GREAT SEXPECTATIONS (1984) 85 Minutes,
p – David Stone, d – Henri Pachard. Cast: Eric Edwards, Kelly Nichols, John Leslie,
Tanya Lawson, Honey Wilder, Chelsea Blake, Joanna Storm, R. Bolla, Rene Summers,
George Payne, Jerry Butler, Dick Howard and Silver Star.
The sequel to SEXCAPADES is an honestly rare case of a sequel equaling the original.
In reality the only pick-up from the original is Eric Edwards in his award winning role as
porn director Harry Crocker. The solid plot, loosely derived from Charles Dickens, is combined
with Pachard’s ability to provide hot, raunchy and stimulating sex scenes. As an indication
of the film’s merit, it received more final four nominations from the critics than any other film
of 1984.
In the sequel, producer R. Bolla seeks Harry to direct his entry into the sex film field.
Bella’s idea of a great stud is someone like Jerry Butler, who can make it with Bella’s wife
(Honey Wilder) while Bolla watches. Chelsea Blake won a supporting actress award for her
portrayal of a stage mother, literally pimping sexy daughter Tanya Lawson to the producer.
There is some honest to goodness empathy thrown in to counter the hijinks. Edwards
progresses from the hot tub with Joanna Storm and Rene Summers (his future real life wife
and the mother of his first child) to the set, where he encounters the legendary porn actress
Marilyn Camp (Kelly Nichols). Comparison to Marilyn Chambers is in initials only John
Leslie plays himself as the leading man stud cast for the film being made — which bears
the SEXCAPADES slate title in this sequel. Harry is jealous of John because he’s suddenly
fallen in love with his female lead. Improbable as it may seem, a halfway decent romance
dominates the end of the film, after Chelsea Blake is taught a stage mother lesson. Pachard
really cranks a winner, helped by Kelly and Eric. After fifteen years of unsung work in the
trenches, Edwards finally began to receive the superstar accolades he deserved for so long.