Duchess (Adam & Eve) Review

Reviewed by astroknight  on  1/28/2006

The Little Details

Running Time: 105 min. (cover states 100 min.)

Production Date: 12 / 2 / 2002

Director: Nicholas Steele

Cast: Holly Hollywood, Cameron, Ashley Long, Bobby Eden, Laurie Wallace, Natasha Dolling, Randy Spears, Steven St. Croix, Steve Holmes, Cain, and Anthony Hardwood

The Short Story

Initial Expectations: Nicholas Steele has been hit or miss for me. I’m not really sure what to expect here.

Initial Reaction: It’s okay, and definitely nothing special.

Who Should Watch It : Anybody who wants an extremely softened movie

Who Should Avoid It: Anybody who wants a movie where it feels like the people behind the camera are into sex too

The Technical Stuff

Audio /Video Quality: The technical aspects are above average. The audio is fairly clear, but some of the dialogue is hard to understand due to a slightly muffled feel and a balance that seems slightly off. The video also has a soft feel, and often feels a little over lit. Unfortunately, it comes off a bit overdone, and hurt the overall presentation of the movie for me.

Music: The music is often soft and romantic, but more often overbearing. It does vary the style a little throughout the movie, and would have worked much better if it had been balanced better.

Disc Complaints: There’s no time stamp, which always annoys me. I often like to jump around in movies after watching them the first time, and can’t without a time stamp. It’s also something that seems to be standard in almost every DVD out there, so the absence of one always stands out to me and leaves a DVD feeling cheaper.

Menus: The main menu has a simple but classy style that blends a bit of the movie with a still. The chapter menu is pretty generic, and lets you choose a scene based on a small clip of each scene and a chapter number.

The Feature

Holly Hollywood thinks she has it made with a simple life. She has tons of money and little to do to occupy herself but throw upscale parties while her husband (Steve Holmes) is away on his frequent business trips. Her world gets shaken when she talks to her gardener (Steven St. Croix) who shows her some of the simpler pleasures. Holly soon finds herself torn between her extravagant life with her husband and the simpler pleasures with the gardener.

Scene 1 - Cameron, Randy Spears, and Anthony Hardwood

Slutty blonde socialite Cameron starts the sex off after leading waiters Randy and Anthony off to a large screened tent in the backyard. She lets them strip her out of her pinstriped dress, skirt, and large black hat to worship her fantastic body before she drops down to work her mouth between their cocks. Cameron lets Anthony have the first fuck doggie style as she continues to suck Randy’s cock before letting Anthony have a little more oral action as she rides Randy reverse cowgirl style. They take a break so Anthony can eat Cameron’s pussy a little more while she sucks Randy’s cock before Randy gives it to her missionary style. Finally, the guys pop on Cameron’s stomach and stubbly bush.

This is an average at best scene. The guys and Cameron gives signs of being into each other now and then, but the camera work is so intent on seeing how soft it can make things that it almost completely killed the chemistry. The scene was also stretched out way too far, and there were several times when I couldn’t help but wonder when the scene would end. This is a boring scene that made me wonder what it would have been like if the people behind the camera were interested in sex.

Scene 2 - Laurie Wallice and Natasha Dooling

While Natasha draws her bath wearing a sexy white sleeveless button down skirt, black skirt, and black fishnets, Laurie can’t help but admire her and start to run her hands around her body. She helps Natasha slide off her fishnets and gives her toes a quick kiss before they sample each other’s tits. They slide into the tub as they continue to explore each other and help each other strip down. They mix in plenty of kissing as they spray each other with the shower head before Laurie slides to the edge of the tub to let Natasha work on her with tongue, fingers, and a toy. The girls trade places so Laurie can work on Natasha’s pussy before finishing things up with a kiss.

This is a pretty hot scene. The girls are both gorgeous, and they seem to enjoy pleasuring each other as well. The scene is just as beautiful as the previous scene, but captures the chemistry much better. I also think much of the reason it works much better is that it seems to be a bit shorter. This is a pretty good scene where the softness between the two women doesn’t interfere with the scene.

Scene 3 - Bobbi Eden and Cain

When they get a little alone time on the couch, beautiful blonde Bobbi gets it on with fellow Euro-hippie Cain. She lets him break her titties out of her halter to kiss, as well as offering up her tongue a little. Cain moves down to eat Bobbi’s pussy before standing up so she can suck his cock. He fucks her missionary style before letting her ride him reverse cowgirl style. They even get in a bit of missionary work before Bobbi rolls onto her side to wave a darn nice looking shoe in the air. Finally, Cain pops his load on her ass.

This is a slightly above average scene. Once again it’s a manageable length, but it’s held back a little at the start by mixing in a little of the next scene as well as a little plot. The plot doesn’t interfere much, but putting the start of the following scene in really screwed up the chemistry at the start. I think the main reason this scene worked decently for me is that Bobbi looked absolutely fantastic, and seemed to be having a good time. It’s a fairly restrained scene, but also has a fairly realistic feel to it. This is an okay scene.

Scene 4 - Ashley Long and Steven St. Croix

At the same time, Steven gets it on with smoking hot blonde British babe Ashley in the kitchen. After they kiss a little, Steven moves Ashley up to the counter to eat her pussy. They trade places so Ashley can take all of Steven’s cock in her mouth before she turns around so he can give her another quick lick before fucking her doggie style. Ashley lies back on the counter so they can get in a little missionary action with both of Ashley’s holes. Finally, Steven pops on her stomach.

This is an above average scene. Ashley looks fantastic, and she and Steven put some nice energy into the scene. It’s much shorter than the others, but has the right feel for a casual fuck type of scene. The camera work left a little to be desired by making the scene overly soft, but it’s not quite as bad as the opening scene. This is an okay scene, but compared to a normal Ashley Long scene it leaves plenty to be desired.

Scene 5 - Holly Hollywood and Steven St. Croix

After a bit of passionate kissing, Holly drops down to suck Steven’s schlong. He tongues her pussy in return before fucking her from behind. Holly also rides Steven cowgirl style, which gets her going to the point that she has to stand up and let go with a couple squirts. They move on to cowgirl style, including a break for another squirt, before Steven fucks her from behind again. Finally, Steven plasters Holly’s ass with his pud to bring things to a close.

This is a pretty good scene. Holly puts in some very nice energy and appears to have nice chemistry with Steven. There’s a nicely romantic feel to this scene, yet it doesn’t interfere with the sexual feeling of the scene. This is a nice scene, and I actually had a smile on my face by the end of it.

Scene 6 - Holly Hollywood and Steve Holmes

Holly starts things out kissing Steve Holmes while they sit on the edge of a fountain before he lies her back to lick her pussy. Holly reciprocates by licking around the head of his cock and then taking it all in her mouth while giving Steve some fantastic eyes. He picks Holly up for a mind-air cowgirl ride before lying back so she can ride him with her knees on something solid. Holly squirts on Steve’s face and in his mouth after a reverse cowgirl ride, and then keeps things moving right along with some missionary work while he sucks her toes. Finally, Holly lies back and lets Steve stucco her breasticles.

This is a nice little scene. Holly and Steve have very nice chemistry throughout the scene, and the romantic feeling comes across right as the scene starts. They mix things up nicely, and the squirt is handled very well with Steve trying to eat all of it. I’ll admit that I was more than surprised at this with how much Nicholas Steele seems to try to tone down anything sexual, and it definitely helped out my enjoyment of the scene. This is a hot scene, and a very nice end for the movie.

Duchess is a pretty forgettable couples movie. The plot is easier to see through than a fishnet thong, and has less to hold it together. Okay, Holly’s tempted and fucks a guy... then her husband comes home, they fuck and the movie ends. Yes, that’s really about all there is to the entire movie. The sex varies a bit, but as usual for Nicholas Steele it’s toned down so far that there’s very little heat left to it. It does manage to get above the average mark a few times, as it does with Holly Hollywood and Steve Holmes. Unfortunately, when it bombs, it really bombs, like it does with Cameron, Randy Spears, and Anthony Hardwood in a scene that darn near made me fall asleep. Perhaps the biggest problem with the sex is that it often feels like the people controlling the action are afraid of sex, and care more about beauty than they do passion. Duchess has a couple okay scenes, but misfires way too often to really succeed.

The Extra Stuff

Trailers are included for Enchantment, Fantasy Suites, The Flesh Game, and Intimate Strangers. The photo gallery contains about thirty very nice looking snapshots. There’s also bonus scenes, a behind the scenes featurete, and website information.

The behind the scenes featurette lasts about twenty minutes. There’s plenty of interviews with the cast about performing and getting into the industry, and even a couple interviews with the non-sex performers. Of course, with Steven St. Croix and Randy Spears on the set there’s a bit of humor as well. About the only thing there isn’t much of here is showing the scenes being shot, which is nice. This is a mildly amusing behind the scenes featurette that captures plenty of personality around the set.

Bonus Scene 1 - Rita Faltoyano and John Decker

The first bonus scene comes from Emerald Rain. Rita starts things out on her knees sucking John’s schlong before stripping down to a pair of wide black fishnet stockings and letting him pick her up to eat her pussy. She comes down to ride John reverse cowgirl style with her pussy before lying back for a little anal missionary work. John also fucks her ass doggie style before popping on her ass.

This is a pretty good scene. As always, Rita looks absolutely stunning and takes the anal with ease. Although the sex might be a little nasty, the action is captured very softly and definitely tones it down. Although toned down, it thankfully doesn’t lose much heat. This is a pretty hot scene.

Bonus Scene 2 - Sydnee Steele and Evan Stone

The second bonus scene comes from Fire & Ice. Evan is more focused on working on his sculpture with a grinder than smoking hot brunette Sydnee as she changes out of her dress and into a pair of hot boots. She lights a smoke and then the ground around her before waving around a flaming sword that finally gets his attention. Sydnee even blows a few flames before letting Evan move in to start teasing her from behind. They back off so he can eat her pussy and so she can suck his cock before Sydnee mounts up for a cowgirl ride. Evan spears Sydnee’s sphincter from behind next, and finishes things up popping on her ass.

This is another darn hot scene. I love the slow start and Sydnee’s fire act, and it definitely puts her in my mind to go see if she ever feature dances near me. She and Evan seem to have good chemistry, but for most of the scene you can’t hear them too well so I really can’t say. The action is nicely captured, but the fucking seems a bit short with how long the tease is. This is a hot scene, but I think it could have been even hotter if it would have lasted a bit longer.

Bonus Scene 3 - Alexa and John Decker

The final bonus scene comes from The Fiesta. Alexa and John hook up in a jungle pool at the base of a waterfall. After diving in and swimming around a bit they head to the rocks alongside the pool to exchange oral favors. John gives it to Alexa both from behind and missionary style before blowing his ball butter on her stomach.

This is an okay scene . There seems to be almost as much attention given to the swimming in the pool as the sex, but it never acts like foreplay or tease. That gives this scene a very slow start, and Alexa doesn’t help it much with the sex. The biggest problem with the scene is that Alexa looks like this might be one of her first times on camera. She rarely acknowledges it, and often tends to look away from it. This is a fairly average scene.

The Down -n- Dirty Sex Stuff

Themes: Straight, group, lesbian, and toys

Raincoat Factor: Medium

Condom Usage: Cameron and Anthony Hardwood; Ashley Long and Steven St. Croix; Holly Hollywood and Steven St. Croix; Holly Hollywood and Steve Holmes

The Bottom Line:

Currently, Adam & Eve’s DVDs can be found online for between $8 and $25, with several stores offering them for around $15. Aim low or rent this one first. The story is completely forgettable and the sex is normally softened so much that it loses plenty of heat. The technical aspects are barely above average, which is a disappointment for Adam & Eve. At least the extras show a little effort. This would be a pretty darn good DVD with a better movie on it.

Note to Adam & Eve: It’s great to see you trying to put out movies that appreciate beauty, but that really doesn’t count for much if you kill the sex with it.

If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail me .

Other reviews by Astroknight