Raw Talent

This is an excellent adult film, and one of Jerry Butler's best.

Due to some scenes that were filmed in the uncut version, The film is now edited with just hardcore sex scenes, I believe the full uncut version to the film can only be found used. It is in three versions by VCA Pictures. A Cable Version, The Hardcore Version with five scenes missing, and the most popular full uncut version that has every scene intact. In my opinion, the film is not the same unless you see the full uncut version.

One thing that this film is known for in the original uncut version is it's "subliminal messages". During the sex scenes (and many others), a text message was flashed on the screen or 1 or 2 frames. This could range from "SEX" and "KILL" to "EAT" and "LAUGH".

I have never heard if this had any impact on the audience however. But even without this, the film is good and tracks the rise and fall of an actor that moves from Porn to Soap Opera. This may well be where some of the concepts for the more recent "Boogie Nights" may have come from. There are many similar sceens in these two movies.

As a NYer who grew up watching adult films from the Big '80s, "Raw Talent" was the seminal film for that decade. With a better than average storyline, Jerry Butler (Bklyn's own) was able to shine. He WAS the James Dean of porn! Graced with chiseled features and natural comedic ability, his performances were always unpredictable and wacky. The accompanying soundtrack was also above par. The subliminal psychadelia scene was straight out of Floyd & Zeppelin. Unfortunately, "Raw Talent" was re-released with major Politically Correct edits. The masturbatory cooked turkey scene, the forced sex scene over a toilet bowl, and all the karate scenes are nowhere to be found. Luckily, I managed to retain a copy during the height of my rental days! ehe If anyone is interested in seeing the uncut, original film, drop me a line.

The only thing I'd like to add here is that, my friend had a video store on the Upper East Side (Manhattan) in the early-mid 80s, and Joyce Schneider walked in one day (1986?) promoting this film. The story as I've heard it was she told him "you walk down 42nd street these days and what do you see? F-ck films and Fight films...F-ck films and Fight films...so I decided to write a film with both!"...and he bought a copy of the film and we wore it out in the basement. Among the highlights of the film are Jerry Butler's and Ron Jeremy's Kung-Fu-Fighting battle (reminiscent of the Day of the Jackal) and the all-time classic "revenge of the waiter" scene with Joey Silvera and Jerry taking their revenge on a pinched tart in Leo Lindy's in Times Square.

42nd St? F-ck films and Fight films? Yes, it was the "mean streets" of 1980s Times Square, before the Disneyfied, Shrager'd, Giulani'd Times Square took hold. It was a badge of honor to be mugged in Times Square back then, when you'd have to beg for a token (!) from the Times Square Police Station (now an Army recruiting outpost) when your wallet got lifted in the balcony during a Bruce Lee triple-feature.

Anyway, back to the film...Lisa DeLeeuw turns in a great performance as a jaded porn director trying to cash in on a young hunk ("that's how I like them...young, dumb and hung!") while putting in a lesbian scene and then getting sodomized by her now-assertive "protege". Taija Rae is the (chubby) sweet girl next door (who will do double(you-know-what)), while Joey, Gerry, and Ron raise hell and remind you of why the porn industry is not what it's cracked up to be.

Enjoy this film...it's a slice of NY and porn from the '80s.

Usually, this is a WAY under-rated movie, and that is because it is the kind of movie you will watch for the story and not just the sex. I was floored when I saw it back in the day, and I could not understand why it did not receive the recognition it deserved, but now I think I understand the undercurrent which it churned within the industry was not good. One has the feeling that the film is biographical, and--now that Mr. Butler has a book out by the same name--I guess that is true. Eddie, the main character, and his pal are likable characters with obvious flaws. The women in his life are good and bad, and all are attractive. As in real life, Eddie screws and gets screwed, but in the end I think you will cheer for him. A great movie and it will get you off.