Private Life Of Bettina, The Review

THE PRIVATE LIFE OF BETTINA
Private

Directors: Pierre Woodman, John Millerman, Tanya Hyde, Antonio Adamo.

Starring: Bettina and many more- see scene descriptions for details.

Running time:
Disc One - 2hrs 5mins.
Disc Two - 2hrs 51mins, plus extras.

Though perhaps not the best known of the stars to feature in the "Private Life of…" series, Dutch beauty Bettina is one of the few black performers to make it big in European porn, but to represent her as merely an ethnic trailblazer of sorts would be to sell this vivacious woman some way short, as this impressive body of work shows. Starting with one of Pierre Woodman's infamous castings, Bettina's contribution to the Private canon runs the gamut of styles and subjects as she shows herself not only to be a beautiful, intelligent woman who grows in stature as her career develops, but also an admirably talented sexual performer. Hold on, that sounds just like the kind of blurb Private try to sell you - it can't be that good, can it? No, I suppose it isn't.

This being a colossal collection with seventeen scenes on two discs, as well as photosets from her magazine appearances and movies, plus trailers for almost all her movies, I am going to avoid a play-by-play - scene descriptions follow on below, but this is my overall view.

The first disc is the "Private Life of…" itself, comprising seven scenes, with Bettina joined by a variety of other attractive women, interspersed with interview material and a variety of footage from erotic fairs, location shoots and so forth in a way that makes for a more satisfactory package than the Nikky Andersson edition of this series (the only one I can draw comparisons with). With my limited linguistic skills, it helps that Bettina speaks good English in interview, but this has the added benefit of hearing Bettina's story in her own words, rather than, as Ms Andersson's tale is regrettably subject to, through the typically exaggerated language of Private's scriptwriters. Although the interviews are somewhat shallow, I was interested to hear Bettina say that she was born in South America, but grew up in Holland, so, at a guess, this would tend to point to her being of Surinamese origin.

Among the further ten scenes giving colossal value on the second disc, I noticed a couple of reasons why Bettina might not be so popular with certain sectors of the porn viewing public, namely "Millerman" and "Adamo". Bettina appears not to have worked for many producers outside the Private stable, but her work within the studio's bounds does show a slight bias towards what might conceivably be described as the softer end of Private's output. More importantly to me, some of these scenes are of the beautifully framed but emotionally lacking nature that some people assume is the essence of "couples' porn". Whatever that might be. Therefore you rarely see Bettina really cutting loose.

That said, the quality is high throughout and besides, I don't think this should dissuade curious viewers from checking out what I found, in parts, to be an interesting, high-value compilation. I had only seen Bettina's fantastically lithe, sexy body in action years ago on a couple of nasty bootleg tapes, so this was a good way to gain a measure of a really under appreciated star's position in Private's sparkling firmament. However, though it's not necessarily a reflection on Bettina, but rather on some of the people she's worked with, ultimately, I doubt I'll be pointing my telescope in her direction too often.

If you're going to read further, batten down the hatches, send for coffee and sandwiches…this could take some time…

DISC ONE SCENES
The First Time of Bettina
Now you can buy into this "virgin" thing or you can scoff if you like - apparently Bettina's fuck with Woodman in this casting is the first of her life, period - but what is for real is that Pierre gives his young initiate a ferocious shagging, statically captured from a tripod mounted camera, but, as always, well worth watching. From initial tension through blossoming arousal to flat refusal of Pierre's come in her mouth, her reactions certainly seem real, either that or she's already an accomplished actress. The preceding interview, where Bettina initially storms off in disgust when asked to look at one of Pierre's dirty books, is spliced with "present day" interview footage where she reflects on the experience.
From: Castings X 4, Paris, March 1997. Director: Pierre Woodman. Cast: Bettina, Pierre Woodman

Bettina In Thailand
Bettina and Sharon Ash entertain a flabby Philippe Soine and JPX in a clip from this oriental tale, as the girls suck, fuck and get it in the ass to a soundtrack of frantic French overdubs. Sharon does a DP, while licking Bettina's slot, and then both girls get JPX off while Philippe spurts on the firm globes of Bettina's ass. Her body looks delicious here, from pert tits to a flat stomach to a smooth-shaven peachy pussy.
From: Fatal Orchid 2, Bangkok, November 1997. Director: Pierre Woodman. Cast: Bettina, Sharon Ash, Philippe Soine, JPX.

Sex in Palace
In a sedately paced scene from Woodman's epic, Bettina and redhead Sarah are maids caught peeping by Alain on their master and mistress in bed. The lighting and camerawork are supremely tasteful, as the costumed trio fuck, including anal, in opulent surroundings.
From: Tatiana, France, September 1997. Director: Pierre Woodman. Cast: Bettina, Sarah, Alain Deloin.

Bettina & the Kamasutra
Looking as cute as I have seen her, adorable brunette Vanda joins Bettina in serving Andrew's sexual needs in a great-looking but sexually insipid scene. It's amazing how an ancient work of sexual inspiration can be turned into something as bland as this.
From: Secrets of Kamasutra, Spain, 1998. Director: John Millerman. Cast: Bettina, Vanda, Andrew Youngman.

The Uranus Experiment
An earthbound scene from Private's overblown sci-fi epic, this is again great for girl watching but lousy for viewing passionate sex. There's nary a hint of desire or even basic enjoyment between Bettina and Frank. Brief anal and a large come load are the dubious highlights.
From: The Uranus Experiment, Budapest, September-October 1998. Director: John Millerman. Cast: Bettina, Frank Major.

Bettina & Dolly Golden: Queens of Glamour
I do so hate to criticise people's looks, honestly, but if Private's make-up artists intended to make French star Dolly look like an overdone old trout, then they succeeded admirably. Directed by Adamo with typical proficiency, this scene seeks to make the hardcore elegant, and succeeds only in squeezing the life out of the sex - a lewd blowjob from Dolly on Joachim provides a rare frisson.
From: Private XXX 9, Paris, October 1999. Director: Antonio Adamo. Cast: Bettina, Dolly Golden, Joachim, Ian Scott.

The Dark Side of Bettina
In a visually outstanding and sexually innovative scene, Monique (in a superb all in one PVC number) and then Kevin (grotesquely made up like The Joker) take advantage of Bettina as she's suspended on a swing. Overlong, perhaps, but varied and creative even if it lacks the heart that I like to see. Pumping techno music and trancelike visuals suggests this is porn for post-club comedowns and canoodling!
From: Tanya Hyde's London Calling, London, August 1999. Director: Tanya Hyde. Cast: Bettina, Monique Covet, Kevin Long.

DISC TWO SCENES
Uranus 2
Another bland scene from the space epic, again strictly terrestrial, where a domineering Bettina and Nick couple in a room lit for style rather than visibility.
From: The Uranus Experiment 2, Spain, September-October 1998. Director: John Millerman. Cast: Bettina, Nick Lang.

Take Me But Don't Hurt Me
Leather, PVC and rubber abounds - it's a decent "fetish" style scene directed by Woodman, fancy that. In some gloriously kinky action, Bettina is in top form, bossing everyone around as she, aided by the gorgeous leggy blonde Henriett, dominates the even more gorgeous Demia Moore, giving her a double-dildo strap-on stuffing, with lashings of, uh, lashing. Demia returns to her cage and gimp Philippe emerges from his box to see to Bettina and Henriett's pleasure, including anal for the blonde, before Phil comes in the caged Demia's mouth.
From: Triple X Files 12, France, July 1998. Director: Pierre Woodman. Cast: Bettina, Demia Moore, Henriett, Philippe Soine.

Oil Massage
This unspeakably tiresome scene comes across like a sex education video. Which might be fine if you're into that kind of thing. Next!
From: Secrets of Kamasutra, Spain, 1998. Director: John Millerman. Cast: Bettina, Nick Lang.

Lesbian
Bettina and her extra-cute co-star Vanda have acquired American accents for this soft girl-girl scene that has an authentically experimental feel about it (it was apparently Bettina's first time with a woman). Tentative tongues lap clits, dildos are gently pushed into pussies - the girls look great but it's way too tame.
From: Secrets of Kamasutra, Spain, 1998. Director: John Millerman. Cast: Bettina, Vanda.

The Raider Bunch
A delightful assembly of gorgeous girls join Bettina for a champagne party that soon goes further than sipping bubbly. As the girls get intimate, the guys move in and there are stockinged legs, naked bodies and thrusting genitals everywhere you look. Actually pretty pleasing stuff, and surprisingly raunchy considering the director, but a particularly curious overdubbed audio track threatens to lessen the impact - it might have been a damn sight easier to edit, but it did take away from the heat.
From: Private XXX 4, Spain, March 1999. Director: John Millerman. Cast: Bettina, Kata Lynn, Gili Sky, Cassandra Wild, Monique Covet, Robert Rosenberg, Alex Mantegna, Toni Ribas, Oscar, Nick Lang.

The Library
A couple of the lads top and tail Bettina, while Gili and Wanda pair off prior to receiving their own share of male attention. Theoretically it's explicit, hardcore sex, but the soft focus and slow-mo threaten to make it, in practice, another bland Millerman offering.
From: Private XXX 5, Spain, March 1999. Director: John Millerman. Cast: Bettina, Gili Sky, Wanda Curtis, Robert Rosenberg, Toni Ribas, Nick Lang.

Straw
Monique and Bettina enjoy a light girl-girl affair in the corner of a barn, before Robert arrives and the raunch factor increases mildly. Once more, tasteful lighting and styling mean it looks superb but there's so little verve about it.
From: Amanda's Diary 5, Spain, March 1999. Director: John Millerman. Cast: Bettina, Monique Covet, Robert Rosenberg.

Bettina's Surprise
Looking exceedingly sexy, as she does in several clips here, Wanda Curtis enjoys a smoochy pairing with Toni Ribas, which the entrances of Bettina, then Alex, turn into a raunchier foursome with anal for both girls on the cards.
From: Amanda's Diary 5, Spain, March 1999. Director: John Millerman. Cast: Bettina, Wanda Curtis, Alex Mantegna, Toni Ribas.

Cunt Clinic
Pounding beats dominate the soundtrack of a highly stylised scene in which Bettina and Monique perform a lesbian floorshow in a bizarre surgery set, before they revive patient Tony's tool. Tony's vulnerable position is fully exploited by the naughty nurses - a kinky metal toy and a strap-on find their way up his bum in before the scene concludes in a variation on the conventional fashion!
From: Tanya Hyde's London Calling, London, August 1999. Director: Tanya Hyde. Cast: Bettina, Monique Covet, Tony De Sergio.

Taxi to Tonsiltown
The tables are turned here, with Bettina as Tony's blindfolded slave, blowing his dick as they travel in a real London black cab on their way to another kinky encounter with Monique, who readies herself for the ensuing action with some sex toys at her esoterically decorated apartment.
From: Tanya Hyde's London Calling, London, August 1999. Director: Tanya Hyde. Cast: Bettina, Monique Covet, Tony De Sergio.