Cry For Cindy (Arrow Productions) Review

Distributor: Arrow Film and Video Edition Details: Standard DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Golden Age Classic (1970s Shot on Film), Feature Film, Drama Run Time: 86 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1976 Director: Sam Weston (as Wendy Lions) Written by: Dean Rogers Director of Photography: Casey Maxwell Cast: Maryanne Fisher, Mitzi Fraser, Spender Travis (as Fred James), Jack Wright (as Mark McGuire), John Leslie (as John Leslie Dupré), Ken Scudder (as Ken Scott), Al Russo, John Seeman (as John Shipley), Turk Lyon (as Robert Magatoney), Robert Norman, Peter Whigham (as Peter White), Jeremy Kaat, Amber Hunt Release Specs: Audio: English Linear PCM 2.0 Mono Subtitles: none Video: Full Frame, 1.33:1 Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1

Cry for Cindy isn't the type of happy-go-lucky adult film that many viewers are used to. Instead, it is a rather depressing story-driven tale of the transformation of hairdresser Anna Deanovich (Amber Hunt) into Cindy a prostitute. When the film opens, we find Cindy, the prostitute, who is depressed with the way her life has turned out. She is working for her pimp Ben (Jack Wright), who lets her live in a nice house, have a nice car, and plane, but is brutal to her and her boyfriend Dennis (Spender Travis) finds out she is a prostitute and leaves her causing Cindy to commit suicide. From there we jump to her funeral, where the mourners present reminisce about their past with Anna and her descent from being the hairdresser to becoming Cindy the prostitute.

Most of the story is told through flashbacks to different periods of Anna's life. Each mourner's story helps to create a complete story of Anna's life and how she ended up at the point where she wanted to end it. The film opens and ends on a sad note. However, Dean Rogers has written a decent film that supplies some great sex scenes that go well with the plot.

The sex scenes in the film aren't bad. There are some montages of sexual action and some odd editing choices that are used in the sex scenes. The cast does a good job with the scenes, though, giving nice sexual performances throughout the film. Unfortunately, Anthony Spinelli is way too dependent on gynecological close-up shots during the sex scenes. They were far too common back in this period and there are times that the viewer can become unsure of which male is having sex with Hunt at a given moment, especially during the sex montage. Outside of that one issue, the sex scenes are enjoyable.

Spinelli has done a great job of creating an adult film that feels like an actual film and not just people having sex on film. Spinelli has utilized some great locations for the film and has included long non-sexual portions. Even one at a cemetery where Anna is buried in the film. Details like this vastly improved the overall experience of the film. Spinelli also had a good make-up person for the film as well. If you don't mind a depressing story, Cry for Cindy is an excellent film that shouldn't be missed.

Arrow has done a poor job with their release of Cry for Cindy. Cry for Cindy was shot on film and Arrow appears to have used a video master for their release. Cry for Cindy is presented in the academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1 in 480i. Cry for Cindy looks ugly in this release. The picture is soft with grain and artifacts. There is a band across the bottom of the screen. The opening text, letter, and closing text for the film are unreadable. The color is generally good.

Cry for Cindy is presented with an English Linear PCM 2.0 monaural audio track. The audio track for the film sounds fine with clear and easy to understand dialog.

Arrow has only included one extra on this release; a photo gallery.

Despite Cry for Cindy being a depressing film, it is also a very well done adult film where the plot and nonsexual portions matter as much as the sexual portions do. Don't expect a cheery plot or a smile on your face happy ending for the film. However, you would be doing yourself a disservice if you don't watch this film. Arrow has done a poor job with this release with an ugly transfer for the film.

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