Queenie proves to be bicurious and Ana comforts her first with an innocent shoulder massage but then easily seduces the forlorn girl.
There's no denying they are effective making out XXX-style on Ana's couch, but the improvised dialogue and pointlessness of the scene are also on display.
Whispering City (1947)
Too many fake twists
This unusual Quebec production from 1947 presents good acting in a thriller context, but unfortunately goes overboard in the final reels with unbelievable, even silly plot twists designed to keep the pot boiling. That turns a serious effort at an alternative to the dominant Hollywood films into just a B-movie curio.
Mary Anderson, who was featured notably in Hitchcock's ensemble cast thriller "Lifeboat" is strong as the female lead. She's a crime reporter for the Quebec newspaper who digs her teeth into a cold case that ultimately gets her into trouble with the murderer, still on the scene, who got away with that old crime.
She gets romantically involved with a pianist/symphony composer, nicely underplayed by Helmut Dantine and has an adversary, a powerful lawyer played by Paul Lukas. Supporting cast is weak, except for Joy Lafleur, flamboyant as Dantine's ailing wife.
Anderson's serious pursuit of the crime story is well developed, but as the villain manipulates events, the screenplay becomes strained and leads to a ridiculous climax scene. Some serious rewriting could hae saved this movie.
Eye Spy (2001)
Wimpy thriller
Kira Kener is an okay damsel in distress, but her writer-director Robby D. Provided an unthrilling thriller as her vehicle for Vivid Video.
The mailman delivers VHS videos to her, sender unknown, which show Kira humping her boyfriend in her bed, and later show her actually watching that video. That means somebody is at her house taping her surreptitiously, and of course she's frightened.
Spears wants her to commit to marriage, but shes hesitant. Also, at the bar where she works, the boss (Tyce Bune) sympathizes when she tells him about the tapes, and comforts her with hot sex in the bar's bathroom.
The clues to identifying her stalker are obvious, and the features ends in hokey fashion with lovely Julie Meadows scheduled as the next prospective victim. A strong extraneous sex scene features ultra-busty Tanya Danielle humping Isabella at the bar.
The Acolyte: Lost/Found (2024)
Intriguing opener
Part one of "The Acolyte" got me with its grabber of a tease: having Carrie-Anne Moss guest starring as a Jedi warrior doing battle with Mae in surprising fashion (especially the dramatic payoff) was quite exciting, as her solemn presence and amazing physicality are hard to beat. I only wished that she had been written in for a starring role.
The rather deadpan approach, sort of the Jesse Eisenberg school of acting, is the main drawback here for me, as it allows the endless array of SPFX and top-drawer production values to overwhelm the acting talent. Growing up I was always attracted to the over-acting stylists, especially secondary players like Timothy Carey and other larger-than-life performers. I don't know why in recent years fans seem to be thrilled with low-key, smoldering actors, ranging from Kevin Costner to currently Ryan Gosling. With the femme ensemble of "The Acolyte", I think eccentric performers (think Susan Tyrrell or Elaine Stritch) would liven things up.
Corporate Training 2 (2024)
Worthy sequel
Rikolo's animated futanari drama was extremely popular, and this sequel, released piecemeal in five 4-minute parts, is a hot variation on the theme.
It picks up after "the worm turns" original ended with taskmaster Rebecca's young secretary rebelling and giving her boss a dose of her own dominating sexual medicine.
Lighter in tone, the followup nicely replaces the near-lookalike secretary, who got fired for sexual insubordination, with a Valley Girl styled blonde bimbo. It's obvious that Rebecca is not considering hiring the new girl for her office talents, but rather her sexual allure, and Rikolo gives fans the usual assortment of sexual positions as the two larger-than-life futanari get it on.
Like sequels in any genre, the followup suffers from an inferior storyline but Rikolo's animation skill and XXX expertise make it a winner.
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre: One Embezzlement and Two Margaritas (1966)
The underrated Jack Kelly
I was a big fan of Jack Kelly, dating back to his contribution to "Maverick" and many other TV appearances. But just as he was vastly overshadowed by James Garner on that hit series, he never made the A-list, unfortunately.
Here he stars as Frederick Piper, international private eye and Jet Set playboy, the third Chrysler Theatre episode in the role. It's frilly, wonderfully escapist entertainment that is so Swinging Sixties as to make me wonder how it's escaped detection over the years.
The story is minor: he's hired by bankers and relatives to hunt down their colleague Michael Rennie, who's absconded with $3,000,000 embezzled from the trust company. It's not a police issue -they want Rennie found and the money returned,to avoid family scandal.
Kelly's inimitably breezy manner and instant identification for the viewer reminded me of the very similar Matt Helm movie series underway at the same time as these TV shows. No surprise to me, Kelly as Piper is far better a character than Dino's creation.
Loaded with beautiful girls (Antoinette Bower and Jocelyn Lane, both impressive in their bikinis, plus forgotten beauty Karen Jensen as Piper's sexy secretary who's never met him, but plays her role mainly in a bubble bath), this romp is pure fun and definitely should have launched Kelly in a hit TV series on his own. A highlight is a, believe it or not, Masked Bikini Watusi Party, worthy of a time capsule from the '60s.
Massage Me Everywhere (2024)
Redheads and others have rubdowns
This DVD provides three massage porn scenes from All Girl Massage, especially spotlighting redheads.
The casting of two redheads, but quite dissimilar types, works well in "Nice to SEE You". They are a dream couple for sure.
Octavia Red is the buxom masseuse, giving a sensual rubdown to the good friend, petite Madi Collins. Once they're both naked as the XXX portion of the show gets underway halfway through, the body contrast is extreme: flat-chested tiny Madi intetwining with naturally full-figured Octavia.
There is no screenwriting credit (the Anatomik Media team directed), so no real story here, just friends conversing and enjoying each other's company porno style.
Rebecca Vanguard and Erin Everheart portray a pair of redheaded roommates in a light-hearted segment titled "Massage Student", directed by Stella Smut.
Rebecca is supposedly the studious one, but judging by the way she casually flips the pages of her book, either she has mastered the Evelyn Wood mode of speed reading or she is faking it.
At any rate, Erin is in a tizzy because her client is quite late for a massage appointment, and Everheart needs her in oreder to qualify for passing her course to become a professional masseuse. Rebecca plays hard to get when Erin asks if she would be willing to substitute for the no-show and be her client. They comically negotiate, and Rebecca agrees to get a massage if Erin will buy her three books and breakfast.
The rubdown is a pretense for sex, as hinted when Rebecca requests a deep-tissue massage. Both of them enjoy the resulting Sapphic sex, which Everheart fans will note is quite vanilla compared to the extreme penetration (beginning with fisting) that EE usually portrays in her scenes.
Aften Opal is an outcall masseuse in the title segment who visits Kylie Rocket's home to give her a rubdown, designed to ameliorate all that stress Kylie's controlling boyfriend is causing her.
The lovely brunettes look fab together and as night follows the day, the hands-on massage smoothly transforms into all-out lesbian sex. An added feature is strong foot-fetish action as the diminutive masseuse feasts on Kylie's footsies. No script credit, just assignment of direction to the Anatomiks: Dan and Rhiannon.
The New Wife (2024)
Two dirty blondes
By dirty I mean their hair color! This is a delightfully naughty vignette released on the Allherluv label of cute Melody Marks, still wearing braces, skillfully seducing her new stepmom, busty Kenzie Taylor. The reversal of roles, in that this is the first lesbian experience for the older woman, while young Melody has been up to Sapphic activities with a teacher at her girls college, makes the scene delightful to watch.
Of course mama Kenzie is a real fast learner, and far from passive once the scene heats up. Just the right amount of resistance makes this seduction all the more satisfying, and one definitely yearns for more from this pair in the future.
All Girl Massage: Massage Student (2023)
Practice makes perfect
Rebecca Vanguard and Erin Everheart portray a pair of redheaded roommates in a light-hearted segment of the "All Girl Massage" series, directed by Stella Smut.
Rebecca is supposedly the studious one, but judging by the way she casually flips the pages of her book, either she has mastered the Evelyn Wood mode of speed reading or she is faking it.
At any rate, Erin is in a tizzy because her client is quite late for a massage appointment, and Everheart needs her in oreder to qualify for passing her course to become a professional masseuse. Rebecca plays hard to get when Erin asks if she would be willing to substitute for the no-show and be her client. They comically negotiate, and Rebecca agrees to get a massage if Erin will buy her three books and breakfast.
The rubdown is a pretense for sex, as hinted when Rebecca requests a deep-tissue massage. Both of them enjoy the resulting Sapphic sex, which Everheart fans will note is quite vanilla compared to the extreme penetration (beginning with fisting) that EE usually portrays in her scenes.
All Girl Massage: Massage Me Everywhere (2023)
Stress - what stress?
Aften Opal is a masseuse who includes outcall in her repetoire in this All Girl Massage segment. She visits Kylie Rocket's home to give her a rubdown, designed to ameliorate all that stress Kylie's controlling boyfriend is causing her. At least that is the stated reason for the visit.
The lovely brunettes look fab together and as night follows the day, the hands-on massage smoothly transforms into all-out lesbian sex. An added feature is strong foot-fetish action as the diminutive masseuse feasts on Kylie's footsies. No script credit, just assignment of direction to the Anatomiks: Dan and Rhiannon.
All Girl Massage: Nice to SEE You (2023)
Redhead BFFs
The casting of two redheads, but quite dissimilar types, works well in this basic All Girl Massage Oiler episode. They are a dream couple for sure.
Octavia Red is the buxom masseuse, giving a sensual rubdown to the good friend, petite Madi Collins. Once they're both naked as the XXX portion of the show gets underway halfway through, the body contrast is extreme: flat-chested tiny Madi intetwining with naturally full-figured Octavia.
There is no screenwriting credit (the Anatomik Media team directed), so no real story here, just friends conversing and enjoying each other's company porno style.
Studio One: Twelve Angry Men (1954)
Solid original performance
Reginald Rose's script "Twelve Angry Men" is justly considered a classic, based on the fine feature film starring Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb, and its original TV incarnation broadcast three years earlier is just as potent viewed 70 years later, especially its subplots concerning racism and xenophobia.
Rose's dramatic effects and ability to build up tension brick by brick with the logic demonstrated by the individual jurors' ideas and defenses of their views remain powerful.
Acting is solid throughout. The three key roles of original holdout (Fonda/Cummings), bigot (Ed Begley/Edward Arnotd) and didactic hardhead (Lee J. Cobb/Franchot Tone) prove a fact that it is possible to find a dissimilar actor who can credibly excel in a role that seems to be another's province. (Just look at "Cabaret" going from Iconic Joel Grey to Alan Cumming and now Eddie Redmayne.) In fact, Cummings, cast against type is spectacularly good in the lead who we can all identify with, even better than Fonda who one takes for granted will be terrific.
The most dramatic moments stand out: the demos of how the switchblade murder weapon would have been held and especially Tone using it threateningly against his adversary on the jury Cummings -resolved by the switchblade handed from Franchot to Bob the final image of the show; the way that one by one the other jurors physically turn their backs to visually isolate Tone at the climax/
Holdover actors from TV to film are George Voskovec and Joseph Sweeney, with Sweeney as the oldest juror perhaps the most potent figure in closeup.
Kraft Suspense Theatre: The Rise and Fall of Eddie Carew (1965)
Comedy isn't pretty
The only suspense is this "comical" episode of Kraft Suspense Theatre is "when will this crap be over?". Unfunny from start to finish, this insulting attempt at cornball humor lays an egg.
Usually, the anthology has three stars per episode -famliar names from TV and movies, but this time Dean Jones is set adrift alone, in the role of a safecracker sprung from prison when the doddering old CEO of a bank is accidentally locked in the vault. A momentary mockery of automation makes hay of the fancy Swiss time-lock mechanism, but that subplot goes nowhere. Instead, Dean predictably frees the CEO and tries to steal all the money in the vault, too.
It's tedious and repetitious, and Dean's romantic interest is left to second-billed Sheilah Wells, a nondescript bit player whose claim to fame (per IMDb) is that at one time she was Sharon Tate's roommmate.
Naked City: The Day the Island Almost Sank (1961)
A nothing episode
How this truly lousy script by Jerry Thomas (whose career peaked with his writing for the "Rin Tin Tin" TV series) got approved is a mystery, as the plodding hour offers zero in the way of entertainment or diversion.
Premise is that the police force is short-handed due to many conventions in town, so there is a reliance on outside cops or guards to fill in. Even Burke is way overworked, and stuck testifying in a court case, so Bellaver is needed to be lead detective on a murder case.
Not only is the story and its development boring and pointless, but so to is the police procedural action led by Bellaver. The audience sees from the very beginning that the security guard reporting the murder (Roger C. Carmel) is the actual murderer. Eventually, Bellaver has a hunch that the guy is not on the level, so he sets up a sting operation with burke as bait, and a desultory foot chae ends the show, with Bellaver injured and Carmel dead.
Cast is of no interest, led by Carmel who usually is more entertaining in his roles (see: "Star Trek" as a great example).
Route 66: You Never Had It So Good (1962)
And now for something completely different
"Route 66" tackles a different sort of topic: trends in corporate management, in this intentionally unusual episode, offering quality roles for TV greats Patricia Barry and Peter Graves.
The opening tease is quite original, beginning with a strange shot from underneath a glass table where business magnate Graves is sketching out for his executive team the plans for a vast new project. It's instead of the latter-day cliches (horizontal here instead of vertical) of drawing on a whiteboard or even those VR type displays beloved by cop shows or sci-fi movies. Barry drives into the show in a Cadillac convertible (no sign of the star Corvette) to convince Graves of her own project, strictly in pantomime just before his helicopter takes off, and opening credits unfold against the shot of the helicopter flying away, not the Corvette motoring along a a highway. And almost sacrilegiously, a brassy big-band song plays, no hint of the "Route 66" theme music.
Rather amusingly, Barry is hiring fresh blood -she wants a young man who can stand up to the boss (Graves) and breathe new life and direction into the corporation. Tod Stiles' Yale degree and iconoclastic lifestyle make him attractive to her concept, so he's summoned to interview for testing to be groomed for the top-level executive position.
A very cute immediate plot twist has his teammate Buz Miurdock impersonate him, sparring verbally with the supremely self-assured Wharton grad and now company controller Ms. Barry. He just wants a date, and she outfoxes him delightfully. Result is a an original rom-com subplot, but more significantly, an incisive, well-written dissection of the corporate mentality and the rat-race that Buz has previously rejected for himself out of hand - in favor of the wanderlust spirit that animates "Route 66" at its core. Finale is expertly written to tie up loose ends and powerfully deliver several messages while laying a couple of extra plot twists on the viewer.
I have no idea how viewers reacted to this amusing offbeat, Maharis-intensive episode departing from tradition, but I found it both surprising and refreshing.
Sex at Six (2001)
Inspiration rather than parody
A fine performance by Sydnee Steele highlights this unusual example of a porn parody that doesn't insult one's intelligence or merely rip off a familiar popular movie or TV show. Director Tom Elliot came up with a diverting feature for Vivid Video that deserves wider attention.
He made a durable sci-fi classic within the XXX genre several years later for Adam & Eve, the big-budget "The Eighth Day", and this Vivid entry also boasts a large cast and decent budget (no longer common in cost-conscious porn a couple of decades later). It's a strange fantasy that plays more like an adventurous episode of the hit "Westworld" cable series (as opposed to the original Yul Brynner-starring movie, which of course was available for imitation at the time "Sex at Six" was shot.
The storyline familiar to ardent Trekkers concerns a planet with a strange ritual of folks all freaking out violently at a given evening hour - a dystopian theme that was reflected decades later in that series of "The Purge" movies. Elliot logically changes the violence into sex for the nightly title orgy of sex in a little Western town. Sydnee seems almost witch-like in her evident control of the craziness, and Dillon Day with two beauties are the hapless trio who end up involved in this nonsense. A fantasy ending reminding me of yet another classic, the finish of the wonderful survival adventure by Cy Endfield, "Sands of the Kalahari". Only this time it's a sublime rather than dramatic end to a most offbeat Adult movie.