Pool Party/Biggest Of Them All: Double Feature Review

Distributor: Falcon Studios Edition Details: Standard Streaming Release Specs: Video Format: NTSC Format: Streaming Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): N/A Number of discs: N/A

Falcon Studios' double feature release of Pool Party and The Biggest of Them All combines two films from 1978 that were both compilations of early Falcon 8mm loops. As a result, the two films fit well together and makes them very similar to collections of loops that are being issued today. For this release, Falcon Studios has removed both of the titles and any credits that may have previously existed, and they have, for unknown reasons, cut some of the loops that were present in each film. You can jump to the review of Pool Party or The Biggest of Them All or one can just keep reading to read all of them.

The Biggest of Them All is an all-sex gay adult film from Falcon Studios that was released in 1978. The Biggest of Them All is a collection of 8mm loops that were released by Falcon Studios in the early 70s. There were five loops in the original version of The Biggest of Them All, some that predate when Falcon Studios was producing their own loops. Falcon Studios credits the loops in the collection to Bill Clayton. For those who don't know, Bill Clayton is the directorial name that Falcon Studios uses for multiple directors.

For those who are unaware, 8mm loops were an early form of adult film. They were shot on 16mm film and sold by the foot to home viewers on 8mm film strips. Sometimes there was either a short lead-in or set-up to the sex and other times there was just the sex with no attempt at an introduction. Loops were silent with no original audio recorded for them. The adult loops in this collection initially were 200' long, and none of them contain any sort of set-up to the sex.

Unfortunately, some of the loops that were in the original have been cut from this release. This reviewer has attempted to the best of his ability to identify which of the loops that initially appeared in The Biggest of Them All are in this release and which ones were cut. This reviewer had to rely on images and descriptions at Gay Erotic Video Index to do so. As such, this reviewer may have misidentified some of the loops that are present and some of the loops that were cut.

The loops that are contained within The Biggest of Them All are “I Always Wanted You — Part 2” (Falcon 532) with Tom and Dan from 1973. “I Always Wanted You — Part 3” (Falcon 534) with Tom and Dan from 1973.

“Welcome Home” (Falcon 533) with Gary and Dave from 1973. “Welcome Home” is also known as “Ranch Boys” (The Odyssey Club 1122).

The last of the loops included in The Biggest of Them All is “Superstar” (Falcon 535) with John Holmes from 1970 that this reviewer believes was directed by Bob Miser. “Superstar” is also known as “Mike Spaulding Film” (Premier Films number unknown, DSI Sales 1017, Mike Mason 103) and “Sunset Strip Pick-up” (Grant Productions M-S).

The one loop that was originally in The Biggest of Them All but appears to have been excised from this edition is “I Always Wanted You — Part 1” (Falcon 531) with Tom and Dan from 1973.

The only major downside to The Biggest of Them All is the editing that Falcon Studios has done to this edition. Fans of 8mm loops should find a lot to enjoy in this collection and Falcon Studios has included one of the two known hardcore loops of Mike Spaulding — who later acted using the name John Holmes.

The edition of Falcon Studios' double feature release of Pool Party and The Biggest of Them All screened is the streaming-only edition available on NakedSword.com. Falcon Studios has done a decent job with their streaming-only edition of The Biggest of Them All. The Biggest of Them All is presented in the Academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1 pillarboxed to 1.78:1 in 480p. This edition of The Biggest of Them All appears to have been mastered from a ¾” video master that was initially mastered from the 16mm camera negatives for the loops. The loops vary in quality, which is to be expected with this kind of release, but for the most part, the image quality is good with decent colors and the standard amount of print damage and artifacts.

The downside of the edition is that The Biggest of Them All appears to have been cut by roughly 16 minutes. When Falcon Studios created this double feature release with Pool Party, all of the titling for the two films were removed, along with any remaining loop titling except for “Superstar,” which does still retain its titling. Also, one of the loops that was in The Biggest of Them All appears to have been excised and this reviewer isn't sure if there were other edits to the loops as well. In this edition, Pool Party and The Biggest of Them All run together as one piece instead of the two films they initially were.

The Biggest of Them All is presented with a monaural audio track. The loops that The Biggest of Them All is composed of don't have any original audio since they were silent. Music and sex dubbing has been added to create the soundtrack. There wasn't any noticeable issue with the audio presentation.

Falcon Studios didn't include any extras for The Biggest of Them All.

Pool Party is a 1978 film from Falcon Studios that is a collection of early Falcon 8mm loops. Before the rise of feature adult films, 8mm loops ruled the marketplace. Most of the loops were shot on 16mm and then were sold to the home market on 8mm film. Usually, 8mm loops were silent.

Falcon Studios credit the loops on this release to director Bill Clayton. For those who don't know, Bill Clayton is the name Falcon Studios uses for multiple directors on a project. All of the loops in this collection are all sex loops, which means none of them have any attempt at a story, which some loops did try to do at the time. All of the loops here are from the early 70s and range from before when Falcon Studios were producing their own loops until after they were creating their own loops.

Pool Party had six loops for its original release in 1978. Unfortunately, this release of Pool Party only contains four loops. This reviewer has attempted to the best of his ability to identify which of the loops that initially appeared in Pool Party are in this release and which ones were cut. This reviewer had to rely on images and descriptions at Gay Erotic Video Index to do so. As such, this reviewer may have misidentified some of the loops that are present and some of the loops that were cut.

The loops that are included in Pool Party are “Ray Fuller,” (Falcon Studios 500, HIS Studio number unknown, Jim Stryker Films LA 31, Total Action Productions 1114, and Fotoflair of Hollywood number unknown) a 1971 loop with Ray Fuller and Dale that this reviewer believes was directed by Bob Miser. “Ray Fuller” is also known as “Ballin' With Ray” (Heart Studios LA 31, Visual Information and Education LA 31, Bob Anthony Studio 500, Kamera LA 32, and XXX, Inc X 488), “Levi Stud” (Jim Stryker Films LA 31), “Giant Cock” (Lux Publications 1074), “Ray Fuller No. 3” (Golden Press number unknown), and “Ray Fuller = Man” (DSI Sales 3056).

“Bill Eld,” (Falcon 501, Bob Anthony Studio 501) a 1972 loop with Bill Eld. “Bill Eld” is also known as “Hustler” (Bob Anthony Studio 501), and “Tradesmen” (Tony Prince Studios number unknown).

“A.W.O.L.,” (Falcon 502, Filmco Video 503, Jim Stryker Films LA 32, Visual Films and Education LA 31, Heart Studios LA 32, Bob Anthony Studio 502) a 1972 loop with Terry. “A.W.O.L.” is also known as “The Three Way” (DSI Sales 3076), “Threesome” (XXX, Inc X 1585), “A.W.O.L. Sailor” (XXX, Inc X 489), “Man to Man Equals Sex” (Lux Publications 1070), and “Teenage Orgy” (Halco 1974).

The final loop present in Pool Party is “Pool Film,” (Falcon Studios 503, Mark IV 1017, Bob Anthony Studio 503, and Visual Information and Education 503) a 1970 loop with John Holmes that this reviewer thinks was directed by Bob Miser. “Pool Film” was also known as “Pool Side” (XXX, Inc X 1588), “13" King” (Bob Anthony Studio 503), “Poolside Sex” (DSI Sales 3059), “Hung Like a Horse” (Bob Anthony Studio 836, Bob Anthony Studio 7W), “Mike Spaulding and Friend” (Parkway number unknown), “Mike Spaulding” (DSI Sales 3074), “Poolside” (Bob Anthony Studio X 3, Prism Productions PR 601), and “King” (Bob Anthony Studio 503).

The loops that initially appeared in Pool Party but appear to be missing from this release are “Taste My Love — Part 1” (Falcon 504) a 1972 loop with Dean Chasson. “Taste My Love — Part 1” was also known as “Golden Shower” (Quality Films PB 7, Circle Products PB 7, and Bob Anthony Studio PB 7). The other missing loop is “Taste My Love — Part 2” (Falcon 505) a 1972 loop with Dean Chasson.

Other than the missing loops, Pool Party is a nice collection of early gay Falcon 8mm loops. It even includes one of the two known hardcore loops of Mike Spaulding — who would later act in adult films using the name John Holmes — which should up the interest factor in this release — especially since the sex scenes aren't faked like they are in his later all-male film The Private Pleasures of John C. Holmes. Despite the missing loops, Pool Party is still an enjoyable watch for fans of the old 8mm loops.

The edition of Falcon Studios' double feature release of Pool Party and The Biggest of Them All screened is the streaming-only edition available on NakedSword.com. Falcon Studios has done a decent job with their streaming-only edition of Pool Party. Pool Party is presented in the Academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1 pillarboxed to 1.78:1 in 480p. Pool Party was likely shot on 16mm film, and the original master for Pool Party appears to have been the camera negatives. However, this release appears to have been mastered from the ¾” video master. Despite this, the image quality is good. There is a lack of definition and, as one can expect from a release like this, varying image quality within the loops themselves. The image quality ranges from good with nice colors to acceptable with washed out colors. There are the ordinary incidents of artifacts and print damage.

The biggest issue with the presentation of Pool Party is that, for reasons unknown, Falcon Studios has cut a large portion of the film. There appear to be roughly 47 minutes that have been excised from the original movie. Two loops seem to be missing in full, and it is unknown if portions of the loops included were also truncated. The original credits for the film have been removed as well along with any titling the loops may have had initially. Pool Party and The Biggest of Them All, the other feature presented here, now run together to be one compilation.

Pool Party is presented with a monaural audio track. Since 8mm loops were silent, there isn't any original audio from when the loops were initially shot, and then Pool Party was assembled as a film, music and sex dubbing were added to the loops. The music and the sex dubbing sound fine.

Falcon Studios hasn't included any extras for Pool Party.

Falcon Studios' release of Pool Party and The Biggest of Them All is a mixed bag. The release is good since it brings together quite a few of the early Falcon 8mm loops including both of the known loops starring Mike Spaulding, who would later go by the name John Holmes. The downside to the release is that Falcon Studios has decided to cut some of the loops, and possibly some of the loops themselves, from this release, so neither film is complete.

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