Sex by Advertisement Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Sex by Advertisement Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker May 1, 2025

Shot in four days with a cast consisting of friends, neighbors, nude models, and more notably, Jennifer Welles and Georgina Spelvin (appearing here as Shelley Ables) both fresh off the completion of Career Bed and some number of years before the two women would go on to feature in adult films. This film lacks a cohesive story, if you will, save for the quickly shot narration provided by Spelvin's Dr. Joanne Richfield as she attempts to bring public awareness to a variety of unsavory behaviors and sex-related scams that can be found in coded advertisements in certain publications that are only easily interpreted by those in the know.

What plays out in between her various scenes and voice-overs is essentially a series of rough loops with hastily contrived scenes of unusual behavior, some more realistic than others, and all playing out without the benefit of any sort of audio track. The silence is typically only broken by Spelvin's voice-overs, or those of one of a handful of others. None of the scenes are especially titillating, contrary to the expectation of the material that one would expect to be found in a film with such a provocative title, and all stay decidedly within the confines of softcore material. The loops run the gamut between oddly innocently charming, disturbing, and just plain odd. Clumsily edited, few scenes feel precisely professional while most are either choppy or overlong. The overall feel of the film borders more on the amateurish, which is in stark contrast to the much more professional (by comparison) Career Bed that preceded it.

Sex by Advertisement Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Shot on 35mm and scanned in 4K from the original camera negative, as with Career Bed, 1968's Sex by Advertisement looks remarkable considering its age and low-budget origins. Blacks are deep and inky, helping to add richer depth and dimensionality to a great many scenes. Fine grain is present and typically resolves naturally, but there are a few instances where grain can be a bit noisy, and the image can approach softness in some location shots. Fine detail is typically quite pleasing, with facial particulars and women's hairstyles yielding pleasing amounts of information. Most interiors were shot in apartments and offices of people in Reed's life and orbit at the time, and these authentic locations allow for a surprising amount of inspection, particularly bathroom tilework, cluttered desks, and overstuffed bookcases. Generally speaking, the print is free from damage or defect, save for the odd density fluctuation and the occasionally visible white speck. It's a great transfer.

Sex by Advertisement Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sonically, Sex by Advertisement is a strange experience. The loops, which comprise the bulk of the film's runtime, were shot without sound, so many portions unspool in complete silence. Narration, primarily Spelvin's, will periodically break the silence, and her authoritative voice is usually clear and intelligible. Sometimes, however, it can come off sounding a bit muffled or muted. Sound effects, such as splattering mud, which most filmmakers would have added in post are blatantly ignored. The prolonged S & M scene is, in my opinion, the one that suffers most as a result of its silent filming. To add life to the scene, Reed adds an audio loop that features moans, laughter, and barking dogs(?!). It may have gone unnoticed were it not for one woman's extremely distinctive laugh that comes around again and again. And again and again. It's an odd choice that makes a weird scene all the more strange. Per the included notes, what is heard here is sourced from the original optical track, and while it sounds good for what it is, it certainly aims low and is serviceable but never impressive.

Sex by Advertisement Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sex by Advertisement's sole on-disc supplemental feature is an audio commentary from author John Szpunar. He once again provides an enthusiastic track for this unusual film, with facts and trivia flowing freely from the start of the opening credits as he provides comments about a great many of those working in front of and behind the camera. He discusses the future adult star Gerogina Spelvin to a fair degree, and shares that the project was written in two days and shot in just four. He's quick to point out the numerous times Reed appears on screen and never hesitates to draw attention to and revel in the frequently ridiculous nature of the film, but never in a mean-spirited way, mind you. There is also a 40-page perfect-bound book containing pertinent excerpts from the book "Blood Sucking Freaks - the Life and Films of the Incredible Joel M. Reed" written by John Szpunar which is entitled "Career First". The text includes comments from interviews with Reed, collaborator Vernon Becker, and director Joe Sarno. The film's history is discussed, and numerous stills from the film are also featured.

Sex by Advertisement Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

More interesting as a curiosity than an actual film, Sex by Advertisement doesn't exactly deliver on what it advertises and feels like a step backward from the more interesting and promising Career Bed. Taken for what it is, viewers will appreciate the looks at New York City in the late 1960s, and their fans will no doubt enjoy early appearances of adult actors Jennifer Welles and Georgina Spelvin. While the audio track is faithful but lackluster, the 1080p image on display here is the real treat, with the film looking significantly better than its low-budget roots would normally promise.