Deep Throat and The Devil In Miss Jones were the two films that that thrust porn into mainstream America. They were called Porno Chic. A lot of books have been written about that era and Deep Throat in particular. But there has never been a book like this.
Georgina Spelvin wasn’t your typical porn actress. She was a little older than most and had done only one film, High Priestess of Sexual Witchcraft, before applying for the catering job on The Devil in Miss Jones. After reading a few lines with the actor, who was to play the Devil’s front man, Gerard Damiano asked her if she would take the role of the lead character, Justine Jones.
She accepted the role figuring who would ever see this film anyway. Well, a lot of us saw that film and it would go down as one of the best ever made. Georgina was living in a commune-like setting at a building in New York know as the Pickle Factory. She was an activist and out to save the world like a lot of us idealistic hippies.
Doing this film was just another way to pay the rent. No one, at that time, knew the impact this film would have. Georgina goes through the whole shoot, day by day, scene by scene, and chronicles it so well that I had to dig out my DMJ DVD for a second look. She tells her impressions of Damiano, her first time meeting Harry Reems, Marc Stevens, and Herman, Marc’s pet boa who actually was in a key scene.
She tells of her roommate/lover Claire, who appeared in the lesbian sequence of the film, and how they separated and reunited again in California. She tells of the premier of the film in Toronto. She seemed shocked when Damiano told her that “your” movie is getting a world premier. She tells about getting busted on a nation wide fugitive warrant. Remember, porn was still illegal in a lot of states Having to go to trial in Memphis. Buying an old school bus and tricking it out to drive cross country, stopping here and there, finally ending up in California. Living in a nudist colony, doing more films, going on the dance circuit, and how her family reacted to her career.
She tell of her descent into alcoholism, how she dealt with it, and how her Mom supported and watched over her before she got into AA. If you’re looking for a sleazy read, you will be disappointed. This is a well written chronicle of a very extraordinary woman who opens up her life story to the reader. Her memory of the DMJ shoot is amazing and she hold nothing back.
Georgina is one of the few stars still left for the Golden Era of Adult Films. I was lucky enough to meet her back in the 90’s when she appeared at a convention that I was involved with. She was a real lady and a genuinely warm person. If you’re a fan of Georgina’s or just a fan of the genre, this is a must read.
42nd Street Pete
Tags: 42nd Street Pete, Georgina Spelvin, The Devil Made Me Do It
