Expectations (1977)

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This pornographic film may be more famous today because of its mainstream cinematic quality, not the actual sex itself.

I am using the participants' real names, as found online, since the onscreen credits are full of pseudonyms. Margo (Delania Raffino) is bored with her man, and wants a change. She puts an ad in a San Francisco "underground newspaper," and meets up with Montana (Chris Cassidy). Margo plans to switch identities with Montana, and live the life of a "loose woman". Montana apparently has connections, makes all the arrangements, and Margo goes to Montana's apartment to live. Instantly, Joey (Joey Silvera) stops over for a little spank-and-tickle. Meanwhile, Montana settles into Margo's pad, and Margo's brother Vincent (Jack Wright) stops by. Because of an unexplained eye patch and a penchant for incestuous fantasy, Vincent is already the most interesting character in this group as the two women explore their new lives sexually.

If this had not been a porn film, it would not have been made. The identity switch is completely idiotic. Margo is a mousy brunette, and Montana is an oddly built platinum blonde. The idea is ridiculous to start with, and the only reason the audience follows along is to see some sex. The film's cinematography and widescreen are notable only because they exist. There is nothing special about either, and my mind wandered during many scenes- count how many lamps Montana turns off- it's a fun game. The acting is porn-standard, and the music is laughable, pieces ending and others beginning in the middle of scenes. The film is narrated by Margo and Montana, badly, and I can't remember when even that was dropped before a final coda at the end of the film.

The director, Anthony Spinelli, was the brother of mainstream actor Jack Weston. I can only imagine some of their conversations around the dinner table at Thanksgiving- "I just appeared in 'The Four Seasons' with Alan Alda", "Wow, I just directed 'Between the Sheets' with Seka". Some of Spinelli's shots are interesting, and the sex scenes don't follow the tried-and-true formula, teasing the audience. A lesbian scene between Margo and actress Desiree West never goes beyond softcore, making the viewer ask why it was cut.

All in all, "Expectations" is just what you might expect from a pornographic film as the cusp of the video age. They don't make them like this anymore, and that might be a good thing.

Stats:
(1977) 69 min. (0 *) out of five stars
-Directed by Anthony Spinelli
-No Writer Credited
-Cast: Chris Cassidy, Delania Raffino, Jack Wright, Joey Silvera, Desiree West, Blair Harris
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