The Last American Virgin Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Boaz Davidson
USA 1982

This early sex comedy - actually remake of director Boaz Davidson's own pre-Cannon Golan/Globus 1978 Israeli sex comedy LEMON POPSICLE (which itself spawned eight sequels) - hits most of the familiar notes of the genre: spying on the girl's lockerroom, fat guy nudity, fumbling with bra straps, hangovers, experienced older women, being caught in compromising positions by parents, as well as the protagonist ignoring other readily available and willing women (including NEW YEAR'S EVIL's Louisa Moritz as a Latin cougar) in favor of his intended and then various comic (and some less so) contrivances that prevent him when he actually does try to lose his virginity with someone else. One of the more common conventions of the teenage sex comedy is the karmic comeuppance of the "bad guy" whether the popular jock or the repressive (sometimes hypocritical) authority figure; however, in a film where the underdog (FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER's Lawrence Monoson) is such a petulant creep, it seems as if the girl who doesn't pick him (AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION's Diane Franklin) - who doesn't reject him spectacularly, she's just not into him and never appears to be "leading him on" - is the one who suffers the consequences. The ending is more realistic than most teenage sex comedies, but only bittersweet if you relate with the protagonist. Despite that, however, it's an entertaining flick that delivers the T&A (plus a helping of drugs and STD's).

The memorable soundtrack features an impressive line-up (Tommy Tutone, The Police [although one of their most annoying songs], U2, The Cars, Journey, The Commodores, The Human League, and Oingo Boingo), but it is employed in a rather heavy-handed manner: the "my best wasn't good enough" part of Quincey Jones' "Just Once" under Gary's disillusionment, The Waitresses' "I Know What Boys Like" over the attempted seductions of the three girls at Gary's house, Devo's horrid "Whip It" over the measuring scene, as well as K.C. and the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way I Like It" over the sex scene with Carmela. The cinematography of Adam Greenberg (who also shot Davidson's LEMON POPSICLE as well as several Golan/Globus productions) features some striking night scenes comparable to his work from this period on NEAR DARK and THE TERMINATOR. Steve Antin (THE GOONIES), Brian Peck (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD), and Kimmy Robertson (TV's TWIN PEAKS) also stars.

Eric Cotenas

Poster

Theatrical Release: 30 July 1982 (USA)

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Comparison:

MGM Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Arrow Video - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas and Gary Tooze for the Screen Caps!

(MGM Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Arrow Video - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT)

Box Covers
Distribution	MGM Home Entertainment Region 1 - NTSC	Arrow Video Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:32:51	1:33:06.581
Video	1.81:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.7 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 46,801,295,920 bytes Feature: 26,872,993,728 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 35.00 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: MGM Home Entertainment
Bitrate: Arrow Video Blu-ray
Audio	English Dolby Digital 2.0 surround	LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish, none	English SDH, none
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Home Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.81:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 1:55) • Fullscreen Version on Side B DVD Release Date: 12 August 2003 Amaray Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Arrow Video Aspect Ratio: 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 46,801,295,920 bytes Feature: 26,872,993,728 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 35.00 Mbps Edition Details: • Optional Isolated Music & Effects track • Brand new interview with director Boaz Davidson (36:06) • Brand new interviews with stars Lawrence Monoson (26:07) and Diane Franklin (20:59) • Brand new interview with cinematographer Adam Greenberg (21:10) • Original Trailer (1:55) • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Red Dress • Collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic and publisher Robin Bougie and an interview with The Last American Virgin super fan Eli Roth conducted by Calum Waddell, illustrated with original archive stills and posters Blu-ray Release Date: September 16th, 2013 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters 12

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - September 13': Arrow's 1080P advances in the expected areas over the 2003 DVD. Detail tightens and skin tones cool on the new Blu-ray. Depending on your system - it's not overwhelming but there is definite improvements. Contrast is stronger, the visuals are brighter and the outdoor (pool) scenes are obviously superior.

Loss audio via a linear PCM and there are optional English subtitles on the region B-locked Blu-ray disc.

Extras consistent of a number of Robert Fischer's Fiction Factory interviews including 36-minutes with director Boaz Davidson, 26-minutes with actors Lawrence Monoson (Gary) and Diane Franklin (Karen) plus a new 20-minute new interview with cinematographer Adam Greenberg. There is an original trailer and is packed in a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Red Dress. The case contains a liner notes booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic and publisher Robin Bougie and an interview with The Last American Virgin super fan Eli Roth conducted by Calum Waddell, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.

Certainly not my type of film but I had some amusing nostalgia while viewing. The Last American Virgin is similar to many of these teen coming-of-age comedies from the early-mid (see the superior Fast Times at Ridgement High). It's nice to see Arrow add the supplements and this certainly adds value.

-Gary Tooze

Menus

MGM Home Entertainment - Region 1 - NTSC