Barbara Broadcast - 1977

There are a few 70's porn movies that are absolute "must see" classics. Today's choice is high on that list. Barbara Broadcast, released in 1977, is an example of just how good adult entertainment can be, when it tries. This is big budget porn, with a cast of extras rarely seen in adult movies. Beyond that, the writing is smart, taking subtle (and not so subtle jabs) at the state of American culture, with a sophisticated wit. Not all of the humor in the movie is highbrow. You might even find yourself laughing, (well, at least snickering) out loud once or twice.

 

As soon as the opening credits end, we enter an upscale New York restaurant, and immediately know that this isn't your typical porn movie. The sets are elaborate, to say the least.

70's porn aficionados may recognize Bobby Astyr playing the Maitre D'. Normally, where Bobby was involved, the comedy was quickly to follow. That was certainly the case here. More on that later. Do you recognize the waitress walking away? Here's a better look.

That's a young Sharon Mitchell, playing a small role in this big movie. She's just one of many members of the wait staff at the restaurant who will do anything for their customers. Like a Chinese restaurant, customers pick a number off the menu and are immediately served. Care to dine on pussy, or a salad topped with cum, prepared at your table? Have something more exotic in mind? No problem, it's somewhere on that list.

The first half of the movie takes place in the crowded restaurant, where Roberta, played by the gorgeous C.J. Laing, is interviewing Barbara Broadcast, famous escort and author.

C.J. Laing

That role is perfectly played by Annette Haven, who many consider to be the most beautiful woman in porn.

Annette Haven

While she gives Roberta the details of her life not revealed in her recently-published autobiography, she willingly gives autographs and head to anyone who approaches her table. Among those who drop by are Shirley Peters, one of Barbara's former employees, who still finds time to get in a quick appointment at the restaurant.

Shirley Peters in a very public interracial sex scene.

It would be easy to get lost in the mix of high production values, a huge cast, good writing and originality, but Barbara Broadcast never forgets what it is. After all is said and done, it is still a porn move, and on that point it excels very well, providing two extremely memorable scenes. The first occurs when stunning Suzanne McBain loses track of her waiter. Barbara is happy to lend her hers, and C.J. offers to help. What follows is a deep throat scene for the ages.

 

 

After C.J. helps Suzanne clean up, Barbara informs her that she has an appointment and needs to leave for a bit. We follow her to an office where she gives an executive some stress relief in the middle of his day.

 

Before she goes though, she suggests the C.J. visit the chef, played by future soap opera star Wade Nichols. C.J. wanders into the steamy kitchen and shows Wade that she does, in fact, have a pot to piss in. (This scene was cut from later releases of the movie, but has since been reinserted.) The sexual tension created by that act is almost palpable. Wade cannot resist getting a better look.

  

After C.J. has found relief - in more than just one way - Wade takes her to his cooking table and devours her. Before they finish, he samples all three of her holes. 

This scene is hot - literally and figuratively and it is one you will probably replay several times. That's not just due to the onscreen chemistry of Nichols and Laing. Nor to the acts they perform. The direction of Radley Metzger (billed her as Henry Paris) is unmistakable. There is a reason that his movies are regularly honored today by "mainstream" film students and critics. Everything about his production conveyed mood, emotion and story.

At the end of a long day, where else would a couple of New York socialites go, but to the disco?

It doesn't take long before Annette and C.J. are dancing together, sharing a joint, and moving things to the next level.

Annette pulls up C.J.'s skirt on the dance floor to give her head, but soon moves to a more comfortable staircase.

When they switch places, C.J.'s ass is exposed, and is soon filled by an anonymous cock who fucks her to an orgasm, while she licks Annette to another. We soon find that the dick belongs to none other than Annette's old friend, Jamie Gillis.

Jamie is only to happy to recall one of his kinkier sessions for the reporter, and we get to watch a hot BDSM scene with Jaimie and the always sexy, Constance Money.

 

Frankly, it's a pretty dark ending for a movie that has kept our sense of humor engaged for most of its 82 minutes. But I think it is a fitting scene to include because it represents the spectrum of 70's porn and the 70's lifestyle scene. Sex, even in it's "darker" forms was still light. It was a game, little more. And sex, in all its forms, was a part of life, in all its forms.

There is a running gag in the movie about waitresses breaking dishes in the restaurant. Every time a dish would break, Bobby Astyr would appear and the waitress would have to give him head.

 

At one point, an elderly lady drops a vase, intentionally, so that she can taste the younger man's dick. Bobby may not have made much in tips, but it looks like the other perks made his job worthwhile.

 

So like a friend recommending a good restaurant, I certainly recommend Barbara Broadcast to you. It will not only make you a well rounded 70's porn viewer, it will treat you to same amazingly hot porn scenes, and a memory of when sex wasn't viewed nearly as negatively as it is today by the mainstream.

Watch Barbara Broadcast on demand here. View it on your computer or mobile device. I have even arranged for you to watch for 20 minutes for FREE.