Pretty Peaches

Pretty Peaches is difficult if not impossible to find in a British video shop. New video censorship legislation in the mid-80s saw to that. It goes further than most adult films of the period in pushing out the boundaries. After 1984 it was beyond the boundary.

You don't often hear of a film featuring explicit treatment of enemas. Pretty Peaches did. Every other scene in the film, mandatory orgy included, fades from the memory long before that particular episode dims. The plot is of course secondary to the main action, but the story of the girl who suffers amnesia following a road accident is novel and also helps to make this a cut above the ordinary. See it if you get the chance.

This adult classic is late filmmaker Alex De Renzy's own personal favorite among a body of work that includes the likes of BABYFACE, FEMMES DE SADE and WILD THINGS. Many fans agree. Personally, I think that while some of his other movies might be more impressive on a purely sexual scale (the now extremely hard to locate FEMMES DE SADE in particular) this one surely stands as his best combination of hardcore sex with a honest to goodness light 'n' breezy bit o'plot.

Said plot actually derives from Voltaire's literary classic "Candide" about a naive young thing being manipulated by all and sundry. This story is better known to most people from the saucy reworking it received by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg for their '60s bestseller "Candy", itself subjected to a heavily compromised film version with Ewa Aulin essaying the title role with an all star cast including Richard Burton and, er, Ringo Starr ?

The adult industry has adapted this timeless tale on (at least) three major occasions, De Renzy's attempt here being both the best as well as best known. Former Playmate Gail Palmer allegedly helmed (in actuality, she was always ably supported by the likes of Bob Chinn and Jeffrey Fairbanks) THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF CANDY the same year PEACHES came out with former GONG SHOW bimbette Carol Connors (mother of mainstream actress Thora Birch !) who would also star in the slightly lesser sequel CANDY GOES TO Hollywood. Gerard (DEEP THROAT) Damiano revived the character (sort of) for his late '80s CANDY'S LITTLE SISTER SUGAR with the adorable Ariel Knight. Late prince of carnal comedy Chuck Vincent finally brought the tale to the screen in his own inimitable manner with DIRTY LILLY, putting saucy squaw Beth Anna (the Hyaptia Lee of the '70s) through her paces, emphasizing as per usual fun over, er, frolicking.

It's interesting to compare the CANDY series to PEACHES and its sequels. Where Palmer and Damiano were quite content to leave their much abused heroine a blissful bimbo unaware of the injustice heaped upon her, making her come across as if she'd been kicked in the head as a kid, De Renzy took a decidedly different route. Desirée Cousteau may be very much the ultimate ditz with a head full of air and a body built for bump 'n' grind but the character was rethought fairly radically for subsequent decades. The mid-'80s PRETTY PEACHES II had underrated Siobhan Hunter (a treat and a half in Ron Sullivan's very funny THE ODDEST COUPLE) elevating the part from brain-dead to naive. Still a decade later Latina love goddess Keisha (THE SEDUCTION OF JENNIFER) would portray Peaches as merely inexperienced and therefore vulnerable to those predators around her in the wonderful PRETTY PEACHES III : THE QUEST. The difference in approach may strike some as superficial window dressing but makes for a fascinating growth in the character as De Renzy rather than continue the story chose to retell the tale for new times and sensibilities.

Boy i wish i could locate this movie..one of my first adult movies seen back in the early 80's and a real classic. Desiree Cousteau looks stunning - with the right mix of innocence and sexuality. It's genuinely - and intentionally - amusing. Heaps of fun.

When porn first went "mainstream," it did so with a series of big screen feature films like this one from 1978. Unlike the adult films of today, movies back then aspired to be "real" entertainment. While this movie has all the depth of a Keystone Kops movie, the effort at storytelling and real movie making is clearly there. From wacky characters suitable for a hardcore sex-romp, it also features real sets, locations, and even costumes. In general, the sex scenes, while explicit, are very short. Yes, all the action is clearly shown, including porn's infamous "money shots," but gone are most of the super close-ups of body parts connecting. One gets the sense that the movie makers were more interested in showing their actors having real sex in near real time. Also absent are the implants and finely honed bodies so popular today. Additionally, as is true with most seventies erotica, the women are presented ala natural. It's main character, as portrayed by Desiree Cousteau started her movie-making career as a mainstream actress in B movies. Unable to achieve any real success, she transitioned into adult films and remained popular for many years.

Most XXX rated movies bore me or disgust me. Which is a shame, because one of the first ones I ever witnessed was Pretty Peaches I... this movie has it all. Granted, it's been over 10 years since I've seen it (though I'm downloading it right now... found it on Sharaza, hence my urge to look it up here), but it quickly became the standard all other XXX movies had to live up to, since (most don't hold my interest for more than ten minutes. Some would say that's long enough ;)).

The beginning was enough to hook me; I knew this wasn't going to be your typical hard-core movie (though the uncut version is very hard-core).

I remember the accident scene clearly... I watched it with my new wife (our first 'dirty movie' together) and we were both laughing our asses off at the absurdity of it all, but it was good laughter... suffice to say I believe our son was conceived that night.

Desiree Cousteau, wherever you are, I'm available now... MARRY ME!!!