Created by Justin Welton
What the world needs now is…
A “porn remake” of Double Indemnity?
Yes, that’s exactly how A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Film Noir describes Eruption, an X-rated 1977 cinematic offering that “borrows” the set-up and even lifts some of the dialogue from the 1944 film noir classic, directed by Billy Wilder from a screenplay by Raymond Chandler, based on a book by James M. Cain.
Not that Wilder or Chandler or even Cain are mentioned in the credits, of course.
Insurance investigator JACKSON KRATZ grows suspicious when a wealthy (and heavily insured) Harry Bevin drowns off the coast of Hawaii (the film was shot on location), and he discovers that femme fatale widow Sandra has taken up with Pete Winston, the studly insurance man who sold her the policy (played by legendary porn actor John Holmes).
But Pete doesn’t quite trust Sandra, and her daughter (whom Pete is also banging) is starting to wonder about dear old dad’s untimely death.
It’s, um, interesting. Poorly acted, poorly scripted, and filmed with less artistry than a dog food commercial. Of course, there’s plenty of seventies-style humping going on, much of it for no apparent reason (“We interrupt this plot to bring you this very important sex scene.”). But at least all those extreme close-ups of pounding and slurping were, uh, dull?
Maybe I’m getting old, or maybe I’ve been spoiled by modern day porn, but it did very little for me.
And the ending? It makes little sense, but hey, eventually everybody gets screwed.
Especially, perhaps, classic movie lovers.
HUH?
- Wilt Torrance (who?) plays insurance investigator Jackson Kratz, who’s only a minor character here, with an amazing lack of charisma. Then again, what kind of male porn star name is “Wilt”?
FILMS
- ERUPTION
aka “Big John Holmes is Here!”
(1977, Cal Vista)
82 minutes
Tagline: “An Erotic Explosion!”
Based on Double Indemnity by James M. Cain (uncredited)
Screenplay by Justin Welton
Directed by Stanley Kurlan (Sam Norvell)
Produced by Stanley Kurlan (Sam Norvell)
Starring John Holmes, Sandra Bevin, Susan Hart, Leslie Bovee, Eric Evol, Gene Clayton
and Wilt Torrance as JACKSON KRATZ
RELATED LINKS
- X-Rated: Dirty Eyes
Our list of naughty gumshoes.
Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith, with special thanks to He Who’d Rather That His Enthusiasms Were Not Made Public.
