Written by: Jimmy the Gent on May 14th, 2010
Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1976
Director: Victor Milt
Cast: Harry Reems, Bree Anthony, Bobby Astyr, Zebedy Colt, Nancy Dare, Terri Hall, C.J. Laing, J.P. Paradine, Shirley Peters, Renee Sanz
DVD released: April 14th, 2010
Approximate running time: 74 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Full Frame
Rating: XXX
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Video X Pix
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $29.99
Synopsis: The grandson of Dr. Jekyll, who takes his wife for granted, discovers his forbearer’s secret laboratory and his 80 year old hunchback assistant. By imbibing the heirloom formula, he turns into Mr. Popularity / Sex Machine – Rory Hump. There’s no swapping back and forth though, the formula is poisonous the third time around (the hunchback only took it once).
It’s amazing what quality product can result from very little money combined with care, energy, and enthusiasm. Certainly star Harry Reems provides both energy and enthusiasm as he has sex with 200 women. Well, due to budgetary constraints, it’s more like 10 different women 20 times apiece. Harry is in peak [over-the-top] form as he scarfs around with Bobby Aystr as Igor. They make a great comedy team borrowing heavily from Young Frankenstein for inspiration.
This is more than anything a screwball comedy. There is explicit sex, and plenty of it, but that’s not the focus even though once the film hits it’s stride it’s almost nonstop. Equally almost nonstop is the shtick. Harry is ‘in character’ throughout every scene. That character presents a New Yorker’s idea of a southern redneck with all the hoops and hollers that entails, but how else could they present Rory Hump as country glam rocker superstar?
Did someone mention Dr. Jekyll? Nevermind. Let’s focus instead on the primary female performer, Terri Hall. She didn’t have many quality vehicles, but was one of the top talents in the early New York porn scene. A professional ballerina she had charisma to spare in addition to her fit, buxom, and flexible physique. Here she hardly has room to act, but she certainly performs beyond expectations as she appears in a least 5 separate roles (or 50 depending on how you score). The stand out scene in the entire movie was obviously planned that way, it’s the ‘something else’ position – essentially Reems mounts her while she’s standing on her head. Please, whatever you do, don’t try this at home.
The art direction, lighting, and editing are all absolutely first rate; film stock too. The cameraman is mostly pretty good, though he does go out-of-focus on a few zooms. Overly excited, perhaps.
The DVD:
You will not see many early NYC porn features looking this fine with excellent detail and color. Ain’t gonna happen. There’s minimal damage to be found in this remastered / not restored fullscreen presentation. No extras (an unrelated 80′s slide show is useless), but who cares?
This is one of the finest adult comedies ever made, trumping many more famous efforts. How come Harry’s wife looks like Linda Lovelace? Must be a coincidence.