Review: STANLEY LONG’S ADVENTURES: A Seventies Sex Comedy Threesome

Blu-ray: STANLEY LONG’S ADVENTURES: A Seventies Sex Comedy Threesome

Consisting of Adventures of a Taxi Driver (1976), Adventures of a Private Eye (1977), and Adventures of a Plumber’s Mate (1978), these British sex comedies piggybacked off the earlier success of the “Confessions” movies starring Robin Askwith.

While not old enough to watch these movies on their original release (my first time viewing of them was on VHS in the 80’s), I do remember the posters for them being everywhere.

Though filmed and released less than 50 years ago, it really was a different world back then, with attitudes towards women very different to what they are now (though there is still a lot of room for improvement even today). Full of titillation through nude scenes (primarily the females in the cast) and “nudge nudge, wink wink” humour, all 3 “Adventures” movies are a visual time capsule of when British cinemas and the popular movies of the day were so different to the family friendly multiplexes of nowadays.

Producer and cinematographer Stanley Long was the King of the British sex film, and the 3 movies in this set are great showcases of his work, even more so when you factor in the hugely enjoyable special features, specifically a trio of extras by Simon Sheridan; a man whose knowledge of this genre is unsurpassed.

The movies themselves have to be viewed remembering the time in which they were made, but even while I can still recall what it was like to live through the 1970’s, these were still more “smile humour” than giving any laugh out loud moments.

The lead actor in “Taxi Driver” was Barry Evans, who was then replaced by Christopher Neil in the 2 sequels, each movie giving the lead a different (compass based) name: Joe North, Bob West, Sid South. That alone gives you a little taste of the humour in these movies.

The 4th wall breaking comments to camera by the lead are played down more in the 2 sequels, and of the 3 movies I found “Private Eye” to be my favourite, due mostly to the supporting cast (Harry H. Corbett stealing every scene he was in) and the narrative having a bit more substance to it rather than being little more than an excuse to go from one bored housewife taking her clothes off to another one.

The British sex comedy of the 70’s is rather a niche genre, and I suspect is enjoyed more by those who lived through that period, or have an interest/appreciation for it, rather than the millennials of today.

However, this set is an invaluable time capsule of that period, with a cracking set of extras to help give more information and appreciation of the movies that were so popular back then.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES: