 |
| A lad and lass get to know each other in Nightclub Rendezvous. |
Just prior to the launch of the Swedish Erotica loops in the early 1970s, adult movie honcho Noel Bloom produced a number of X-rated loops under the Danish International Films imprint. These short erotic films were among the first of their kind to be subtitled. This is significant, since I believe that Edward D. Wood, Jr. penned some or all of these subtitles and provided similar services for other loop series.
Although Swedish Erotica would ultimately become his company's primary loop series, Noel Bloom continued to push the Danish angle throughout the decade. In 1975, just a few years after Danish International Films, Bloom et al. launched the Danish Films series. An early title in this franchise, Nightclub Rendezvous, was not only subtitled, but was also featured in issue two of Danish Films magazine. (There seems to have only been two issues of this publication.) The Danish films loops are strikingly similar to the Swedish Erotica loops—running concurrently and seemingly made by the same creative principles.
BONUS: Also check out the Ed-itorial for Danish Films #2.
Interestingly, Nightclub Rendezvous—labeled #1006 and designated the sixth entry in the Danish Films franchise—opens with the same "logo" as some of the earlier Danish International Films: a young lady licking a large swirled lollipop as she enticingly looks back over her shoulder at us.
From the text in the magazine, we learn that the male and female protagonists are named Larry and Billie. In the loop itself, the only other character, a bartender, is referred to as Duffy.
We open at a bar. Duffy is played by none other than Keith Erickson, who appeared in the Swedish Erotica series for the first time three or four years prior in loop #8, Girl on a Bike. A prolific West Coast performer, Keith (not his real name) also had a SAG card and aspired to the mainstream. He was a decent actor, and his non-sex appearance here is among his last credits in a porn film
The subtitles for Nightclub Rendezvous are yellow, but the font is consistent with earlier subtitled loops. The credits—production and direction credited to Don A. Sweet and M.P. Ronaldo—are also consistent with the credits of Bloom-related loops in numerous series circa 1976. Bob Vosse, a Golden Age director of note, is credited as having shot for Swedish Erotica, and he could very well be Don A. Sweet.
For the record, here is a transcription of the subtitles:
Larry: BOTTOMS UP.
Duffy: YOU LOOKING FOR SOME ACTION?
Duffy: LET ME MAKE A CALL.
Duffy: YOU WILL LIKE THIS ONE.
Billie (in bed, answering Duffy's call): HELLO.
Billie: HI DUFFY. YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR ME.
Billie: GREAT! I HOPE HE IS YOUNG AND GOOD-LOOKING.
Duffy: HEY, HERE IS THE ADDRESS.
Duffy: YOU TURN RIGHT ON THE CORNER AND YOU CAN'T MISS IT.
Larry: THANKS A LOT.
Billie: OH, THAT PHONE CALL TURNED ME ON
Billie (masturbating): AHHH!!!!!!!!
Larry: WELL, HELLO THERE.
Larry: COME IN.
Billie: DO YOU GO TO THAT BAR OFTEN?
Larry: YES.
Billie: I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU THERE.
Billie: DID HE TELL YOU HOW MUCH?
Larry: YES. HERE.
Larry: LET ME HELP YOU.
After forking over a hundred dollar bill, quite pricey in 1976, Larry begins to help Billie undress. The latter half of the loop consists of them having sex, without a single subtitle. It is characteristically well-shot, with a fairly mobile camera. The rendezvous, of course, does not actually happen at the nightclub, but who's quibbling?
That's 20 lines of subtitles, totaling 91 words, for a word per line average of 4.55. That is a bit toward the upper end, and the subs here are quite descriptive and dialogue-driven. Could others besides Ed Wood have also been writing subtitles for Noel Bloom's loops? Perhaps. But, given Ed's certain authorship of the textual "review" in Danish Film magazine #2, it seems likely he was responsible for penning the subs, as well.
And I say "certain authorship" based upon my own analysis. Actual documented proof is and will likely remain elusive. You can check out the text for yourself, and draw your own conclusions.
 |
| Ed may have written this summary of Nightclub Rendezvous. |
BONUS: Also check out the Ed-itorial for Danish Films #2.
 |
| Is this editorial an Ed-itorial? You decide! |