Bright, colourful, well dressed costume drama of the pornographic kind and not a little corrupt! The emphasis here is on the storyline and costumerie but down and dirty sex certainly raises it's head and the pace gathers considerably towards the end. Being based upon an English tale this has decidedly English preoccupations to the fore, including monied men having their way with young girls, even their own daughters, an emphasis upon virginity and the inevitable intrusion of men of the church. Not particularly sexy but a steady gallop through various set-ups always ensures that attention does not flag. The girls look lovely, including of course Annette Haven, in a minor role and we see the infamous John Holmes once again trying to prove (Barbara Windsor style) that he really is that big. An extraordinary semi consensual scene outside in the countryside where ragged yokel father and son help each other get it on with the pretty heroine. Essential if not particularly titivating with some effective humour too.
3 Reviews
The Simple Joys of Maidenhood
Nodriesrespect5 March 2010
Warning: Spoilers
After expanding their erotic exploits to epic proportions with SODOM AND GOMORRAH, the Mitchell Brothers continued their bid for mainstream acceptance with this lavishly mounted (no pun intended) adaptation of the notorious Victorian novella, like so many of its ilk published anonymously as the 19th century drew to a close. As its literary source dealt with the sexual and moral corruption of a previously pious 14-year old girl, and not wanting to be considered dirty old men (an in-built risk of their chosen profession as pornographers), the Mitchells had the good sense to leave directorial chores to Sharon McNight. A talented Tony Award-nominated torch singer, as her rendition of the cryptic titular standard previously warbled by the likes of Frankie Vaughan, Bill Haley and Crystal Gayle in BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR : THE SEQUEL amply proves, she was a former girlfriend of Jim's who remained a close companion up until his recent death. This female presence at the helm, extremely rare at the time with former sexploitation sirens Ann Perry and "Joanna Williams" the only women dirty movie directors of note, effectively removed the sting of scandal from its subject matter.
As with most lusty literature from its period, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A FLEA provides as much social criticism as it does graphically detailed descriptions of dirty deeds, an aspect not lost on McNight who lifted generous amounts of its florid frivolity off the written page as tongue firmly planted in cheek narration for the little critter, magnificently voiced by "Warren Piece". Nestled in the warm wet nether regions of nearly nubile young Belle, portrayed with credible innocence by Jean Jennings (allegedly under age when she starred in previous year's DEFIANCE for Armand Weston), it observes in a state of constant bemusement the hypocrisy of those she comes quite literally into contact with and how she acquires affluence by adapting to their wicked ways.
Caught in the act with fumbling boyfriend Charlie (Mitch Mandell) by outraged Father Ambrose, played by Paul Thomas in his adult film debut, Belle is summoned to perform penance at the priory the next day. Coaxing the naive girl into carnal concessions with the master's hand of a true lecher, the priest proves but the first in a long line of predators preying on Belle's rapidly receding ignorance. Maidenhead barely sacrificed, she is already pounced upon by PT's fellow friars Ken Scudder and John Holmes. The latter also figures prominently - as he always did ;) - in an amusing midnight mix-up of mistaken identities with the girl's love-starved mother, a youthfully glowing Annette Haven whose teenage years were just behind her even though voice-over claims her character's supposedly 32 !
When Ambrose informs him of Belle's tantalizing transgressions, her satyr of a stepfather (a scene-stealing turn by incomparable character actor Dale Meador, the rapist uncle from the Mitchell Bros. classic RESURRECTION OF EVE) starts chomping at the bit to become her next ravisher. Increasingly well-versed in the ways of the flesh, Belle becomes instrumental in the initiation of her cousin Julia (lovely one shot Joanna Hilden) at the hands of her unwitting widowed father (John Leslie) in a roundabout ruse, concocted by devious Father Ambrose, to insure her prolonged participation at the private parties thrown by the clergy.
Painstakingly detailed in both set and costume design, belying its modest budget clearly well-spent, the movie benefits enormously from Mitchell regular Jon Fontana's sparkling cinematography and the flawless editing which, along with the witty narration, keeps up the pace so essential for such comedy of ill manners. What strikes perhaps as most astonishing of all, at least from a mainstream judgmental point of view, might be the fact that once the wheels of Belle's delectable downfall have been put into motion, the sex becomes virtually non-stop (albeit, granted, not always explicit, as evidenced by a peculiar episode involving retarded rapist father and son farmers John Rolling and Mike Dolan, played for laughs and getting away with it) yet boredom never sets in.
As with most lusty literature from its period, AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A FLEA provides as much social criticism as it does graphically detailed descriptions of dirty deeds, an aspect not lost on McNight who lifted generous amounts of its florid frivolity off the written page as tongue firmly planted in cheek narration for the little critter, magnificently voiced by "Warren Piece". Nestled in the warm wet nether regions of nearly nubile young Belle, portrayed with credible innocence by Jean Jennings (allegedly under age when she starred in previous year's DEFIANCE for Armand Weston), it observes in a state of constant bemusement the hypocrisy of those she comes quite literally into contact with and how she acquires affluence by adapting to their wicked ways.
Caught in the act with fumbling boyfriend Charlie (Mitch Mandell) by outraged Father Ambrose, played by Paul Thomas in his adult film debut, Belle is summoned to perform penance at the priory the next day. Coaxing the naive girl into carnal concessions with the master's hand of a true lecher, the priest proves but the first in a long line of predators preying on Belle's rapidly receding ignorance. Maidenhead barely sacrificed, she is already pounced upon by PT's fellow friars Ken Scudder and John Holmes. The latter also figures prominently - as he always did ;) - in an amusing midnight mix-up of mistaken identities with the girl's love-starved mother, a youthfully glowing Annette Haven whose teenage years were just behind her even though voice-over claims her character's supposedly 32 !
When Ambrose informs him of Belle's tantalizing transgressions, her satyr of a stepfather (a scene-stealing turn by incomparable character actor Dale Meador, the rapist uncle from the Mitchell Bros. classic RESURRECTION OF EVE) starts chomping at the bit to become her next ravisher. Increasingly well-versed in the ways of the flesh, Belle becomes instrumental in the initiation of her cousin Julia (lovely one shot Joanna Hilden) at the hands of her unwitting widowed father (John Leslie) in a roundabout ruse, concocted by devious Father Ambrose, to insure her prolonged participation at the private parties thrown by the clergy.
Painstakingly detailed in both set and costume design, belying its modest budget clearly well-spent, the movie benefits enormously from Mitchell regular Jon Fontana's sparkling cinematography and the flawless editing which, along with the witty narration, keeps up the pace so essential for such comedy of ill manners. What strikes perhaps as most astonishing of all, at least from a mainstream judgmental point of view, might be the fact that once the wheels of Belle's delectable downfall have been put into motion, the sex becomes virtually non-stop (albeit, granted, not always explicit, as evidenced by a peculiar episode involving retarded rapist father and son farmers John Rolling and Mike Dolan, played for laughs and getting away with it) yet boredom never sets in.
Great porn - Contains Spoiler!
pfsullivan-223 May 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Although this could not be made (without script modifications...) today, due to both the girls being described as underage, ({Spoiler, skip to end of parenthesis to skip...} Belle is 14, Julia is 16...) (not Kiddie porn, because both ACTRESSES were over 18...) this is, in my opinion, the Mitchell Brother's best feature film, and the only M.B. film I've seen (note: I haven't seen ALL of them) that doesn't involve an orgy - and usually in a M.B. orgy, the plot suffers... (in Behind the Green Door, the plot stops dead for the 15-30 minute orgy! {depending on how you time that orgy...})
Great acting from both Jean Jennings and Joanna Hilden as Belle and Julia (respectively) and Annete Haven does her usual good job in a fairly small role (one sex scene) as Mme. Verboc. The male cast does a decent job, although John Holmes as Fr. Clement is not-too-good. (compared to the other actors, at least)
Great acting from both Jean Jennings and Joanna Hilden as Belle and Julia (respectively) and Annete Haven does her usual good job in a fairly small role (one sex scene) as Mme. Verboc. The male cast does a decent job, although John Holmes as Fr. Clement is not-too-good. (compared to the other actors, at least)
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