A Saint, A Woman, A Devil
Starring: Marc
Stevens, Joanna Bell
Plot: Sylvia is a meek, mild, quiet woman, who has a darker
side.
My Review and Thoughts:
Originally released under the title (Sylvia). This Is
possibly one of the oddest, weirdest, craziest Grindhouse, sexploitation type
of films that one would ever see or ever try to comprehend. The weirdness of it
is perfect and the strange reality of what it captures holds the viewer in all its
odd and surreal atmosphere.
Joanna Bell plays the title character of Sylvia. She is a
quiet, meek, saintly upper-class woman. But Sylvia has a secret, she has a
separate personality that love's sex.
This was directed by none other than Peter Savage. Savage
was an actor, director, producer, writer. Many will know him from his writing.
He wrote and directed and starred in The Runaways (1965). Most notable he was
one of the co-writers for the cinematic masterpiece 1980's Raging Bull. He also
had a cameo in Raging Bull which he also helped produce. He also had a
performance in two other Martin Scorsese films: Taxi Driver, and New York, New
York. Aside from his work with Scorsese He also starred in such cult classics
like 1973's Double Agent 73, and 1983's Vigilante.
A Saint, A Woman, A Devil stars someone that's interesting
to mention. One of the junkies in this movie is none other than actor and stunt
man Sonny Landham. Many will know him from his iconic role in one of the
coolest 80's films Predator where he plays Billy. What most people don't know
is that he was a 1970's porn star. And you get to see him in all his birthday
suit glory in, A Saint, A Woman, A Devil. But It's his ultimate persona in the
many cult films that people will know him from, such as 79's The Warriors, 84's
Fleshburn, 86's Firewalker, 88's Action Jackson.
Leave it to the wonderful studio Vinegar Syndrome to bring
out this really twisted interesting oddball of a film. Multiple personalities,
massive sex, nudity and porn and an all-around wild trip into the 1970s-grind
house, drive-in, sleazy, sexy, exploitation type of film. This is probably one
of the strangest films they’ve released so far.
People around Sylvia, her loving family and friends are
weirded out and confused by her ultimate sinful, degrading actions. Her sister
seeks out help with a psychiatrist, might I add played by none other than the
director himself. They seek out to explore the reason why Sylvia is changing
into her darker side of lustful sex-exploration.
Sylvia wants sex from whoever and slowly starts demanding it
from anyone who crosses her path, a door salesman, a junkie, a lesbian,
whatever, it doesn't matter as long as Sylvia's dark side can explore the very recesses
and crevices and cleavage and every forbidden part of the female or male body.
What's amazing about the Vinegar Syndrome DVD release is
this is a restored original X-rated version, all 108 minutes of wonderful 70’s
porn. This DVD also contains the R-rated 90-minute version. The 108-minute
version is truly a weird awesome strange experience. This movie is for any fan
that loves grindhouse films. For anyone that loves sexploitation films. This is
for anyone that loves a twisted plot with a lot of porn.
This is fun, wild, entertaining watch. Truly an interesting
film and unless you've seen it, it's hard to explain any other way.
Audio/Video:
+ Dual Layer DVD-9 | Region Free | 1.85:1 Anamorphic | MONO
+ Scanned and restored in 2k from 35mm archival elements
108 Uncut Version
90 min R rated cut of the film!
Overall:
A perfect classic 70’s porn. A
weird film, truly a great experience for those who love the strange and the
bizarre. A cult film in all its sexual glory.
Next up for this Triple Feature Review is the Double Bill of:
Deep Roots/Starlet Nights
Starring: Jesse Chacan, Liz Renay, Anita Sands (Deep Roots),
Kandi Barbour, Lesllie Bovee (Starlet Nights)
Deep Roots (1978):
Plot: An American Indian journeys from his reservation to
the lust capital of Hollywood where he finds himself surrounded by erotic thrills
beyond his wildest dreams.
Starlet Nights (1978):
Plot: This sexy retelling of Snow White stars Leslie Bovee
as a beautiful, but wicked, stepmother trying to ruin the virginal reputation
of her stunning stepdaughter, Snow.
My Review and Thoughts:
Oh, here we go again all you horny watchers. Another edition
of Vinegar Syndrome's Peekarama movies. Scantily clad ladies, hairy 70's and
80's men, and sex. Pre-condom sex, orgies, threesome's, twosomes, artistic
boobie painting, and pure sexual adult desires.
All right let’s join in for a 1970’s-double feature porn
style for the eyes. This is two films set for the adult entertainment. This is
Grindhouse added with the trashiest smut around.
The true shining film of this double feature is 1978's Deep
Roots starring the wonderfully sexy Jesse Chacan. Now what stands out with
Jessie is Jessie is an actual Native American. Which at the time was unheard-of
in the porn industry? Hollywood had always portrayed Native Americans with
white people painting their skin. This porn told a story of a Native American
named Billy, who was an artist and lived on a reservation.
Now Billy wants to explore how everyone else lives so he
decides to jump on his motorcycle and drive out to LA, in California.
Soon Billy discovers that his painting jobs don't go as
planned, because the girls end up disrobing. The first one wants her body
painted, he goes along and as you can guess one thing leads to another in front
of the fireplace, they have hot sex. Billy ends up exploring many sexual moments.
Believe it or not this porn has a story where Billy must decide if he's going
to live among the others and go about his exploration of sex, or go back to his
reservation, to his deep roots.
Now this has the one and only Liz Renay. She graced cinema
in John Waters’ 1977 film Desperate Living. Her persona was truly a striking
reality for the eyes in every part she has ever done. This part in Deep Roots
is one of her most striking moments. Her part in this will leave you in wide
eyed comical wonder. Truly a memorable moment with her odd gifted talent of
owning the screen.
Liz Renay was a stunning and built, bright awesome
characters throughout her many years of acting. She always graced Cinema, and
had an ultimate pleasure in doing what she did on screen. What's interesting is
she was girlfriend to killer gangster Meyer Harris "Mickey" Cohen.
She always was a true star, and ultimate burlesque dancer and striptease act.
Liz was a true cult goddess and truly an image that will
never be forgotten. She captured countless flawless moments and explored many
personas, and gifted the cinema world with her body, her looks and most of all
her attitude. Her one claim to fame was sleeping with thousands upon thousands
upon thousands of men by her own admission.
Deep Roots is a fun, wild, awesome and shockingly
entertaining film, not just for the close-up sex. The film is not just great
for the ideas of steamy 70’s sex, but in that it's a weird scenario that grabs
the viewer. The film makes you want to jam to the old-school music, and it
makes you want to know what happens next.
I think what makes it so different is that it integrates the
Native American plot. The Native American plot works, it adds to the porn film.
This has famous orgies and yes sex after sex. But I think this is more of a
stylized porn film, and that it stepped over the boundaries in adding an actual
Native American playing a Native American in the porn industry.
Another thing that makes this film standout is it's not just
"wam bam thank you ma'am sex", there's a shot where Billy is having
sex with his girlfriend, and it's very sensual, and very emotional, and very
titillating for the viewer. There was almost chemistry in this film, and not
just the rushed piece of porn.
This was directed by Joseph Bardo, but he hid his name, and
changed it to Lisa Barr and directed Deep Roots, and several other porn films
including our second feature on this Peekarama DVD under the name of Lisa Barr.
Many will know who Joseph Bardo is. He acted in 1964's The Thrill Killers. He
also was the producer for the ultra-cult sci-fi horror film, Vicious Lips
(1986).
====================
Jesse Chacan who plays Billy in Deep Roots is also a part of
the second porn on this double feature, which the 2nd porn feature
is Starlet Nights. Which tales the tale of an evil stepmother played and acted
by the amazing and wonderful Leslie Bovee. She stars as Joyce in this smutty,
trashy, sexual changing of the classic fairy tale of Snow White.
This one is clearly the second feature of this double bill.
This one was not quite as passionate as Deep Roots was. This one is just your
basic porn film with a comical setting.
This stars Porn hardcore legend Tyler Reynolds who acted
from 72 to 88. He was Playgirls man of the month in 1977. Interesting to note
is he was also in the great 1972’s classic Behind the Green Door with the late
great goddess Marilyn Chambers.
Audio/Video:
Amazingly Deep Roots showcases a rare example of a porn film
being fixed up a little for this DVD. Most instances Deep Roots is very
scratchy and jumpy, but with this one it showcases a better print, it does have
certain scratchy and jump moments, but the colors are vibrant and even though
this is aged cinema, it still comes together with a perfect viewing for fans
that understand this type of filming.
Starlet Nights is good for what it is. This is the first
time it's been on DVD, at least what I can find. It originally was on VHS back
in the 80s. It does jump at times, but overall it comes together and can be
viewed in all it's wonderful retro style.
Features Include:
+ Dual Layer DVD-9 | Region Free | 1.85:1 Anamorphic | MONO
+ Scanned and restored in 2k from 35mm elements
Overall
This is another wonderful DVD release by Vinegar Syndrome.
They brought out this double-bill feature associated with adult erotic porn.
Both classified as truly forgotten Classics. Obscure porn pieces of adult
cinema. Deep Roots is a very memorable film. It's crafted around actually,
believe it or not, characters. Starlet Night is a more of your basic comical,
trashy, interesting sexy porn, that's for fans of fantasy porn.
Deep Roots I feel is a must own for any fan of 70’s classic
retro porn. This is an erotic piece of cinema that mixes interesting characters
around an interesting backdrop of sex.
I love Vinegar Syndromes Peekarama DVD's, and anything that
Vinegar Syndrome brings out I usually thoroughly enjoy. They capture obscure
old-school pieces of cinema all the way to classic forgotten pieces of porn.