Dixie Ray: Hollywood Star (Caballero) Review

Distributor: Caballero Control Corporation Edition Details: Standard DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Golden Age Classic (1980s Shot on Film), Feature Film, Thriller/Suspense Also known as: It's Called “Murder,” Baby Run Time: 101 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1983 Director: Sam Weston (as Anthony Spinelli) Written by: Dean Rogers (screenplay and story), Steven Flagg (story) Director of Photography: Fred Andes Cast: John Leslie, Juliet Anderson, Veronica Hart, Kelly Nichols, Samantha Fox (as Sammatha Fox and Sammatua Fox), Cameron Mitchell, Lisa De Leeuw, John F. Goff (as Tom Reece), Steve Marlow, Sam Baldoni, Chuck Dawson, Chris Warfield, Hillary Summers, Buck Kartalian, Sam Weston, Robert Mayo, Walter Hill, Elizabeth Carothers, Phaery I. Burd, Kevin James, George “Buck” Flower Release Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono Subtitles: none Video: Full Screen, 1.33:1 Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1

Dixie Ray Hollywood Star is a well-done adult film noir film to come from Anthony Spinelli. After finding a dead body in his office, private investigator Nick Popodopolis (John Leslie) explains to the police lieutenant (Cameron Mitchell) and his partner Harry (John F. Goff) about his case where he had been hired by Dixie (Lisa De Leeuw) after her estranged husband Charles T. Barclay (Chris Warfield) started blackmailing her over some photos.

Spinelli has done a good job with the film. Dixie Ray Hollywood Star is a fun whodunit. The script and plot are well done and will keep the viewer entertained when there isn't any sex happening on the screen. The plot is well developed and, even better, the characters are well developed as well. The film is period appropriate as well. Dixie Ray Hollywood Star takes place in 1943 and the make-up, costuming, props, and vehicles all look right.

Mitchell does a good job and seems out of place in an adult film. Reportedly he didn't know Dixie Ray Hollywood Star was going to be a hardcore film until after his scenes were shot. Leslie does a great job in his role as does De Leeuw as the titular role. The supporting cast does a great job as well. The sex scenes are short, well-done, and fit in with the flow of the plot so they don't seem out of place, nor do they pull you from the film.

All in all, Dixie Ray Hollywood Star is a well done adult whodunit which should definitely be seen by fans of feature films.

Caballero hasn't put too much effort into this release. Dixie Ray Hollywood Star is presented in the full screen aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The picture is dark and murky and looks like it may have come from a video source, although it could have been a poor film master. Blacks and grays can be indistinguishable at times, especially in low light levels. In brighter scenes the colors are well represented. The picture contains artifacts and grain.

Dixie Ray Hollywood Star is presented with an English Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural track, which works for the material being presented. There are a few moments where it can be hard to discern what is being said but overall the audio presentation is fine.

Caballero has only included a photo gallery on the disc as an extra.

Dixie Ray Hollywood Star is a fun whodunit adult film noir with an enjoyable story, good acting, and well done sex scenes. Caballero has essentially only included the feature film with an acceptable but not great transfer of the film.

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