Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Babyface Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 15, 2017

1977’s “Babyface” is an adult film that pulls a bit of a switcheroo with gender roles. The tale of an all-male brothel, the story puts women in positions of power, with director Alex de Renzy trying to acquire a slightly different sense of sexual gamesmanship, turning men into objects while exploring the ferocious bedroom appetites of paying customers simply looking for a warm body to an hour or two. “Babyface” isn’t consistently progressive, prone to period obsessions with sexual assault, but little efforts count in John Mulligan’s screenplay, which strives to make a hot movie turn in unique directions, keeping viewers interested in oddball encounters.

Dan (Dan Roberts) is a dockworker in heaps of trouble after seducing Priscilla (Lyn Cuddles Malone), a sexed up teen looking for a little trouble to upset her uptight mother, Molly (Molly Seagrim). Nearly killed during a police chase, Dan hopes to reinvent himself as a male prostitute working in a brothel that services an exclusively female clientele, joining a stable of studs (including Joey Silvera and Paul Thomas). Initially overwhelmed by the job and its intimidating customers, Dan soon finds himself in deeper trouble when Molly zeroes in on his location, looking for revenge.

“Babyface” teases a non-linear storytelling approach in its first act, jumping around in time as it observes Dan’s entrance to the brothel, learning the lay of the land and what’s expected of him, and Priscilla’s delinquency, first displayed in a classroom where the “teenager” tries to seduce her teacher. It’s a strange approach, but effective, keeping the picture unsettled for a good amount of screentime before Dan’s tale finds its groove. “Babyface” soon embarks on a journey of discovery for Dan and the studs, who encounter a wide range of clients, including a housewife trying to redirect her lust for teen boys and a party girl who requests a great number of partners during a celebratory evening. The movie has fun dreaming up strange personalities and sexual demands, keeping de Renzy busy with a varied cast and speeds of kink, including threat from the “Nutcracker,” a particularly violent customer.

Babyface Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

After searching for suitable elements to bring "Babyface" to Blu-ray, Vinegar Syndrome finally acquired 35mm vault elements. As explained in an introductory card, there's good news and bad news. The good news is the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is outstanding when it comes to detail, delivering ideal clarity to best examine body language and San Francisco locations, providing a dimensional look at the action. Texture on skin and costuming is vivid. Colors are bright and bold, handling primaries with care, and skintones are spot-on. Delineation is accurate. Grain is fine and filmic. The bad news is water damage, with "Reel 5" hit with brief flashes of blotches, while milder scratches and judder appear throughout. The company is apologetic, but there's really nothing distressing about the damage, which is noticeable but hardly a deal breaker. The rest of the presentation is too good to disturb the viewing experience, and it's honorable of Vinegar Syndrome to explain the source situation and the rarity of these 35mm elements.

Babyface Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is also subjected to the aforementioned water damage, with rhythmic pops accompanying the visual blotches. Again, it's not ideal, but doesn't derail the listening event. Pulled from an older source, clarity is acceptable for most dialogue exchanges, but voices tend to sound muddy on occasion. Music is also serviceable, supporting the action with passable instrumentation.

Babyface Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Interview (69:37) with actress Molly Seagrim is a lengthy examination of career and personal interests, with the co-star of "Babyface" discussing how she managed to make her way into the adult film industry, then a thriving force of underground moviemaking in San Francisco. Seagrim has anecdotes to share and time is spent on the "Babyface" production, also recalling efforts to leave her hardcore acting career behind.

• "Parochial Passion Princess" (12:21, HD) is a short film from de Renzy, also touching on jailbait allure and seduction.

Babyface Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Babyface" takes a few unappealing detours, doing its part to make every movie from the 1970s include some form of rape. Thespian efforts are also a bit wobbly at times, with Dan cast more for his height than his range. However, de Renzy maintains liveliness and a degree of the unexpected, sustaining surprise to adult film formula by valuing idiosyncrasy and reworking gender aggression, allowing "Babyface" to be something special. Weird, but special.