P (1974)

(Tagline: After The Story of "O" are you ready for "P" ...It's not everyone's cup of "T" and it's definitely rated "X"!} A dark and weird adult film about a girl and her grandmother trying to make it in the city.

CHARACTERS

• Alisa Canfield (UNK)
• Bradford Morris (UNK) sailor
• Alisa's grandmother (UNK)
• Manny (UNK)
• Irene (UNK) photographer
• Frank (UNK)

RATING: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10

REVIEW:[8/6/21] There's a certain kitschy yet dark vibe that's often just described as being like "John Waters" because there's really no name for it, and it's close to impossible to convey in words. This film was along those lines: it's depressing but not suffocatingly so, as it also has a campy feel to balance it out. I really felt for the Lisa character; the way she just went through her miserable life with a numbness and innocence - extremely compelling. In the eighties and late seventies, you had the Golden Age big-budget pornos. Before that, you had the gross bump and grinds. But in the early seventies you also had oddities like this and Waltz of the Bat (1972), which fall outside both molds, and exist in their own unique space - and I love it. [rating 8/10]

SECOND SPIN: [12/15/24] I wasn't quite as enamored with it's sleazy quirkiness this go around, but it was still an odd ride unlike any movie that would be made today (or even within the last forty years). I wonder if the actress who plays Alisa (also called "Lisa" in this film) has been identified. She was quite a hottie and a compelling screen presence.

SYNOPSIS

The film starts with bus traveling down a grimy, depressing city street. Alisa Canfield and her grandmother get off the bus to meet their uncle and start a new life in the city. [The actress playing Lisa is unknown - but drop dead gorgeous.] Uncle Lucian finally shows up late. He apologizes - saying he lost a battle with a bottle of bourbon. He escorts Lisa and her grandmother to his place. They're introduced to Lucian's roommates - and it becomes clear this is just a house for drunk losers. Grandma goes to sleep. Poor Lisa sits and tries to think what the fuck they're gonna do. One of the drunks spots Lisa in the kitchen. Good ol' grandma fends him off with her umbrella.

Lisa and grandma are now homeless. A sailor named Bradford Morris overhears their plight. Brad is gone at sea a good bit, so offers Lisa and her grandmother his place to stay. They can house-sit while he's away. Lisa rewards Brad for his generosity. But misfortune strikes again when Brad is hit by a car and killed. Barely have they started grieving when the landlord shows up: "I don't want to be seen as rushin' things, but now that Brad's dead, I want to know what your plans are." He informs them that rent is due on Tuesday. Lisa meets Frank down at the docks. Nice guy Frank recommends she go into modeling - he refers her to a connection. At the modeling studio, Lisa is introduced to Irene. Irene tells Lisa that they're not going to pay her for this photo shoot. But, if it looks good, they'll call her back and pay her five times what she needs for rent. Lisa models in the hopes of getting called back for a paying gig. She also dutifully goes along with Irene's gestures to get it on.

But days pass, and Lisa never receives a call back. She searches the classifieds, but no luck. Poor Lisa gets catcalled and mooned by passer by. She meets a big black guy named Manny. Manny tells Lisa he has the perfect job for her. The job is to work for a perverted rich guy he knows. The rich guy tells Lisa he's into some kinky shit. She just has to act out his fantasies and then write about it. He'll pay her handsomely. And so she does. The rich guy masturbates while he watches Manny have sex with Lisa. At the rich guy's request, Manny puts various grocery items in Lisa's vagina. He even puts an egg in there and cracks it. The film ends with the rich guy telling Lisa, "I think you should have a most interesting entry for your journal tonight, my dear. Now remember, I'll expect it on my desk first thing tomorrow morning."