Love Scenes

This little-seen movie is a good one of its type. it involves the jealousies aroused when the on-camera love scenes an actor and actress are shooting for a film become a little too realistic and move beyond acting. Tiffany Bolling, one of a myriad of Playboy centerfold models to try her hand at making movies, does a good job here, but was rarely seen after this.

Love Scenes presents a sexually charged meta-drama that tiptoes between erotic fantasy and behind-the-scenes introspection. The film unfolds within the curious overlap of art and intimacy, using the production of an adult movie as both setting and thematic mirror. Its tone oscillates between languid sensuality and restrained emotional tension, yet the execution never fully commits to either path, resulting in a film that feels uncertain of its own identity.

Visually, the film is softly lit and gauzy, echoing the hazy aesthetic of early '80s erotica, with plenty of warm closeups and slow dissolves. There is a dreamlike quality to the cinematography, though the blocking and composition often default to basic, uninspired staging. This might suit the material's quasi-satirical elements, but it leaves the viewer wanting more dynamic visual storytelling. Townsend, best known for blending exploitation with curiosity, maintains a slow, almost theatrical rhythm here, which can feel either meditative or lethargic depending on the scene.

Tiffany Bolling, in one of her last screen appearances, delivers a performance that is undeniably magnetic. Her portrayal of Val Binnes, a middle-aged actress lured back into the world of adult filmmaking, is rich with vulnerability, strength, and an earthy sensuality that transcends the limited script. Bolling carries the film's emotional weight with grace, even when the dialogue falters. Her chemistry with co-star Franc Luz is genuine, though the film's erotic scenes often lack the spark their characters seem to promise.

Supporting performances are serviceable but uneven. Luz, playing both romantic lead and conflicted director, brings sincerity but struggles to elevate the film's flatter stretches. The rest of the cast fulfills their roles with minimal nuance, often feeling more like placeholders than living characters. The screenplay occasionally hints at deeper questions about sexual agency, aging, and creative compromise, but these moments rarely coalesce into something profound.

Ultimately, Love Scenes is a moody, low-stakes exploration of erotic performance and personal awakening, anchored by Bolling's quietly arresting presence. It flirts with substance but doesn't fully commit, making for an experience that's intermittently engaging but rarely gripping.

My review was written in January 1986 after watching the movie on a video cassette screener.

"Love Scenes" is a behind-the-scenes look at filmmaking, styled as a soap opera with nudity and simulated sex scenes included (since the feature was made for The Playboy Channel). Shot in 1983, pica was cablecast by Playboy last fall and has recently been programmed by another cable service, Cinemax.

Tiffany Bolling, a promising starlet over a decade ago and now a handsome, mature woman, toplines in a story which plays like Blake Edwards' "S. O. B.", but without the intended humor and acid satire. Val (Bolling) is a bankable Hollywood star eventually won over by her director husband Peter (Franc Luz) and his agent-producer Sydney (Jack Carter) to star in a frankly erotic feature penned by former actress Melinda (Julie Newmar).

Though the film project, titled "Lovescene', is almed for a hard R rating, Val becomes aroused in her first love scene with costar Rick (Daniel Pilon), resulting in tastefully filmed footage of an actual sex act, complete with her having an orgasm. Complicating matters is the fact, which Val confides to her photographer pal Annie (Britt Ekland), that she' has been faking the big O with hubby Peter throughout their five-year marriage.

Film suffers from overly predictable story development, with Melinda quitting as rewrites alter her original screenplay conception, Val having an affair off-camera with Rick and ultimately making up with her husband. Also, as often happens in backstage stories, the film-within-a-film is uninteresting and often merely an excuse to get in some more sex scenes. At times it seems that the issues raised would have relevance only to Bo and John Derek, though they would likely be amused at the old-fashioned hangups presented here. Ironically, "Love Scenes" had "Ecstasy" as its alternate title, the same alternate title (spelled differently) used by he Dereks briefly for their "Bolero" film.

Bolling gives an uninhibited performance featuring frequent nudity but hampered by the gauche soap opera acting style which permeates the project. Costar Luz is miscast, coming off as way too laidback for the dramatic scenes. Director Bud Townsend, best known for helming several horror pics, "Coach" and the 1976 porno version of "Alice in Wonderland", does a competent job but despite the subject matter errs on the side of blandness.

Tiffany Bolling is indeed attractive. The peak of her career was in the 70's. This and a couple other pics were indicative that the roles were fewer in number and lower in appeal.

Love Scenes suffers from some pretty bad acting and even worse sound track. Gives this a feel of cheap late-night Cinemax viewing. That's not good.

I watched for Bolling, I left for just about everything to do with this show. The sound track...good lord.

This is a fun movie for those who remember the actresses of the day (Tiffany Bolling, Julie Newmar, Britt Ekland and Monique Gabrielle). Not good for anything much more than nostalgia, however. I first saw the movie on late-night cable back in the mid-80's, but I understand it is out on DVD now, even though IMDb does not indicate so. Is it worth buying? Probably not. But if it can be found as a rental, it might be worth a view. All 4 women are beautiful and not ashamed to show it.

Just to correct the comment in a previous review - Tiffany Bolling was NOT a Playboy centerfold. She did one photo shoot in Playboy, but she was never a Playmate.