w/d – Robert McCallum. Cast: Annette Haven, John Leslie, Paul Thomas, Joey Silvera,
Laurien Dominique, Desiree West, Kristine Heller, John Seeman, Sandi Pinney, David
Pinney, Paula Wain, Tracey O’Neill, Lisa K. Loring, Radio Ray Wells, Michael Morrison,
Tom McGhee, Paul Scharf and Kay Parker
The best film ever made using a bad title. Despite the title, which I personally think is
misleading, this is one of the best constructed adult films you are ever going to find. The
subject matter is not only relevant, the characterizations are detailed, the motivations are
realistic, and the production values are among McCallum’s best. It is such a shame that
they tagged the film with a title that sounds like exploitation city.
V stands for Valerie, the central character of the film, played by Annette Haven, in one
of her three best roles over a very distinguished career. Supposedly based on a real woman’s
ordeal, Valerie is first seen as a young girl, molested by a farmhand and branded ‘a little
whore’ by her unsympathetic mother. Fully grown, she is shown as the wife of successful
attorney John Leslie. Although she is well-to-do and quite elegant, the memory of her
mother’s stinging words has shattered her to the point that she secretly develops the emo
tional and psychological needs of the lowest form of street slut. Discussions within her
marriage, and with friend Laurien Dominique, lead her to act out the thoughts trapped in
her mind and to escape to Jacinda’s fancy cathouse. Kay Parker plays the madam in her
first adult film, a non-sex role. Here Annette is reinforced with the idea that she is still a whore.
Although loaded with plot, the sex scenes are superb, bordering on raunch, but filmed
with a style that is all too rare in porno. Particularly effective is the scene where husband
John forces wife Annette. Her escape into the night, to seek cheap thrills in a seamy world,
provides scenes of the raunchiest caliber. This is a thoughtful film dealing with an unpleasant
subject, but well handled with a logical resolution. McCallum paints an unsettling portrait
of a woman struggling to adjust, but seemingly destined to wind up in room 307 at the Rose
Hotel. It most definitely is not a comedy but I highly endorse the viewing experience.