Candy Stripers Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Candy Stripers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 7, 2026

The reality of medical care is fairly dire, but in the fantasy world of 1978’s “Candy Stripers,” there’s nothing wilder than a shift at the local hospital. Screenwriter Dean Rogers is out to have some fun with a medical center setting, playing around with various employees and patients as they tend to their carnal desires instead of focusing on their physical pain. Director Bob Chinn tries to keep things rolling along in the picture, which doesn’t really care for plot, preferring more of a random viewing experience with insatiable people trying to get through the day, doing what they can to avoid the mundane demands of health care in this comedic take on hospital antics and lustful encounters.

It’s a new day at a California hospital, and it’s also the last shift for Sharon (Nancy Hoffman), who’s about to leave the Candy Stripers nurse volunteer program, aiming to exit with a blow-out party at the end of the day. Nurse Sarge (Sharon Thorpe) is in charge of the women, and she doesn’t have much patience for their shenanigans, looking to keep a close eye on Sharon, Pam (Amber Hunt), and Cindy (Chris Cassidy) as they begin their rounds, visiting all kinds of people who need medical help. As the countdown to the celebration begins, Sharon isn’t willing to wait for fun, taking time to get intimate with the staff and patients, joined by her fellow Candy Stripers as they get involved in special care for those who require extra attention.

While Sharon is labeled as the wild one, Cindy is the first character we meet in “Candy Stripers.” She’s involved with Dr. George (Joey Silvera), taking a phone call during their bedroom session, doing a surprisingly good job managing communication responsibilities as she handles two people who want her attention. Cindy eventually heads off to work, where Sarge is in command, offering no patience with Candy Striper shenanigans, and she’s not exactly sad to see Sharon go, working to maintain control over three slightly out of control young women. “Candy Stripers” has the countdown clock to the main party, which is the social event of the year, but it’s not invested in creating subplots and dramatic challenges. Instead, the movie deals with patient and staff interactions, as the long shift needs filling, along with characters as they submit to their eagerness to please.

“Candy Stripers” roams from room to room, putting the women to work bringing candy wagons around to help alleviate boredom. One patient has a broken arm, losing his ability to easily self-pleasure, allowing one of the Candy Stripers to help with his issue after secretly handing him an adult book to enjoy. Laura (Phaedra Grant) is looking forward to leaving the hospital, but not before a bouquet of bananas is sent to her by an admirer, and this fruit isn’t for eating, let me tell you. Frank (Paul Thomas) is also hanging around, waiting for care, joined by Kitty (Eileen Welles), who hopes to help with his sexual needs, and Sharon soon adds herself to the hospital bed party. The Candy Striper doesn’t stop with patients either, making sure to leave nurses Joan (Lauren Black) and Margaret (Mimi Morgan) with something to remember her by.

Candy Stripers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation for "Candy Stripers" is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative." It's a fresh look at the nearly 50-year-old film, and some elements of age are present, with speckling encountered and very mild frame damage. Detail is strong, exploring the various bodies on display, picking up on graphic skin particulars and fine hairs. Hospital uniforms are fibrous, and the sheerness of lingerie is intact. Set interiors are dimensional, providing a good look at decorative additions. Exteriors are limited, but deep. Color is lively, working with the brightly lit picture. Primaries dominate, including the reds on uniforms and makeup, and hair color is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is nicely resolved.

Candy Stripers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA track offers decently clear dialogue exchanges, following performance choices and carnal response. Scoring shows some signs of age, but remains understood, with defined instrumentation and vocals on soundtrack selections.

Candy Stripers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains writing by "Bob Chinn expert" Patrick Crain.

• "Paging Dr. Chinn" (32:09, HD) is an interview with director Bob Chinn, who struggled to find his footing in Hollywood after graduating from UCLA, getting his start building sets, working his way up the ladder as a cameraman, taking him into the adult film business. In Los Angeles, trouble with the law inspired a move to San Francisco, giving Chinn more opportunities to extend his directorial career, earning the trust of producers. Career adventures are recalled, working with various money men and genres, also getting into business with Pacific Coast Films, which was run by the mafia. Talk turns to "Candy Stripers," exploring relationships with crew members and celebrating tech credits. Casting is highlighted, identifying work ethics and sex drives. The interviewee also analyzes his use of music in his picture, permitted to create an original score for the endeavor. Chinn explains his reaction to the "fisting" scenes in the feature, exposed to a whole new world of sexuality, with these moments eventually cut from the effort during its initial theatrical and video release, restored for this Blu-ray release.

• Audio Interview (76:18) is a conversation with actor Howie Gordon (aka Richard Pacheco).

• "Original Camera Negative Trims" (28:43, HD) provides a look at unused footage from "Candy Stripers," filmed during its August, 1977 shoot.

• "From the Archives: A Look at the Film Elements" (14:23, HD) is an interview with Steven Morowitz, from DistribPix, who shares the story of finding the elements for "Candy Stripers" during a trip to Las Vegas. The interviewee explores the "fisting" controversy surrounding the film, which was cut to keep the feature out of trouble. The restoration effort is tracked, with Morowitz detailing the labor required to bring the movie back to life, and the discovery of "trims and outtakes" is analyzed.

• Audio Excerpt (47:44) offers a reading of "Chapters 1-16" from Howie Gordon's book, "Hindsight: True Love and Mischief in the Golden Age of Porn."

• Image Gallery (4:52) collects poster art, newspaper advertisements, magazine coverage, BTS snaps, and film stills.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Candy Stripers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Even for an adult film, "Candy Stripers" could use a bit more for the characters to do, with the hospital setting open for additional interactions and issues, especially with the staff. However, Chinn is after something incredibly light, and, well, physically surprising as a few carnal events head into a slightly more extreme direction as the characters elect to push entire hands into one another. It can be a wild ride, and performances are were they should be (Thorpe steals the movie as the militaristic Sarge), giving "Candy Stripers" needed personality and adult film emphasis when needed, helping to sustain interest in the episodic nature of the production.