Heavy Equipment Review

Distributor: Blue Pictures Edition Details: Standard DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Golden Age Classic, Feature Film, Gay Run Time: 77 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1977 Director: Tom DeSimone (as Lancer Brooks) Written by: uncredited Cast: Jack Wrangler, Roger, Chris Christy (as The Christy Twins), Tim Christy (as The Christy Twins), Al Parker, Steve Tracy, Adam Neuman, Jennifer Cashoty, David Warfield, Chris Adams, Kurt Williams Release Specs: Audio: English Dolby Digital 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

Heavy Equipment is a gay feature film from the late 1970s, which pays as much attention to the plot and the production values as it does to the sex scenes. In an interesting move, director Tom DeSimone, using the pseudonym Lancer Brooks, made portions of the film in 3D and other portions of the film in 2D for a truly unique adult film.

The story in Heavy Equipment involves Chester (Steve Tracy), a kind-hearted mousy bookstore clerk, who works for Mr. Cornelius (Adam Neumar), the anal and clean obsessed owner of the bookstore. One day an old man (David Warfield) shows up trying to sell the store some old books. Mr. Cornelius chases the man and his dirt covered books away but Chester feels bad for the old man and offers him the money he has. As a thank you, the old man offers Chester a book called Magic Through the Ages. The book draws Chester to the self transformance and conjuring of wishes section and after Chester performs the ritual contained within can become his alter ego super stud (Jack Wrangler).

DeSimone uses a neat technique for Heavy Equipment utilizing 3D for only the portions where Jack Wrangler is portraying Chester and using 2D for the portions of the film where Steve Tracy is portraying Chester — which sadly gets lost in the 2D only version of the film. DeSimone does resort to some of the standard 3D tricks and some obvious adult 3D tricks, like sticking a dick in the viewer's face. The non-sexual portions of the film are treated as importantly as the sexual portions are, which makes for a film that can be watched by any fan of feature films — or by any fan of feature films that isn't homophobic. The film even takes a good ten or fifteen minutes to get to the first sex scene.

Heavy Equipment has a great cast lead by Steve Tracy, who had a short mainstream career before he passed away from AIDS, and Jack Wrangler, who has done a great job on both the gay and straight sides of the blue screen. The supporting cast does a great job as well, some in non-sexual parts and some who enthusiastically take on the sexual scenes that make up the film. As far as the sex scenes go, they are well shot but the eroticism is hard to rate since this reviewer is straight.

All in all, DeSimone has done a great job with Heavy Equipment putting as much attention into the non-sexual portions of the film as the sexual portions. He also does a good job utilizing the 3D in the film making a unique adult film that should be enjoyed by fans of the feature film genre.

Blue Pictures has done a poor job with their DVD release of Heavy Equipment. Heavy Equipment was shot on film with portions that were originally in 3D. Blue Pictures appears to have utilized a film print for this release, however, it is a problematic 2D print. The 3D version isn't offered on this release at all. Heavy Equipment is presented in the academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1 in 480i. The portions that were originally in 2D aren't horrible on this release, however, they aren't great either. There is heavy print damage in places, artifacts, and grain. The colors often appear to be washed out. There are some portions where the film is just dark and murky as well. The portions of the film that were originally presented in 3D are the major issue. These areas exhibit much heavier grain and the 3D to 2D conversion was poor with ghosting and portions where light blue or light red haloing still exists from the 3D. There isn't enough of the red or cyan to allow Anaglyph 3D glasses to render the film in 3D. Even utilizing the Anaglyph 3D glasses the image just looks haloed. The stock footage in the film looks almost black and white in nature.

In addition, it is quite possible that this release is cut as well. Most sources report that Heavy Equipment had a run time of 98 minutes, whereas the Blue Pictures DVD only has a run time of 77 minutes. If the reported run time for the film is correct then 21 minutes have been excised from this release.

Heavy Equipment is presented with an English Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural audio track. The audio contains a noticeable and heavy hiss throughout the entire film. The dialog in the film is clear and can be understood at all times during the presentation.

Blue Pictures hasn't included any extras on this release.

Heavy Equipment is an enjoyable classic gay feature film that boasts great production values, an interesting story, and a great cast. Fans of feature films where the story is as important as the sex scenes will enjoy this film. However, Blue Pictures has done a poor job with this DVD release of Heavy Equipment with poor image quality and poor audio. This edition only contains the 2D version of Heavy Equipment and not the 3D version.

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