The Stewardesses (1969/Shout! Factory DVD/3-D & 2-D Uncut (X-Rated) Versions)
Picture: B-
Sound: C+ Extras: B- Film: B-
Before explicit XXX fare became standard, certain films
were pushing more and more to show more adult situations and that began with
movements like “nature
films” and films about the science of sex.
Then some films took advantage of the increased freedom of the
counterculture and sexual revolution movements and pushed the envelope even
further. This included Alf Silliman Jr.’s
classic The Stewardesses (1969)
which added the novelty of 3-D to the fun (and funny) story of female flight
attendants who love to travel and have sex everywhere they go.
Though
not as graphic as later films like Deep
Throat and the new cycle of hardcore films that would soon be replaced by
Beta and VHS tapes, the film has a thin storyline, but it is better than many
of the later films more preoccupied with its new found graphicness than
anything else by default and this is still sexually graphic enough that the
ratings board today would easily give it an NC-17 much the way MTV will still
not play the uncut version of the classic Duran Duran Music Video for Girls On Film.
Of
course, it is also a campy, unintentionally funny film that includes a drug trip
and other wacky storyline twists that have to be seen to be believed. Some of the sex scenes work better than
others, but everything here is enhanced by the 3-D effects which work well
enough and can be fun. And remember,
when the women have old haircuts, the sex parts will be better. Take that Internet porn!
The 1.33
X 1 full frame image is available in full color 2-D and two types of 3-D:
color and even black and white in case the color is not working for the
viewer. As we have encountered with some
other older 3-D films, the 3-D makes the films look less aged and shows less
grain and flaws from their prints. The
makers included black and white which works, but I still liked the color
version a bit more. Originally, they
produced 35mm prints that tried to include two separate versions of the image
to make it 3-D, but that was never as effective as running two separate
interlocked strips the old systems used.
What both DVDs failed to note is that it became one of
only two 1.33 x 1 3-D films ever to be issued in 70mm prints so you could put
the two full-sized frames next to each other without worrying about two strips
or poor picture quality. It is fair to
say this DVD may be the best the film has looked since those 70mm issues. Though those prints would have six-tracks of
sound available, all versions here are in Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono and sound fine
for their age, but I wonder how the 70mm prints filled those tracks.
Extras include two pairs of 3-D glasses included in the
DVD case, cast/crew interviews, 3-D outtakes, 3-D screen tests, 1981 SCTV skit spoofing the film and three
featurettes: A Short History Of 3-D, The Stewardesses: How It Was Shot &
Shown and How The Stewardesses Took
Off.
- Nicholas Sheffo
