The Swap and How They Make It

The Swap and How They Make It (1966)

*** (out of 4)

A couple bored housewives constantly talk about how unhappy they are that their workaholic husbands don't pay them any attention. One day driving home they pass up a couple college boys who pay them a visit and before long both wives are having affairs. Soon this here has its own problems and they learn about a wife swap party.

THE SWAP AND HOW THEY MAKE IT is a winner from writer-director Joe Sarno. It's funny that Sarno has become a cult figure in the sexploitation genre even though his films pretty much stay away from the trappings of that genre. Sarno is a weird figure in film history because his movies aren't trashy enough to appeal to most sexploitation fans and they're not art enough for the highbrow critics to enjoy. That pretty much makes Sarno his own little genre and he's got some really bland movies but also some really good ones including this one.

The screenplay is certainly one of the strongest points here and especially when you consider that it keeps you glued to what's going on for 101-minutes. That's a long running time for this type of film but Sarno manages to hold your attention because all of the characters are interesting ones as is the situation that they're in. This is especially true for the wives who open up a door and instead of regretting it, both want more of it.

Another thing this has going for it are the performances. The entire cast are very good and believable in their roles including Stella Britton (Sheila Britt) and Celo Nova (Peggy Steffans). Another good thing is the wonderful B&W cinematography, which perfectly soaks up the atmosphere created by Sarno. Those wanting a lot of nudity or sex aren't really going to find that here as it's more melodrama than anything else but it's well-made and entertaining.

Another successful Joe Sarno suburban erotica opus, this one is executed in a decidedly minor key, more of a chamber drama than a critique of social mores. It rearranges the themes and plot strategies of his earlier works (such as Sin in the Suburbs) with a more subtle mise-en-scene and a surprising tinge of misogyny. There isn't much nudity or on-screen lovemaking, but the attitude of the principals and some clever imagery makes it quite lascivious nonetheless. There's no occultism this time, but the de rigueur masked party serves as the nasty climactic scene.

Not the non stop swaparama one might expect and the participants may show as much angst as flesh but this is still one hell of a movie. Just a little overlong but it boldly covers much ground and the 60's were barely swinging by this time. In the beginning it appears that the movie will be about the seduction of college kids by bored housewives but this keeps broadening out until we have a sleazy (mostly off screen) rape as seeming finale but no there is more. In the end we have (again, mostly off screen) gang rape and suggestions of incest. Heady stuff and for the most part all treated most seriously and if some of the performances lapse occasionally, the sexy mood, aided by simple yet effective spasmodic drumming sustains the movie throughout it's gradual spiral towards depravity. Well shot and for the most part well performed. An exciting and ever interesting relic of a most specific period of sexual social history. Fun too!