Janet's Birthday Bash

Janet's Birthday Bash (1972)

** (out of 4)

Three couples are on the floor when Judy, the birthday girl, starts to sexually play with her man and soon everyone decides to do the same.

While watching JANET'S BIRTHDAY BASH and other films like it, I often wonder at what the thought going around the room was. I'm guessing the six actors would work for a hour or two and collect a few bucks. I'm guessing the uncredited director was just there filming this thinking it could lead to him directing a blockbuster one day. I'm sure the cameraman was worried about getting the equipment back in time.

I think it's clear that everyone involved in these films were just trying to get something on film in order to throw into theaters and hope it made a profit. There's certainly nothing technically good about this film as it looks quite ugly, features some zoom shots that would annoy even Jess Franco and for the most part it is not erotic. What it does have is Rene Bond and Ric Lutze doing a couple scenes together and as I've often said, whatever Bond does I'll watch.

The film certainly isn't anything to write home about but if you're a fan of Bond then she makes it somewhat worth watching.

There's no reason feature length porn can't be synonymous with stag movies or porn loops - JANET's BIRTHDAY BASH is a perfect example. Its lack of content and minimalist technique is a grade lower than a typical loop, and the version preserved by Something Weird Video for posterity seems endless at just 35 minutes long.

Immediately recognizable is the prolific porn team of Ric Lutze and Rene Bond, humping away with emphasis on Rene's admirable blow job technique. Ric also gets to hump another girl, lucky he.

But nothing actually happens here, just an orgy on the floor with evidently birthday girl Janet wearing a party hat and looking attractive. Wall to wall sex is nothing new and this could be considered a prototype. Ending is a panning shot around the party debris, half-eaten pieces of cake on paper plates and party favors, as the cast voices over "Happy Birthday to You". There's some speaking on the soundtrack amounting to nothing.

Only notable elements are an emphasis upon extreme close-ups especially for fellatio, and a bit of foot fetish action when a guy sucks a girl's toes while jacking off. Watching this can put into perspective a movie buff's understanding of what is "bad" and what is "mediocre", as BASH helps establish Absolute Zero on one's personal thermometer.