Klassieker: Score / Radley Metzger (1973)

DVD cover

Score is dinsdag 25 maart 2014 eenmalig te zien in de Amsterdamse Melkweg. Hoog tijd voor wat aandacht voor deze film uit het porn chic tijdperk waarin twee stellen werkelijk alles uitproberen wat uit te proberen valt en daarbij ook nog lange dialogen weten uit te spreken. In een van de hoofdrollen is gay icon Casey Donovan te zien. Er is ook nog een link met Sylvester Stallone, een Oscar-winnares en met films als Schindler's List en Gladiator...

Film met bijzondere kwaliteiten

De 91 minuten durende speelfilm Score was in de VS voor het eerst te zien in december 1973. Score dateert uit het zogenaamde 'porn chic'-tijdperk waarin pornofilms op mooie locaties werden gefilmd met acteurs die meer in hun mars hadden dan wat onder hun kleding te zien was. Score is binnen dat genre bijzonder omdat het een van de eerste op hetero gerichte films was die biseksuele relaties in beeld bracht. De film was bij uitbreng meestal te zien in een softcore versie van 84 minuten. Er bestaat echter ook een hardcore versie van 91 minuten. Die hardcore versie verscheen op zowel dvd als blu ray. Daarin is onder andere orale sex, een actrice die gepenetreerd wordt met een strap-on, en een kerel die gepenetreerd wordt door een andere man te zien.

Film met bijzondere vaklui

Score is een film onder regie van Radley Metzger.

Het scenario werd geschreven door Jerry Douglas en is gebaseerd op een off-Broadway toneelstuk waarin de dan nog volslagen onbekende Sylvester Stallone te zien was als telefoonreparateur Mike.
Het toneelstuk speelde zich af in een appartement in Queens, maar de film was gesitueerd in de mythische Europese stad Leisure en die stad bevond zich in Joegoslavië -en wel in het huidige Kroatië.
Scenarist Jerry Douglas bleef na Score in de porno onder de naam Doug Richards en schreef en regisseerde onder andere THE BACK ROW (1973), BOTH WAYS (1976) en MORE OF A MAN (1991; met Joey Stefano en Chi Chi LaRue.

De opnamen werden gemaakt door Metzger zelf en Franco Vodopivec.

Score's production manager Branko Lustig (Osijek, Kroatië, 10 juni 1932) schreef later als unit production manager titels als SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993) en GLADIATOR (2000) op zijn naam.

Acteurs

Gerald Grant, Carl Parker

De hoofdrollen in de film Score zijn voor Claire Wilbur (Elvira Jackson, the swinging wife), Calvin Culver=het gay icon die beter bekend is onder de naam Casey Donovan (Eddie, the closeted husband), Lynn Lowry (Betsy, the naive wife), Gerald Grant (Jack Jackson, the swinging husband) en Carl Parker (Mike Nixon, the horny telephone repairman).

Calvin Culver, Gerald Grant, Lynn Lowry

Claire Wilbur

Claire Wilbur, ook wel bekend als Catt Wilbur, werd geboren op 8 juni 1933. Ze was voor haar medewerking aan Score al actief als toneelactrice. Wilbur speelde mee in het off-Broadway toneelstuk Score en zij was de enige acteur die de overstap van het gelijknamige toneelstuk naar de film maakte. Ze speelde Elvira in 23 voorstellingen tussen 28 oktober en 15 november 1970 in het Martinique Theatre in New York City. Naar verluidt speelde ze de rol in de film alleen om genoeg geld te verdienen om een documentaire te kunnen produceren van haar vriend Robin Lehman. Daarna coproduceerde ze Lehman's korte films The End of the Game (1975) en Nightlife (1976), waarvoor ze respectievelijk een Oscar nominatie kreeg en er ook een won in 1976. Daarna werd ze dierenrechtenactiviste. In 2003 werd longkanker geconstateerd, waaraan ze overleed op 20 mei 2004.

Calvin Culver aka Casey Donovan in Score

Casey Donovan werd geboren op 2 november 1943. Korte tijd was hij werkzaam als leraar en goedbetaald fotomodel. In 1971 vestigde hij zijn naam als gay icoon door zijn rol in Boys in the Sand van regisseur Wakefield Poole. Daarna probeerde hij door te breken als main stream acteur, maar daarin slaagde hij niet. Wel speelde hij rollen met veel tekst in onder andere Score van Radley Metzger. Hij was later ook te zien in Metzgers heteropornofilm The Opening of Misty Beethoven. Tot in de jaren tachtig was hij wel succesvol als homopornoster. Hij bleef ook op het toneel actief, had een bed and breakfast Casa Donovan, was gay celebrity tour guide en schreef vanaf 1982 de column Ask Casey voor het gayblad Stallion magazine. In 1985 bleek hij HIV positief. Casey overleed op 10 augustus 1987 op 43-jarige leeftijd aan aids.

De film die Casey Donovan wereldberoemd maakte

Lynn Lowry, 1973

Lynn Lowry werd geboren als Linda Kay Lowry in East St. Louis, Illinois op 15 oktober 1947. Ze was voor het eerst te zien in I Drink Your Blood in 1970. Ze speelde ook in George A. Romero's The Crazies in 1973 en David Cronenberg's Shivers in 1974. Daarna speelde ze in onder meer de soap opera How to Survive a Marriage. Begin jaren tachtig verhuisde ze naar Los Angeles, waar ze als jazz zangeres aan de slag ging en zingen doet ze anno 2014 nog altijd.

Lynn Lowry, 2014

Regisseur

Radley Metzger

Radley Metzger werd geboren op 21 januari 1929 in de VS. Hij startte zijn carrière als film editor. Hij begon al snel met het maken van pornofilms met klasse. Radley Metzger maakte voor en na Score "sophisticated, literate and lavishly stylized erotic films". Onder het pseudoniem Henry Paris regisseerde hij enkel zeer expliciete pornofilms waaronder The Opening of Misty Beethoven (1975) en The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann (1975). Hij gaf en geeft zelden interviews, maar in 2010 maakte hij een uitzondering. Het hier te beluisteren 20 minuten en 6 seconden durende interview gaat over Score.

Recensies uit de IMDb

Een greep van de vele recensies op de IMDb laat er geen twijfel over bestaan dat Score een film is die je gezien moet hebben in zijn genre!

weho90069 from United States op 11 februari 2003: (...) Sure, the bi-sexual theme still doesn't resonate well with a lot of folks and maybe that's part of the enduring charm of "Score". Non-traditional sex identities remain today a troubling and disconcerting taboo (particularly for men). It's sad that given as much progress as we've made culturally and scientifically, there are religion-bound folks out there still not willing to admit that *honest* human sexuality is rarely polarized (as hetero- or homo-) without *some* shades-of-gray... Because of this eternal angst, the uncensored version of "Score" is great for group showings. You'll watch with glee as your friends squirm as the last act goes into explicit high- gear. By the same token, of the ultimate strengths of "Score" is that it boldly and unabashedly plunges into territory that has been for decades-on-end commercial suicide. "Score" straddles the world of porn on the one side with more serious entertainment on the other. Even now, this unfamiliar mix of genres seems refreshing; the past three decades have given us plenty of porn and plenty of mainstream entertainment, but very little that really dares to push the envelope the way "Score" did, combining the two extremes. Other groundbreaking movies of the 1970s like "The Story of O" and "Emmanuelle" also accomplished this (and disasters like "Wild Orchid" promised to, but didn't)."

Patguy op 5 januari 2001: ""Score" is more or less a period piece now, filmed as it was in that post-sexual liberation/pre-AIDS window when it seemed that sexual, political and aesthetic freedom were essentially linked. The film is a manifesto for sexual liberation purely, brushing only briefly by sexuality's darker aspects (the somewhat creepy Mike, and a certain core hollowness in Elvira and Jack's marriage). The characters are psychologically simplistic (Betsy's nun fixation, Eddie's glaringly obvious repressed homosexuality), but--important in a film of this type--extremely likeable. Claire Wilbur and Gerald Grant are particularly good in their roles.All of this is wrapped up in good-natured sex and spot-on stoned dialogue. Even the music's entertaining-- particularly the early-Rolling Stones ripoff that functions as a recurring motif and perhaps as well the goofy thematic heart of the film. The trailer for "Score" recommends, "Watch it with someone you want to excite!" Well, it might not be as libidinally exciting now as it was thirty years ago, but it's still fun, and sweet, and highly recommended." 

Boggman from Laguna Hills, CA op 10 juni 2005: "This movie is a trip! (...) This movie was WAY ahead of it's time when it was first released in 1973. Score features some great erotic scenes, and is filled with plenty of nudity and drug references. The lead actress (Claire Wilbur) is marvelous in her role as Elvira, the swinging married seductress. Lynn Lowry is quite convincing in her role as an innocent newly wed catholic school girl turned wild sexpot! All in all, this movie is great fun to watch! Not really a movie to sit and watch with your friends (unless there extremely open minded), this movie should be viewed alone or with that special someone. (...) Definitely recommended......just not for everyone."

lazarillo from Denver, Colorado and Santiago, Chile op 8 juli 2006: "This is a pretty good movie but I'm not exactly sure who it was aimed at. Straight guys that want to see the gorgeous Lynn Lowry in hot, sapphic action might be tempted to watch it, but they will no doubt be left pretty jarred by the way Metzger intercuts the gay and lesbian sex scenes at the end. I would think the (in some versions hardcore)gay footage might ruin the mood a little for heterosexuals. (...) Gays, on the other hand, probably won't relate too much to a movie about swinging married couples, although they will no doubt find it pretty funny how obviously gay the two "husbands" in this movie are to begin with (especially Lowry's husband played by gay porno actor Casey Donovan). That leaves swinging bisexual types like the characters in the film (although I imagine those kind of people don't have too much time to watch movies)and weirdos like me who don't really watch sex movies for the sex (and there can't be too many of us around). (...) hether you're turned on by the action or not, at least you're not crying over the wasted celluloid or cringing at the cheesy music and atrocious acting and dialogue. The acting here is also excellent, especially Lowry, Wilbur, and Gerald Grant--Donovan is good too but a little stiff (no pun intended). I'm not exactly sure who I'd recommend this TO, but I'd definitely recommend it." 

Wayne Malin (wwaayynnee51@hotmail.com) from United States op 7 april 2004: "(...) It was made long before AIDS (and, ironically, one of the actors later died of the disease) so there are no boundaries on what the couples will do and there's no moralizing on what is right or wrong. That's the great thing about the movie-it doesn't judge. I saw this years ago at a film festival and was just astonished. It's hard to explain WHY I liked it but I did. It dealt with sex roles, male and female sexuality, bisexuality in an uninhibited and fun way. As for the sex...there's not much. I saw an uncut version and, to be honest, there wasn't anything very explicit. The sequence between the women was tame and all the two men engaged in was oral. That's really about it. In fact when this came out in 1973 it was a bomb. It was X rated but it wasn't explicit enough for the porno crowd or intelligent enough for the "intellectual" audience. Now it's being realized for how good it is. (...)"

watt1975 from Portland, OR op 28 januari 2004: "This movie is sooooo campy! I'm telling you...the dialogue in this movie is down right funny. When I rented it (and later bought it), I just wanted it cuz it looked really funny. However, it was not only funny, it's extremely erotic  & kinky. I highly suggest this movie to anybody that is looking for a good laugh, very bisexual, and down right horny! This movie is a real shocker! Pure Cult Classic! 10 out of 10."

Karl Self from Yurp op 22 oktober 2008: "(...) The dialogues are brilliant, and the same goes for the actors. They were all unknown to me but quality-wise they're A-list all the way, and can really show off their prowess on a very difficult subject matter. The women are very foxy too (I can't really judge the men in that department). I'm saying all this even though I didn't really like the subject of the movie. I'm not gay or bi, and I don't find the whole swinging philosophy all that attractive, and the movie is really all about swinging and gay sex. But it's a great movie not despite but because of that, because it took me somewhere else. (...)"

kdufre00 from Boston, MA op 28 februari 2000: ""Score" is an amazing cult classic that should be seen by everyone. (...) What I liked about "Score" was the fact that nothing about it ever seemed gratuitous, given the subject matter. The same-sex seduction scenes in the movie were fun and genuinely erotic. I especially loved the oh-so subtle ways the characters would flirt and come on to each other. The fact that the nudity was used very sparingly only added to the erotic tension. The movie literally teases and arouses the viewer from beginning to end. And the love scenes between the two men (Jack and Eddie) and the two women (Elvira and Betsy) were done in beautiful taste. While very elegant and aesthetically pleasing, "Score" never takes itself too seriously. I think anyone could easily be hypnotized by this movie if they give it a chance. It is beautiful." 

William (onnanob66@gmail.com) from Lancaster, Pennsylvania op 10 maart 2002: (...) "Score" is an adult comedy/drama, and the sex scenes are interestingly crafted. The film is full of tacky charms, witty lines, and memorable images. It's a great reflection of the swingin' 70's, and the sexual revolution. I think "Score" deserves repeated viewings." 

holly from NYC op 21 april 2006: "Being a woman, it's hard to find erotic entertainment that doesn't insult my gender or rely on the simple tastes of men (sorry guys, you know it's true). It's also very hard to find erotica where women come out on top, much less their needs even acknowledged. While het-porn is happy to explore girl-on-girl as long as she ends up with a dude at the end, god forbid there's guy-on-guy action for the rest of us to watch. Happily, Metzger is the exception: always presenting strong beautiful women, and adding style and substance along with the erotic bits. And in "Score" he evens the score (pardon the pun) by including vulnerable males, bisexuality, and more. (...) "Score" marks a turning point in Metzger's career from romantic tragedies to a full-on nudie comedy. It's still obviously a Metzger film, set in some unspecified Euro rental, with attractive people and another groovalicious soundtrack, but in "Score" the budget seems to have plummeted. Little or no time is wasted on rehearsing the actors, or dressing the sets with Metzger's signature mod furniture. The overall feeling is chintzy compared to his earlier efforts. The actors spend as much time naked as clothed -- it's not as explicit as today's porn, but it's clear that Metzger has abandoned his high concept orgies and classic 19th-century novels for full frontal nudity and frank sex talk.But I'm not knocking "Score", it is a sparkling example of campy 70's porn. Compared with the icy "Camille 2000" or the pretentious "Lickerish Quartet", "Score" is a tongue-in-cheek party film! I watched it with my favorite gay and we howled with laughter-- more often WITH it than AT it. The hokey dialog is deliberate, and the conversations so over the top it almost lampoons adult movies. (...) The sex is only simulated, but kinky and  fetishistic, and it does not embarrass by being overly graphic or banal. The actors are reflected in sheets of mylar and other psychedelic touches (although Metzger has done better), and the editing inter-cuts between men's and women's bodies mirroring at times their positions and movements. There is a lot of nudity but it is never clinical. Metzger gets creative in the men's sex scenes: an undone belt is grasped as if it were an erection, and other phallus-shaped objects stand in for oral (including an amyl nitrate cartridge -- ooh, it's SO decedent!). Metzger attempts to keep even the straightest guys aroused during the guy- on-guy action with lots of abstract tension and no scary erect penises, meanwhile the women play complex top/bottom roles exchanging rapid fire dialog that draws you into their psychological games. (...) although the production is sad compared to earlier Metzger films, the result is a Trojan horse of a too clever script disguised as a trash-fest. "Score" makes you laugh and holds your attention, delving gleefully into taboos, drugs, and nudity that no "legit" movie could touch."

michellelocke007 from Canada op 17 oktober 2010: "(...) Lynn lowry would later say that during the shoot of the film, Claire Wilbur learned that Lynn was making three times the amount of money she was and for the duration of the shoot, there was tension between the actresses. (...)"

Lynn Lowry, Claire Wilbur

Verder lezen en luisteren

 
Score in Wikipedia

Score in IMDb (Ratings: 6,3/10 from 505 users)  

Casey Donovan in Wikipedia

Claire Wilbur in Wikipedia

Officiële website Lynn Lowry

Lynn Lowry in Wikipedia

Radley Metzger in IMDb

Score podcast interview with Radley Metzger, GreenCine Daily, October 2010

Meer Radley Metzger (Melkweg-serie)

PS: De muzikale score is van de hand van Robert Cornford ;-)

Robert Cornford, 1940-1983