Jaguar Productions is generally known for delivering early gay adult flicks that were a cut above in terms of plotting and production values, and this is a solid introductory example.
Right away, the film hooks viewers with an interesting and mysterious set- up: buff superstud Rick Cassidy (veteran of numerous straight hardcore flicks and appearing here under his usual nom-de-gay Jim Cassidy) has been brought to a mysterious mansion in to perform in a masked sex ceremony for the benefit of "Mama," a guy in drag who watches from behind, it would appear, a one-way mirror. (The film is sketchy on the details, merely presenting Mama in "her" chair looking out through an empty frame, the funds for a full-length mirror probably not in the budget.) Rick and another guy are both masked, and brought by Mama's attendant with their arms and wrists bound. After the guys are untied, the situation quickly reveals itself to be consensual as they get down to business. About halfway through, the masks come off, leading one to wonder what their purpose in the sexual scenario is in the first place (their narrative significance becomes clear later on).
Before all this began, Rick dropped his wallet as he was getting undressed. Now returning home, he bumps into his roommate, a waifish and slightly effeminate college student, who opines to Rick about his shame at being unable to make rent. Rick tells him it's all right - he understands he's in school and will continue covering for him, though he doesn't let on how much money this amounts to or the emotional toll it entails. When Rick's roommate reveals a guy stopped by with Rick's lost wallet, Rick flies into a rage, saying he doesn't want his roommate talking with "that creep." The interplay between Rick and the roommate is interesting, and lends the film an intriguing interpretive aspect. It's never quite clear if the two constitute a fully formed romantic partnership, or if Rick is merely protective of his roommate in a paternalistic way (while longing for something more). This lack of specificity makes the film interesting to analyze, though clouds the impact of the narrative action that follows.
(Spoilers)
Of course, it should be no surprise where all of this is leading, particularly after we see Mama putting in a call to her associates begging them to procure Rick's boy, whose picture she'd taken from the dropped wallet. Still in need of money, Rick, of course, ends up back at the mansion. He's brought downstairs and put through the same paces, but a surprise is waiting once his partner's mask comes off...
The strange thing is how little dramatic impact this turn of events actually brings. Briefly standing up and berating Mama's assistant for the duplicity of this set-up, Rick nevertheless goes right back to business, apparently unwilling to stop himself now that he's finally balls-deep in his roommate. (This seems to suggest they hadn't yet consummated their relationship, but again, it could still play either way, with Rick just not wanting the boy to get tied up in prostitution.) For a dramatic note the entire film has been leading to, this moment of discovery carries curiously little weight, with everyone just going back to exactly what they were doing before the information came to light. Stinger finds Rick returning home to discover his roommate has vacated the apartment. He steps outside and takes a long, wistful walk through the park to bring things to a close.
While not exactly a lost masterpiece, "Mama" still has more than enough narrative and sexual interest to keep the audience entertained for its surprisingly lengthy (for an early '70s gay porn film) 77 minute running time. Cassidy doesn't present particularly notable acting or even sexual abilities (his straight performances come off far more believable), yet he nevertheless possesses a screen magnetism that is undeniable, and manages to carry the movie pretty much single-handedly (he's in all the scenes). The filmmakers, keenly aware of this, exploit it – Rick's the only credited cast member, and it's a special credit at that. The film's central conceit and more baroque touches (crazy millionaire voyeur in drag) differentiate it and make it interesting, though I would have liked to see more about the character of Mama. She basically just watches from behind the scenes and instigates, and Rick (and everyone else, for that matter) never directly interacts with her. Mama's perspective is never really fleshed out – she's just a reason for the sex acts to occur and a faceless catalyst for the action. Why the filmmakers went to the trouble of developing such an interesting character and then take her nowhere is anybody's guess, but it leaves the film feeling slight in comparison to what it might have been. Ditto the ending, which feels rushed and inconsequential - so all the elaborate sex games were merely an excuse to interrogate Rick and his roommate's emotional fidelity? It seems like a long way to go to set up what is effectively a simple relationship drama.
Nevertheless, despite the film's inability to fully gel, the pieces that comprise it remain tantalizing. The bargain-basement "Eyes Wide Shut" sex games are far more interesting than the usual F&S most of old porn flicks settle for, and the exploration of Rick and his roommate's strange, codependent relationship is an interesting subject for examination, even if it isn't that profoundly interrogated. While not perfect, "Mama" is nevertheless interesting, with pieces of a solid story present and enough tantalizing bodies to keep male skin fans happy. Resurrected by Vinegar Syndrome as (for now) an Exploitation.TV exclusive (and transferred from a very nice print, at that), I'm glad this flick can get out there again and find a new audience. It's not perfect, but it still readily deserves it.
Right away, the film hooks viewers with an interesting and mysterious set- up: buff superstud Rick Cassidy (veteran of numerous straight hardcore flicks and appearing here under his usual nom-de-gay Jim Cassidy) has been brought to a mysterious mansion in to perform in a masked sex ceremony for the benefit of "Mama," a guy in drag who watches from behind, it would appear, a one-way mirror. (The film is sketchy on the details, merely presenting Mama in "her" chair looking out through an empty frame, the funds for a full-length mirror probably not in the budget.) Rick and another guy are both masked, and brought by Mama's attendant with their arms and wrists bound. After the guys are untied, the situation quickly reveals itself to be consensual as they get down to business. About halfway through, the masks come off, leading one to wonder what their purpose in the sexual scenario is in the first place (their narrative significance becomes clear later on).
Before all this began, Rick dropped his wallet as he was getting undressed. Now returning home, he bumps into his roommate, a waifish and slightly effeminate college student, who opines to Rick about his shame at being unable to make rent. Rick tells him it's all right - he understands he's in school and will continue covering for him, though he doesn't let on how much money this amounts to or the emotional toll it entails. When Rick's roommate reveals a guy stopped by with Rick's lost wallet, Rick flies into a rage, saying he doesn't want his roommate talking with "that creep." The interplay between Rick and the roommate is interesting, and lends the film an intriguing interpretive aspect. It's never quite clear if the two constitute a fully formed romantic partnership, or if Rick is merely protective of his roommate in a paternalistic way (while longing for something more). This lack of specificity makes the film interesting to analyze, though clouds the impact of the narrative action that follows.
(Spoilers)
Of course, it should be no surprise where all of this is leading, particularly after we see Mama putting in a call to her associates begging them to procure Rick's boy, whose picture she'd taken from the dropped wallet. Still in need of money, Rick, of course, ends up back at the mansion. He's brought downstairs and put through the same paces, but a surprise is waiting once his partner's mask comes off...
The strange thing is how little dramatic impact this turn of events actually brings. Briefly standing up and berating Mama's assistant for the duplicity of this set-up, Rick nevertheless goes right back to business, apparently unwilling to stop himself now that he's finally balls-deep in his roommate. (This seems to suggest they hadn't yet consummated their relationship, but again, it could still play either way, with Rick just not wanting the boy to get tied up in prostitution.) For a dramatic note the entire film has been leading to, this moment of discovery carries curiously little weight, with everyone just going back to exactly what they were doing before the information came to light. Stinger finds Rick returning home to discover his roommate has vacated the apartment. He steps outside and takes a long, wistful walk through the park to bring things to a close.
While not exactly a lost masterpiece, "Mama" still has more than enough narrative and sexual interest to keep the audience entertained for its surprisingly lengthy (for an early '70s gay porn film) 77 minute running time. Cassidy doesn't present particularly notable acting or even sexual abilities (his straight performances come off far more believable), yet he nevertheless possesses a screen magnetism that is undeniable, and manages to carry the movie pretty much single-handedly (he's in all the scenes). The filmmakers, keenly aware of this, exploit it – Rick's the only credited cast member, and it's a special credit at that. The film's central conceit and more baroque touches (crazy millionaire voyeur in drag) differentiate it and make it interesting, though I would have liked to see more about the character of Mama. She basically just watches from behind the scenes and instigates, and Rick (and everyone else, for that matter) never directly interacts with her. Mama's perspective is never really fleshed out – she's just a reason for the sex acts to occur and a faceless catalyst for the action. Why the filmmakers went to the trouble of developing such an interesting character and then take her nowhere is anybody's guess, but it leaves the film feeling slight in comparison to what it might have been. Ditto the ending, which feels rushed and inconsequential - so all the elaborate sex games were merely an excuse to interrogate Rick and his roommate's emotional fidelity? It seems like a long way to go to set up what is effectively a simple relationship drama.
Nevertheless, despite the film's inability to fully gel, the pieces that comprise it remain tantalizing. The bargain-basement "Eyes Wide Shut" sex games are far more interesting than the usual F&S most of old porn flicks settle for, and the exploration of Rick and his roommate's strange, codependent relationship is an interesting subject for examination, even if it isn't that profoundly interrogated. While not perfect, "Mama" is nevertheless interesting, with pieces of a solid story present and enough tantalizing bodies to keep male skin fans happy. Resurrected by Vinegar Syndrome as (for now) an Exploitation.TV exclusive (and transferred from a very nice print, at that), I'm glad this flick can get out there again and find a new audience. It's not perfect, but it still readily deserves it.