Reviews & Ratings for
Sister Dearest More at IMDbPro »

11 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
The legend of Traci Lords., 25 August 1999

Author: Hermit C-2 from Marietta, GA, USA

Even though it has only a handful of votes, 'Sister Dearest' may have the highest user rating of all movies in the IMDb. Why? Well, it's got a great cast, exciting action, a made-for-porn story (sexual initiation into a college fraternity), higher than normal production values, a decent script and even some passable acting. But of course, the main thing it has going for it is Traci Lords.

Or to be more precise, it HAD Traci Lords. As everyone must know, Traci was too young to vote when she made this film, and consequently it was pulled from commercial distribution forever. Her deception turned the industry on its ear and made lots of trouble for thousands of people who took it on good faith that she was over eighteen. Anyone who ever saw her work can understand how she fooled everyone, and without being too graphic, Traci looked and performed at her peak in this film. Her rise in popularity was almost as quick as her fall, and it was deserved.

The large body of work she put out in 1984 and '85 belies a couple of assertions she's maintained since she went "legit." One is that she made very few adult films and they were frequently repackaged and sold as something new when they were not. The other is that she was in a drugged haze most of the time she was making these movies. That may be a convenient memory for her but virtually all accounts from her contemporaries refute this. She showed up for work on time and conducted her business affairs in a sober, serious manner.

The movie was recut without Traci and re-released after the revelation about her age. Christy Canyon is listed as among the cast by the IMDb. If she is then her footage must have been added to the recut version, because she certainly wasn't in the original, though such stars as Ginger Lynn, Crystal Breeze, Susan Hart and Lois Ayers (as Sondra Stillman) are to be found.

9 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
At LAST! The real reel thing!, 17 April 2004

Author: jack-260 from Honolulu, Hawaii

I have seen the original.

It's a much better tale (having a plot, even) with the original cast. It just flows more smoothly and developments make sense as they occur. Lords and Byron really do click together in that final scene. The added spice of incest doesn't hurt.

I feel fully justified in raising my previous 5 rating to a hearty 9.

And, really...I would encourage IMDb to grant the film "Back to Class" its own spot separate from, though related to, this classic gem.

2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Great film - if you see it uncut, 8 June 2011
Author: redace69 from United Kingdom

This is a lost classic of its type, from the Golden Age of Adult Cinema. It has a credible and enjoyable story and some decent acting, especially from Tracy Lords. You actually care about the characters and want to see how the story resolves itself.

Most people will never see it properly though as Tracy Lords was 16 when she made it. This is a major pity as she has gone on to prove on numerous occasions that she really can act.

If you can only dig out the heavily cut version (Back To Class) I would strongly suggest that you don't bother; without Tracy and hacked to pieces its not worth your time.

3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Destroyed Classic, 24 October 2004

Author: ex-pornstar

Produced in the middle of Traci Lords' underage porn years, generations of genre mavins have and will continue to be cheated out of viewing one great period selection. It had a plot, a decent story, good acting (including surprisingly acceptable acting from Traci), humor, and beautiful performers.

Traci was at her peak during this time too. Another thing many don't realize is that this film was exceedingly popular with women. Not that they went out to see or buy it, but those who did view it generally enjoyed it a lot.

I never saw the recut version of this or any of the other repackaged Traci films and videos. So I cannot comment on them. Perhaps this didn't turn out too bad. But I really doubt it.

5 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
I wish! What I saw was "Back To Class", 15 December 2000

Author: jack-260 from Honolulu, Hawaii

I feel not quite right giving a 5 rating to the movie "Sister Dearest", but that's what's available. Really, "Back To Class" should have its own entry in IMDb. Lack of continuity is what did the film in for me, but maybe that's what cutting Traci Lords' scenes did. There were some exciting scenes left, but the whole seemed haphazardly put together.

I feel somewhat deprived at never having seen the original, but there is a sequel ("Back To Class 2", 1988 I think). The production values are much higher so it's a better viewing experience...a 7 at least.

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
a BIG thing happened, 7 May 2012

Author: delphiaa from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

'Sister Dearest' is a reminder that something happened to porn in the 1980s. And it wasn't Traci Lords and the scandal she brought later. Like other titles from Fours Rivers Production-Dreamland Home Video, the acting's decent, and the story's good enough to convince the audience. A long way before porn just parodied mainstream films, and made a beeline to the screwing.

Tom Byron sports a suit and mustache as Randy. It's 1988 and he returns to his old fraternity and sees a nude photo of his sister Vicky. Flash back to his 1st day 14 years ago. His dad wants him to get along with Vicky (Traci Lords). At the same Gamma Nu Fall Mixer party as her, Randy meets Harvey "Dante" Singleton (Herschel), leader of Gamma Nu. ("Gamma Nu sausages, you can't beat our meat.") Vicky dances with her boyfriend Little Ray (Marc Wallice) before they decide to have sex, and she decides to get a drink first. Like in real life Kristie… um Vicky is an eye catcher, and some other guy in the kitchen (Greg Rome) has ideas. He heard she took on 3 guys on a pool table last week, and he wants some of her. After..resisting…which lasted seconds, she kisses him and go to Gil Turner's (Peter North) room. Randy walks in on his sister and her sex buddy.

Gil meets Randy the next day, and they spy on women until Gil gets a f-u sign from Sahara. Gil meets her. She hates frat guys but she warms to his honesty about wanting to get in her panties. She works him in the mood and they do it. Randy and three other pledges to the Gamma Nu fraternity. They've got to get laid in two weeks or face the dreaded Black Hole. Herschel wears a football helmet for most of the film ("the helmet hides the scars of the black hole"), save for his scene with Ginger Lynn's. He's her mysterious new spiritual boyfriend who runs a tattoo parlor.

Randy eyes Shelly (Susan Hart), an art student. He asks her out for coffee but she has plans with her Professor (Harry Reems). Vicky sees this and reacts. "That little bitch!" Ginger Lynn's T.J. character asks "What's the matter with you?" "Randy's just so naïve, girls can take advantage of him." TJ's feels something: "Sound a little jealous." "Yeah right…"Vicky says. Maybe not jealousy, something else The title must mean something after all.

Shelly pose nude for her Professor, then do him. Randy finds out and gets hurt. Reems is no stud. He's a heat killer like Ron Jeremy. Gil tries to hook up Randy with Cheryl but she went pro. Another woman said Gil gave her crabs. Time's up. Randy faces the black hole. But Dante gives says it doesn't have to happen if Vicky goes out with him. Randy refuses. He's led to that scary place with candles and frat guys chants and body paint. Its just two women (Lois Ayres and Crystal Breeze) getting it on! Randy's suppose to join them but he sneaks away. The next day he gets ready to leave until Vicky sees him and makes a pass. She wants her brother to relax and be comfortable around girls. Despite the tension, they've always had things in common, like their desires. "Just because you hide yours doesn't mean you don't have them" she tells Randy. She asks for a dance, and so convincingly says, "I want you to touch me"…People know better to suspend belief that two siblings are getting intimate. It's a great scene, but suffers like the rest because it's edited too short.

Back to the present….Randy looks at the picture "What do you think sir? Did you know her?" The guy asked. Randy said, "In a way." Uh-huh. Lots knew Traci that way. Could have avoided tons of trouble had they known Nora.

This was a great movie, even back then. It happens to feature people having real sex. Traci quickly became a big enough porn star to appear in quality work back then. A well enough actress on and off-camera. A reminder that some performers aimed for Hollywood but end up in porn. Traci had it the other way. Read that Herschel wants to make it in the mainstream. Go Savage!

What makes this Traci Lords special, 22 September 2011
Author: wvisser-leusden from Netherlands

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Among Traci Lords' many porn-movies from the mid-19eighties, 'Sister dearest' takes a special place.

Almost drowned by the usual abundance of sex, lust & nudity, 'Sister dearest's key-topic surprisingly shines with a non-sexual issue: the genuine love from a sister towards her brother.

Almost drowned, I said. With her convincing sister-performance Traci Lords manages to pierce the surface. Thus breaking the boredom that inevitably sets in when looking at porn.

The brother is performed by Tom Byron. Although not an actor at all, his angel-face serves to create a virgin young man.

Needless to say that Lords and Byron end up in bed together. Naked. But not after it has been made clear that de-virginizing the boy is an act of sisterly love.

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