Double Feature Cinema 1: Make Mine Milk & Coming West Review

Distributor: Shooting Star Video Edition Details: Standard DVD Release Specs: Also known as: Retro Film Classic Double Feature Cinema Volume 1 Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1

Double Feature Cinema Volume 1 was the first in a series of early adult films, picked from the Exodus Trust Archives of Erotology, and released by Shooting Star Video. Ultimately there were a total of four volumes in the series released before Shooting Star Video ceased the series. This release brings us the films Make Mine Milk and Coming West. They are two very different films and why they were picked to be on one volume together is a mystery.

Shooting Star Video has messed up the transfer for both films. Shooting Star Video has provided the ability to select from the main menu whether you want to watch one individual title or to have the player auto play both films. The only extra included on the release is the theatrical trailer for Make Mine Milk. You can jump to the review of Coming West or Make Mine Milk or just keep reading to read them all.

Coming West is a short little adult tale that was made in the early 70s by Sal Grasso, who at the time predominantly made gay adult films. There isn't really a plot to be found in the film at all, the set-up for the film is, Kate (Maria Arnold), Peggy (Sandi Carey), and Molly (Starlyn Simone) on a road trip heading west just past Cheyenne heading toward Laramie. Kate, who is in the backseat, daydreams of life in the old west where the three are prostitutes who encounter a cowboy, Matt Timber (George Peters), and an Indian (John). There is enough to the set-up for the film that I would consider this a vignette film, where the whole film is one vignette over calling in a feature film or an all sex film.

Grasso has done a good job with the film. The film is nicely shot with better camera work (The film was shot by Tom Howard, a frequent cinematographer for Grasso.) than one often sees in adult work at this time period. You can see that work went into the different shots. And you can tell that, despite just being a vignette film, the non-sex portions were done with care as well, including the portions where there isn't a sex scene at all that were added just for the purpose of the vignette.

The sex scenes look nice and the cast is energetic in them. Scott has managed to work some variety into the scenes and has done well with the limited budget. There isn't much non-sex acting work for the cast to do, so there aren't any issues on that front. Overall, Coming West is a fun little film that is worth a look.

Shooting Star Video has made some errors with this release. The print for Coming West was licensed from the Exodus Trust Archives of Erotology. Coming West is presented in the academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The transfer has not been framed correctly on this release. Within the academy aspect ratio frame, there is a large black bar on the left hand side. The bottom and the right sides of the frame have been cropped off. The transfer itself contains grain, print damage, and artifacts. The image itself is on the dark side and sports slightly muted but okay colors. The film is definitely watchable.

Coming West is presented with an English Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural audio track. The audio track has very noticeable crackles and pops throughout the entire presentation. Dialog is clear and can be heard at all times.

Make Mine Milk is an all sex lactating fetish film that is the sequel to The Milkmaid. A lactating female, who isn't named, has sex with couples that she meets at Telegraph Hill, in San Francisco, and invites back to her apartment. Make Mine Milk is an interesting experiment in all sex films. The uncredited female who plays the lactating female is playing a character; the same character from The Milkmaid.

She talks to the audience through voice over narration throughout the film (One of the couples that she brings back does at one point as well.). However, the film has the barest of set-ups. You see the lactating female on Telegraph Hill masturbating talking to the audience about the couple that is coming. Then they meet and walk off. Then you are in her apartment and the sex scene occurs. The set-up is so minimal I can't consider this even a vignette film.

Depending on why you view this film, the sex scenes will either be seen as average or disappointing. If you are the average adult film viewer and just go into the film to watch an adult film, the scenes are average. They aren't horribly shot, the performers have decent energy in them, and every one appears to be having a good time. The scenes are varied in the acts performed and don't feel like they are cookie cutter scenes. If you have a lactation fetish, you are going to find the sex scenes disappointing. For a lactation fetish film, there is a lack of lactating withing the film. The uncredited female lead lactates a few times but, for the most part, the sex is what you would expect to find in a standard adult film. Each sex scene runs for about thirty minutes.

I'm not sure what audience Make Mine Milk was expected to cater to. The lack of enough plot to even qualify as a vignette film knocks out fans of feature film. The lack of lactating in the film, despite the title, knocks out lactation fetishists. The inclusion of the lactation and the title knocks out general adult film audiences. There is no real reason to seek out this quickly made adult film.

Shooting Star Video has made several mistakes on this release of Make Mine Milk. The print for Make Mine Milk was licensed from the Exodus Trust Archives of Erotology. After selecting to play the film, prior to the film playing, the theatrical trailer plays for Make Mine Milk. The film is presented in the academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Shooting Star Video has not properly framed the movie; there is a black bar on the left hand side of the image and the bottom and right side of the image has been slightly cropped. There is a pink ETA bug in the lower right hand corner of the print that comes and goes through the film. There is some sort of damage or debris in the upper right hand corner. The print itself contains grain, print damage, and artifacts. The colors are decent but the image itself is on the darker side. Make Mine Milk is watchable, but all of these mistakes would have been easily corrected.

Make Mine Milk is presented with an English Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural audio track. The audio doesn't appear to have any issues. Dialog is clear and can be heard at all times.

Shooting Star Video has only included one extra that pertains to the feature film. Shooting Star Video has included the theatrical trailer for Make Mine Milk, which runs for three minutes. For some odd reason, instead of making the trailer selectable on its own, the trailer plays prior to the film when you select play.

It is nice that Shooting Star Video is making these older, less remembered adult titles available, Double Feature Cinema Volume 1 is a mixed bag of early 70s films. Make Mine Milk was on the disappointing side where Coming West was entertaining. Shooting Star Video has messed up both transfers though which is disappointing.

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