The Travails of June (1976)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Writers:

Genre:

Adult

Plot Keywords:

Hardcore | Sex

Cast

Ursula Austin	...	Inga (uncredited)
Jenny Baxter	...	June Richter/June Finchley (uncredited)
Shaun Costello	...	Willy (uncredited)
Ron Dorfman	...	Arthur Feldhammer (uncredited)
John Leslie	...	Lucky D'Amico (uncredited)
Alan Marlow	...	Ben Crockett (uncredited)
Sharon Mitchell	...	Helga (uncredited)
Paula Morton	...	Girl with Helga and Willy (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Abduction of June (USA) (alternative title)
The Abduction of June (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

59 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:X (self applied)

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Russ Carlson Productions

Trivia:

This film is part of The Avon Dynasty - Shaun Costello Collection DVD box set from Alpha Blue Archives.

Routine Romp Saved by Superior Sex

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

While much of this Shaun Costello film's narrative seems to have been made up on the spot, one elusive element ends up putting it way above many of its director's other quickies : eroticism. Not in your face raunch, mind you, but honest to goodness sensuality emanating from the extreme enthusiasm with which a cast of seasoned performers approach the task at hand. It's true that Costello has made better and more complete movies than this one, even in his low to no budget period (roughly spanning the '70s), but all too few can match it for sheer intensity.

An arrested prostitute, June (Jenny Baxter, who played Gloria Leonard's seemingly naive kid sister in Radley Metzger's MARASCHINO CHERRY), is interviewed in her prison cell by Washington Post journalist Ben Crocker, played by a bearded Alan Marlow (CHERRY HUSTLERS). As she came second in the Miss Rego Park contest, the unfortunate June (whose surname will change twice before movie's end) was abducted by a pair of thugs who'll turn out to be mobster cum nightclub owner Lucky DiMico (John Leslie) and his trusty sidekick Willie (Costello). After they have nurse Helga (Sharon Mitchell) drug and comfort the understandably shaken lass, they take double penetration liberties with her themselves, a scene that might've played as disturbing were it not for Baxter's total wantonness.

As usual, Costello spouts most of the expository dialog, in this case threatening the girl with the uncertain fate of her father whom they're holding captive in his native Warsaw to ensure her complete cooperation. Don't give this story strand too much attention though, it's clear no one else did either. Naturally they want the girl to perform sexually, with a number of influential politicians, setting them up for blackmail. So June and another kidnap victim, Ingrid (Ursula Austin, star of Doris Wishman's sole foray into hardcore territory COME WITH ME, MY LOVE), duly take care of state official Arthur Felthammer, played by the ubiquitous Ron Dorfman (a/k/a "Arthur Ben"), the balding bearded guy who was the father in SUMMER OF SUZANNE, in a scalding bathroom threesome. Back in jail, Ben is so moved by June's sorry tale that he offers to go undercover in order to expose her wrongdoers. Customary to the genre, the lady immediately thanks him by getting down on her knees.

The film's hottest sex occurs at Lucky's none too thriving night spot. Ingrid may have the more spectacular idea of servicing Lucky and Willie at both ends, but it's Helga's thorough working over of Ben that'll leave you gasping for air. Mitch was such a mainstay at the performing end of this business for nearly a quarter of a century that one tends to take her for granted. The deeply felt enjoyment she displays here is a pleasure bordering on privilege to behold. She very nearly matches this bit in a bathroom three-way with Costello and little-seen Paula Morton, fondly remembered by yours truly as one of the underworld nymphs in Chuck Vincent's artsy VISIONS. Plotwise, the bad guys bite the dust as June and Ben waltz off into the sunset.