Echanges

First saw this gem from Joe Sarno way back when, and I must say that after seeing it, I could never forget Jennifer Welles. At first I thought the film was moving a bit slower than i would expect for a Sarno film, but when Jennifer made her entrance, the first time I ever saw her anywhere, I was sat up and took notice. Her presence in this film is hard to avoid, and spices up every scene she's involved in. I've seen most of the rest of Sarno's films, and the other films starring or featuring Jennifer Welles, and I must say that this was both Sarno and Jennifer at their collective best. Sarno's direction in this film of domestic adult drama is superb, and Jennifer showed (figuratively and literally) an acting prowess that make this a must see. Co-stars Rebecca Brooke (aka Mary Mendum) and Chris Jordan, both frequent co-stars of Ms. Welles, and also frequent stars of Sarno's work, turn in believable performances as a pair of adventurous, yet normal housewives. This film is Sarno classic.

Confessions of a Young American Housewife (1974)

*** (out of 4)

Joseph Sarno's cult-classic involves a swinging daughter (Rebecca Brooke) whose life turns upside down when her laid-back mother (Jennifer Welles) comes for a visit and soon the other swingers are wanting to get her in on the action. When mother does join, the daughter has to come to grasp with her own sexuality. I will admit that there's not too much of a plot here and what is here is pretty one-note and predictable but there's no question that it's the best film I've seen from the director. While there are some flaws, there's no question that this film offers quite a bit and is well worth watching by fans of the genre. The big thing are actually the performances, which is something you rarely say with a film like this. Both Brooke and Welles are downright wonderful in their roles. For one, they both come across as a real mother and daughter. Secondly, both women are just so believable in their parts and this helps keep the film so entertaining. This isn't your typical softcore film, instead it really does try to show some real emotion with these two characters and the actresses are so good that you can guy in even with the lack of a good story. Even the supporting actors are good in their roles. Another major plus with this film is that it contains some extremely erotic sex scenes. Again, none of them cross the line into hardcore but what it leaves to the imagination is quite good. The sex scenes are extremely well-directed and it's clear that everyone involved wanted them to be steamy and erotic. The cinematography was also extremely good for this type of picture. CONFESSIONS OF A YOUNG American HOUSEWIFE isn't going to be for everyone, that's for certain, but fans of the genre are going to be treated with a real gem.

Rebecca Brooke, playing Carole, the young American housewife, doesn't confess much in this move, but has sex with everybody. It's a wonderful compliment to Rousseau, who confesses everything and never has sex. OK, she does confess to her Mom that she is "a very hot, horny girl and has been ever since high school." She doesn't do a lot of housewife stuff, either. OK, she folds a towel once. A towel. Once. It's her mother, Jennifer, played by the bustiful Jennifer Welles, who is the housewife of your dreams. Great in the kitchen, great in the sack. Even though she's about the same age as Brooke, Welles has a mature look that makes her believable as Brooke's mother. Move over, Stifler's Mom, Welles is the original MILF.

Carole and her husband Eddie (David Hausman) live next door to Anna (Chris Jordan) and her husband Pete (Eric Edwards). The foursome are a "foursome." After Mom-Jennifer comes for a visit and stares at herself in the mirror (naked, of course) for a good long while, the four kids strip down in the living room like they were in the gym getting ready for a workout. It's actually their nightly romp, which becomes a group grope with Carole in the middle while she is unloading something about her Momma's breasts that must be a complex with the name of a Greek play attached to it. Best to watch this scene with the sound turned off.

The next day, Pete puts a move on Mom, which Mom thinks is really cool, but that would make the kitchen way too hot, so Mom starts packing. Carole talks her into staying, and the next day the delivery boy (uncredited) from the supermarket shows up. Boing! Mom now has reason to live! And have sex. In the middle of the next night's orgy, (don't these people ever go bowling or something?), Pete slips upstairs and slips into Mom. The next time Delivery Boy comes with the groceries, Mom sets the hook with pie, coffee, and a sweater to keep him warm. Note that Mom, who heretofore has had her hair pinned up in a matronly wad, now has it flowing seductively below her shoulders. You learn to notice those things in film studies class.

Here comes the money scene, where the three ladies go to see Shandara, a mystic of some kind who teaches enlightenment through lesbian sex. They have the night off because the boys are going bowling (so what do I know?). So in see-through nighties, which don't stay on very long, Shandara leads Mom and daughter and friend through ritual kissing, breast-fondling, and a bunch of other stuff that you can fill in on your own. It comes to a close when Mom, in a moment of unfocused lust, almost launches herself at her daughter, but at the last second she stops. Darn. I could go on, but I'll leave you to see for yourself what other trysts director Joe Sarno came up with. Hint: Mom gets it from every direction.

Reviewing this review, I seem to have left out the plot and mentioned only the sex scenes. But then, that's all there is to mention. The movie starts off slowly and hits the finish line at 100 miles per hour. I think Sarno was going to make a movie with a message but halfway through said, "Aw heck, maybe next time," and just set up the actors for one grind after another. As always, the movie is well lit, and well photographed. Sarno is a filmmaker, after all. Recommended.

Had originally seen this on Wometco Home Theatre as an adolescent. WHT (beamed atop the Empire State Building) was the first pay cable network to feature "Nightcap" series of films - ie. Softcore. From my recollection, Housewife played like a well-made B-movie with seasoned performances from Jennifer Welles & Eric Edwards. Both of whom are legends in the Hardcore erotic world. Have no idea why this film has yet to find mass distribution? It would be nice to see Netflix, et al carry what is essentially an R-rated film. Particularly since they already carry Al Goldstein's Midnight Blue series. They simply don't make 'em like they used to!

Taken less seriously and not looking at the plot as a whole it is almost understandable if it gets dismissed as primarily a soft porno hiding in the cloak of a melodrama, since the individual scenes are structured like cliché set-ups for porn scenes.

But WOAH! This turned out to be so much more captivating and thoughtfully put together than the first minutes and the sleazy 70's porno look suggested. The plot develops naturally and builds-up to reveal what turns out to be the movie's main theme. What begins as a movie about a conservative, middle-aged mom opening up to new sexual experiences through the initiative of her daughter ends up as a movie about a mother/daughter relationship with unspoken sexual tensions.

And there is something to be said about how certain colors stick out on that sleazy 70's porno footage which can work artistic wonders on dames wearing colorful makeup typical of that decade as can be witnessed in 'Confessions of a Young American Housewife'...

I'm giving this 8 out of 10 young housewives getting upstaged among her swinger friends by her still juicy mother who everyone wants to feel up and who has the desire to be felt up but is too uptight (for now)