I appreciate Playboy releasing the early years of their video calendars to DVD, but there's an initial shock, adjustment one must make to watch 'em. I often talk about the pitfalls of tame / slow scenes, but in the late 80's it went beyond that. Each Playmate has the standard two mini segments, but the first doesn't feature any nudity.
"Miss January" is Cherie Witter - Feb 1985 - begins by praising Seattle before going mountain climbing. Notice the beautiful all natural faces, hairstyles ladies of this time had. Keeping with the theme, she retreats to a cabin where in front of a fireplace the clothes come off. A great body, one or two nice closeups, but most of her time was clothed (6 mins total). "Miss February" is Julie McCullough - Feb 1986 - who gets off to a street-side photoshoot as she talks. It moves to her naked right away in a hammock. Again a nice closeup or two, but also her pictorial interrupts this. Then it's back to her at night in an outdoor jacuzzi (4.5 mins total).
"Miss March" is Pamela Saunders - Nov 1985 - shown hanging in Palm Springs where lastly horseback riding leads to getting out of her red dress. Killer tanlines and plenty of nice views of this gorgeous blonde (4 mins total). "Miss April" is Sherry Arnett - Jan 1986 - watching models on a runway before it turns messy putting paint all over herself. It allows for some decent visuals in another segment that doesn't waste time getting to the good stuff (4.5 mins total). "Miss May" is Donna Smith - Mar 1985 - riding a bike along Venice Beach in a scene that can't be more 80's if it tried. Breakdancing is shown, she shoots hoops then has sushi in a restaurant with friends & speaks Japanese. Then in a mansion at night with only pearls around her neck and a sheet, time is wasted on artsy shots, but there's no denying how great she looks too (5.5 mins total).
"Miss June" is Roberta Vasquez - Nov 1984 - a standout all natural busty Playmate who I already knew from the Andy Sidaris line of b-movies. Her intro has her shooting handguns at a range and I learned she had been a police officer at one point which was cool. The follow-up is again pure 80's as decked out in spandex workout attire she gets her sweat on at the gym. Right angles, wardrobe, smoke machine make this equal parts cheesy and erotic before she retreats to the dressing room to ditch the clothes. Plenty of nice shots show her off - goes out without saying her boobs get major focus - but also a nice closeup of her bush too (4.5 mins total). "Miss July" is Carol Ficatier - Dec 1985 - out in nature showing her love of animals & a French accent. Pictorial gets shown before we join her in the backseat of a limo getting naked looking glamourous. I've always liked this fantasy concept and there's some nice views of Carol including some thru the sunroof that kicks things up a notch (5 mins total).
"Miss August" is Dona Speir - Mar 1984 - another Playmate I know due to her roles in Sidaris flicks. This blonde is shown arriving, relaxing in Mexico that parlays right into her naked on the beach. In the sand or a hammock there's many lovely sights of Donna (5 mins total). "Miss September" is Rebekka Armstrong - Sept 1986 - who's shown wind gliding, whitewater rafting. Of course the part you're waiting for is solo sans bikini. Standing or laying on rocks delivers pleasant sights and a shot of her butt near a waterfall is scenic in more ways than one (5.5 mins total). "Miss October" is Barbara Edwards - Sept 1983, PMOTY 1984 - focusing on her love of art which goes from the classroom to naked, dancing via flashing lights, lasers on a dark stage. It nails style, true to Barbara, but you have to settle for the odd well lit shot of her. Though it scores points due to the angle of the camera (5 mins total).
"Miss November" is Cynthia Brimhall - Oct 1985 - another name familiar to Sidaris flicks. She's shown at a motocross event in an official capacity for Playboy, but honestly there's way too much focus on dirt bikes. Then it's her biking thru backwoods trails of Utah, but I'm not sure if it was really Cynthia. Next comes the removal of gear though and her tight, tanned body gets shown off walking, wrapping a leg around a tree and then posing near rocks, in a stream (4.5 mins total). "Miss December" is Kathy Shower - May 1985, PMOTY 1986 - playing softball or at an outdoor flea market to begin. Her pictorial is shown naturally as she talks before it settles down to the part you want. She brushes her hair, slips out of a nightie in bed via nice closeups (4.5 mins total).
A trip back into time, history of Playboy & changes in nudity has charm. You get the real side of the Playmates instead of canned speeches, but at the sacrifice of nudity. You can't hate on the '1987 Calendar' for this reason alone, but the dated delivery also mutes your enjoyment.
