Matinee Idol - Lilith Likes to Watch
Title: Matinee Idol
Year: 1984
Starring: Herschel Savage, Jesie St. James, John Leslie, Angel
Director: Henri Pachard
Synopsis: Egos and screen tests are all around when it is time to film an adult film called Matinee Idol. The lead star also has a private go with the casting directors’ buxom secretary right on the casting directors’ table. - via Letterboxd.com
Lilith's Notes: Welcome to the tail end of the Golden Age
Watch Now: Adult Empire
Recently, I had metaphorically cast out a bunch of nets out into the world. This week, they all decided to come back at the same time, swelled with silvery little fish and leaving me feeling overwhelmed. So, I admit I don’t have much in the gas tank today, my friends. Please understand.
Still, we persevere.
Matinee Idol came out at the very tale end of the Golden Age, and the way it tries to stand on the heads of giants, or at least mount them at all, tells us that it is aware that the times, they are a-changin’.
The film takes place in a universe similar in theme to The Opening of Misty Beethoven, where sex is more open and accepted by society at large. Gee, wonder what that’s like? Must be nice. Basically, in this world, movies like Deep Throat being a mainstream blockbuster is a normal thing. Specifically, porn movies have the same old Hollywood acclaim and pedigree as non-porn movies. Fans would know the names of stars like Lance Hardy (played by John Leslie) and Linda Hand (played by Jesie St. James) right next to Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Judy Garland.
The movie is centered around a studio that recognized that its stars are aging out of the business, and, even worse, they’re annoying to work with. To top it all off, they seem to actively, aggressively hate one another.
What are studio heads, Harvey Cox (played by Elmer Fox) and Bernard Kuntz (played by Dave Friedman) to do, but find new performers to work with the headliners? Thus begins the plot, where everyone is trying to find new talent, on and off film.
New blood Bud (played by Herschel Savage) catches Linda’s eye while Daisy (Played by Angel) is ushered into the career by Lance’s encouraging words and everlasting patience. This scene kind of raised my hackles for various reasons. Daisy is nervous, this is her first time in front of the camera and the producer yells at the poor starlet for no reason. Given everything that just came out about certain celebrities, parties, and island getaways, compounded with the fact that during this time porn was neck-deep with mob ties, this single act of insensitivity made me very uncomfortable. Fuck all the way off, producer-guy, and fuck your casting couch.
But, Daisy’s scene with Lance goes flawlessly. Angel is a beautiful young woman, and her hair frames the profile of her face wonderfully. The downside? Her blowjob is a very vocal performance. It led me to wonder: What do I prefer? Bad ADR dubbing, or brlbrlbrlbrlblrbl?
The old-guard actors realize they care for each other in an allegory for aging relationships, that sometimes a partnership just needs a break where in they can rediscover their love through the magic of fucking pool boys and innocent new starlets who also have seen every porn movie ever apparently.
Of course, familiarity breeds warm fuzzies and Lance and Linda realize where they belong, as do Bud and Daisy. That is, with each other. And everything comes full circle.
For those traditional movies that jerk off Hollywood, this is essentially a parody of it. It isn't perfect, it was sorta boring, and we didn't see penetration for a solid third of the movie which helped give it that 'wait what are we watching' movie feel. Then, suddenly women are sticking toes up their vaginas and we remember, oh right, we’re watching an 80’s porno.
Highlight: The after credits extended sex scenes from early in the movie. Cutting them helped the flow of the movie but it’s nice to see them finish.
Lowlight: Kay Parker is in this film and is criminally underutilized.
LILITH'S SCORE: 3/5 - Not great, not bad, an average golden age film at the end of the golden age. If you want something with a similar plot but darker, I recommend Damiano’s Skin-Flicks.
Until next time, my voracious voyeurs. I’m Lilith, and I’m always watching.
"You watch too many of your own movies."
Recently, I had metaphorically cast out a bunch of nets out into the world. This week, they all decided to come back at the same time, swelled with silvery little fish and leaving me feeling overwhelmed. So, I admit I don’t have much in the gas tank today, my friends. Please understand.
Still, we persevere.
Matinee Idol came out at the very tale end of the Golden Age, and the way it tries to stand on the heads of giants, or at least mount them at all, tells us that it is aware that the times, they are a-changin’.
The film takes place in a universe similar in theme to The Opening of Misty Beethoven, where sex is more open and accepted by society at large. Gee, wonder what that’s like? Must be nice. Basically, in this world, movies like Deep Throat being a mainstream blockbuster is a normal thing. Specifically, porn movies have the same old Hollywood acclaim and pedigree as non-porn movies. Fans would know the names of stars like Lance Hardy (played by John Leslie) and Linda Hand (played by Jesie St. James) right next to Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Judy Garland.
The movie is centered around a studio that recognized that its stars are aging out of the business, and, even worse, they’re annoying to work with. To top it all off, they seem to actively, aggressively hate one another.
What are studio heads, Harvey Cox (played by Elmer Fox) and Bernard Kuntz (played by Dave Friedman) to do, but find new performers to work with the headliners? Thus begins the plot, where everyone is trying to find new talent, on and off film.
New blood Bud (played by Herschel Savage) catches Linda’s eye while Daisy (Played by Angel) is ushered into the career by Lance’s encouraging words and everlasting patience. This scene kind of raised my hackles for various reasons. Daisy is nervous, this is her first time in front of the camera and the producer yells at the poor starlet for no reason. Given everything that just came out about certain celebrities, parties, and island getaways, compounded with the fact that during this time porn was neck-deep with mob ties, this single act of insensitivity made me very uncomfortable. Fuck all the way off, producer-guy, and fuck your casting couch.
But, Daisy’s scene with Lance goes flawlessly. Angel is a beautiful young woman, and her hair frames the profile of her face wonderfully. The downside? Her blowjob is a very vocal performance. It led me to wonder: What do I prefer? Bad ADR dubbing, or brlbrlbrlbrlblrbl?
The old-guard actors realize they care for each other in an allegory for aging relationships, that sometimes a partnership just needs a break where in they can rediscover their love through the magic of fucking pool boys and innocent new starlets who also have seen every porn movie ever apparently.
Of course, familiarity breeds warm fuzzies and Lance and Linda realize where they belong, as do Bud and Daisy. That is, with each other. And everything comes full circle.
For those traditional movies that jerk off Hollywood, this is essentially a parody of it. It isn't perfect, it was sorta boring, and we didn't see penetration for a solid third of the movie which helped give it that 'wait what are we watching' movie feel. Then, suddenly women are sticking toes up their vaginas and we remember, oh right, we’re watching an 80’s porno.
Highlight: The after credits extended sex scenes from early in the movie. Cutting them helped the flow of the movie but it’s nice to see them finish.
Lowlight: Kay Parker is in this film and is criminally underutilized.
LILITH'S SCORE: 3/5 - Not great, not bad, an average golden age film at the end of the golden age. If you want something with a similar plot but darker, I recommend Damiano’s Skin-Flicks.
Until next time, my voracious voyeurs. I’m Lilith, and I’m always watching.
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