Fleshbot: marilyn chambers

When Marilyn Chambers Was "Insatiable"

Gram Ponante — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:30:01 EST

Heiress and starlet Sandra Chase (Marilyn Chambers) has everything but, as she tells anyone who will listen in "Insatiable," she doesn't have—oh wait. She has everything.

Insatiable 30th Anniversary Edition

Studio: Dynasty
Director: Godfrey Daniels
Starring: Marilyn Chambers, John Holmes, Jesie St. James, Serena, John Leslie, Mike Ranger, Richard Pacheco, Joan Turner

Review by: Gram Ponante

1980's "Insatiable" was a landmark in that it solidified a lack of conflict as an essential porn plotline. Between lounging in stateside mansions, jaunts in her Ferrari, or strolling through London with her aunt (doubtless the family of "Joan Turner" is still puzzling about that one), Chase lets us know that she's fine with her random string of encounters in jacuzzis, on pool tables, by the side of the road, and (of course) in dream sequences.

We learn that after her parents' and sibling's death in a tram accident in Switzerland (I'm not kidding), young Sandra decided to live her life the way she wanted. That's fine, but it seems like she was already doing exactly what she wanted when her dad was alive; in a flashback to the loss of her virginity, she is bent over the pool table by her father's rough and lusty gardener (David Morris).

Not that director Godfrey Daniels (now working as Stu Segall, producer of the Fred Dryer-tastic "Hunter" franchise) coasted; "Insatiable" is a competently shot and well-acted gem from a time that, as Chambers says in a pair of 2005 documentaries included on the generous disc, was "really wonderful."

Chambers is the main attraction of this movie. Athletic and sweet (we see her do a double-take on a box of Ivory Snow), Chambers radiates wholesomeness but just happens to be insatiable. This takes the form, in every instance but one (she picks up a hitchhiker) of things being done to her. Perhaps it is never enough, as the title implies, but she seems outwardly content.

We are also treated to an excellent, utterly unrelated to the movie, and inscrutable theme song, part of which goes:

"Sometimes love ain't nothing but a misunderstandin' between two fools
You gave me all your love love but what did I do? I broke all the rules
As far as I can see
Love's Insatiable to me
Fool me once, shame on you
Fool me twice, shame on me!"

The 30th anniversary edition, released by a well-connected Chatsworth distributor called Dynasty, features two commentaries by Chambers and Gloria Leonard as well as a pair of featurettes documenting Chambers' appearance at Hollywood's Pussycat Theatre in 1980 as well as a 2005 interview.

Chambers, who died early in 2009, was found by her daughter, McKenna, in a trailer in Canyon Country north of Los Angeles. Chambers refers to McKenna several times in the featurettes, saying she was the best thing to happen to her.

Born in Westport, Connecticut, Chambers found early success as a model ("Eileen Ford said I was too fat") in New York before moving to San Francisco. In addition to her Ivory Snow gig ("I was the mother on the box," Chambers says, "and - contrary to popular belief, that is not Brooke Shields as the baby") she played Robert Klein's girlfriend in the Barbra Streisand movie "The Owl and the Pussycat."

It was on a publicity tour for "Pussycat" that she arrived in and fell in love with San Francisco. Chambers hints that modeling work may have been drying up at that point, else she would not have answered an ad from porn kings the Mitchell Brothers in the San Francisco Chronicle.

"The form said, 'Are you comfortable with a balling role?" Chambers said, "and I wanted to believe it said 'a bowling role.'"

That film was "Behind the Green Door" and it made Chambers famous.

"Had I thought about it I wouldn't have done it," Chambers said. "And the look in my parents' eyes when they found out...."

Watching the documentaries with an understanding that Chambers was not happy with her life ("A lot of people are making a lot of money off my name," she says ruefully), and the knowledge that her plans for a series of sex instruction tapes would not come to fruition, it makes the viewer sad for the still-youthful Chambers.

Despite this, "Insatiable" as a document and the extras as a then and now snapshot (Chambers in cutoff jeans and no panties standing on Santa Monica Boulevard in 1980, before AIDS hit the porn world, driving off in a chauffered Bentley) are as compelling and poignant as they are sexy.

I would have liked to see Chambers' instructional videos. As a preview, she said that threesomes with friends were a bad idea. "That's fine and dandy," she said, "but call a hooker."

She also said that it was a woman's job to perfect fellatio.

"It's up to you to learn how to give a blowjob," she said. "Because he won't tell you."

We wish the sadder-but-wiser Chambers were still around.

· Dynasty (dynastygroupdvd.com)
· Marilyn Chambers - Beyond the far door (gramponante.com)
· Buy "Insatiable" (tlavideo.com)

Marilyn Chambers's Last Movie: An All Dog Porno

Lux Alptraum — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:30:01 EDT

Upon the news of Marilyn Chambers's death, we wondered how the legendary pornstar had spent her last few months. Well, now we know: for her final role, Marilyn voiced the lead in an all dog porno.

And we mean dog in the most literal sense: think "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" gone XXX. "Porndogs: The Adventures of Sadie" (currently in post-production) is billing itself as a "mass-market hardcore dog movie;" the tale of a young Labrador who goes into heat for the first time, then runs away to the city to avoid getting spayed (sexual adventures—including dog girl-on-girl—ensue).

And Marilyn's not the only big name included in the cast—Dustin Diamond, Tera Patrick, Evan Seinfeld, and (of course) Ron Jeremy all lend their talents to this tale of a dog fuck dog world.

We're not really sure when (or where) this movie will be screening, but if it happens to appear at a theater near you, please go see it and let us know what you think. We'll be sure to do the same.

· "Porndogs: The Adventures of Sadie" (porndogsthemovie.com)
· "Porndogs: The Adventures of Sadie" (imdb.com)
· Porndogs: A Preview (avn.com)
· Thumbnail: Marilyn Chambers with canine counterpart Sadie (avn.com)

Goodbye, Marilyn Chambers—And Thanks For Everything

Lux Alptraum — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EDT

Earlier today, we received word that Marilyn Chambers—Ivory Soap girl, star of "Behind the Green Door," and the first modern pornstar—passed away. She would have turned 57 this month.

In an age where it's not unusual for a run of the mill porn performer to have a resume including hundreds of titles, it may seem strange to think that a woman with only a few dozen titles under her belt could ever have been considered a major star. But Marilyn came from a different time—and in many ways, it was Marilyn who, with classics like "Behind the Green Door" and "Insatiable," paved the way for the starlets of today.

Though the height of her porn career took place during the 70's and 80's, Marilyn still maintained a connection with the adult industry later in her life, returning in 1998 to shoot "Still Insatiable" with VCA, as well as trying her hand at instructional videos and work on the production side of video.

We are deeply saddened by her death, we are truly grateful for the gifts that she gave the world. In memory of all that was Marilyn, we'll leave you with this clip from "Behind the Green Door."

· Marilyn Chambers, Legendary Adult Actress, Dead at 57 (avn.com)
· Marilyn Chambers Gallery (avn.com)

RIP Marilyn Chambers

Lux Alptraum — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:40:00 EDT

Legendary adult actress Marilyn Chambers has passed away. We'll have a more fitting tribute soon.

Popshots of the Week! Irrational Exuberance Edition

Gram Ponante — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:30:19 EDT

Just when you thought that you'd be Palin/Paylin-less this week, remember that it's the Halloween before a major election. Let's just hypothesize that, in the spirit of this space's inaccurate prediction of the Patriots' chances in the 2008 SuperBowl, that McCain/Palin bucks polls and makes it into the White House next week. What will we do then? Well, we'll have to choose between Lisa Ann and Raquel Devine. (But we'll do it from Canada, of course.)

Is Lisa Ann and Raquel Devine made special effort to channel the Veep nominee, the delightful Alana Evans was just blonde as Cindy McCain. We approve this choice.

Marilyn Chambers meets another magical Amazon in Hollywood last week.

Brand new Digital Playground contract star Angelina Armani^TM looks to the east on Sunset Boulevard. "I'm from New York so I'm just getting used to it out here," she said.

Let's hope this is not the view we get of Obama (played by Steve Driver) on November 4.

Some people might laugh at this ad, but...

Dashiell Bennett — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:32:50 EDT

Some people might laugh at this ad, but Marilyn Chambers would not endorse just any sensual love oil. She's even giving you a personal guarantee of satisfaction and when did Marilyn ever not leave you satisfied? (livejournal.com)

Flesh Flicks Classic: What Was Behind That Green Door?

Dashiell Bennett — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:21:11 EST

Unlike a film student who has never seen "Citizen Kane," you could be forgiven for never having watched one of the classics of golden age 1970's porn: despite being one of the most recognizable porn titles of all time, finding a clean, complete copy of "Behind The Green Door" has never been as simple as it sounds. Plus, as shocking as it may have seemed at the time, viewers who were raised on the hardcore gonzo fare of the last two decades will only be shocked by how tame this legendary film seems by comparison. (Hint: lots and lots of closeups!) We guess 3 X's just doesn't mean what it used to, but any chance to see Marilyn Chambers do her stuff is one that can't be passed up.

. . .

· "Behind The Green Door" (Megarotic)

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Previously: Flesh Flicks Archives

One of the first pornstars who was actually,...

Dashiell Bennett — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:41:05 EDT

One of the first pornstars who was actually, you know ... a star, Marilyn Chambers, is keeping busy with non-porn acting and maybe another run for Vice President. Hey, we could all use something to sex up our ballot next year now that we found out that that "Hot For Hillary" gal isn't really a lesbian. (projo.com)