Danish Connection, The Review

Distributor: Something Weird Video Edition Details: Manufacture on Demand DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Classic, Feature Film, Softcore Run Time: 82 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1972 Director: Walt Davis, Bob Chinn Written by: Walt Davis Cast: John Holmes, Rick Cassidy, Walt Davis (as David Zhands), Bob Chinn (as Hercules Fong), Stella Artois, Sandi Carey (as Sandy Carey), Rene Bond, Celenthia Monet (as Celenthia Monette), Alain Patrick, Margot Devletian (as Margo Devletian), Cleo O'Hara, Cyndee Summers (as Cindee Sommers), William Kirschner (as William Kirchner), Gina Dair, Sandy Dempsey, Mala Sykes, Ruth Robins, Blythe Spiritt, Jorge San Diego, Leroy Brown, Marie Brizzard, Alex Elliot (as Alex Aliott), Sandra Henderson, Meri McDonald, Helen O'Connell Release Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Subtitles: none Video: Full Frame, 1.33:1 Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD-MOD (DVD-R) Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1

The fourth Johnny Wadd film, Tropic of Passion, cost Bob Chinn around $3,000 to make, which put him over budget. To recoup his investment he sold the out-takes to producer Manuel Conde and gave him permission to make a softcore Johnny Wadd film. The Danish Connection is the resulting film and the sixth entry in the Johnny Wadd film series. It is also the only softcore entry in the series and one of only three entries in the series not directed by Bob Chinn. The resulting film is an odd one. In this outing, Herbert Steele (William Kirschner), who can't get a hard-on, hires Eric Jensen (Rick Cassidy) to find a Danish sex formula that causes a three to four hour erection, because Steele doesn't trust private dick Johnny Wadd (John Holmes), who he had also previously hired to find the sex formula.

The finalized film comes across as a strange mix of a standard Johnny Wadd style film and a psychadelic 60s syle film. When watching the film it seems rather obvious which footage had been shot by Chinn and never put into Tropic of Passion and what footage had been shot by Walt Davis. The Wadd character never comes across as the main character, nor hero, of the film. Instead that role strangely goes to the character of Eric Jensen. The Danish Connection, despite the odd switching of film styles, in all of its weirdness is a fun film with a good looking cast and enjoyable softcore scenes. It doesn't fit in well to the Johnny Wadd film canon though, so fans of the series who have no interest in a softcore film won't miss anything by skipping it. The next entry in the Johnny Wadd series, Liquid Lips, would again be a hardcore outing directed by Bob Chinn.

Something Weird Video didn't put much effort into this release, issued on a DVD-R with a generic recorded media menu with just the option to play the one track. The print is rather ugly, with scratches, dirt, and tears throughout the presentation. The picture also jumps around at times and occasionally appears to miss milliseconds of time. The initial opening of the film appears to have been cut. There is also a Something Weird Video bug on the lower right side of the screen, which thankfully is not that obtrusive. The film is presented with a Dolby Digital 2.0 Monaural track. The audio is rather rough too with pops and hiss generally throughout. Milliseconds of dialog are missing that correspond with the missing video issue.

There aren't any extras listed for the release, however following the film the trailer for The Danish Connection plays. The trailer is in decent shape, unfortunately the words “Something Weird Video Screener” are across the screen for the entire trailer. There are some trailers for other Something Weird Video releases that follow.

The Danish Connection is the fifth entry in the Johnny Wadd series that doesn't fit in very well with the film canon. It was the first in the series not to be directed by Bob Chinn and is also the only softcore entry in the film series. The film itself is fun and enjoyable, but Something Weird Video's release leaves a lot to be desired.

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