The Cassavetes of Porn

The Center for Communication will be hosting a series of Fall panels, including "Pornography Goes Mainstream." If that were true, the Center's press release wouldn't misspell the name of Jenna Jameson. Let's nonetheless concede that there's plenty of media hype over the DVD release of Vivid Video's The New Devil In Miss Jones. It's a proper New York City event, too, with a billboard in Times Square and Savanna Samson in the title role.

Savanna remains the only genuine porn queen who calls New York home. The former Scores dancer lives just around the corner from the Vivid billboard that often features her blonde beauty. More importantly, the original Devil In Miss Jones was made in Manhattan back in 1972, with the stunningly slutty Georgina Spelvin in the title role.

The former Broadway dancer had just the right sullen sexuality as the virginal suicide who gets some sympathy from the Devil. Miss Jones is approaching spinsterhood (by 1972 standards), and she's disappointed to learn that the Pope is right and even good people go to Hell once they slash their wrists. Satan decides to give Miss Jones a break by letting her indulge in a slate of afterlife orgies-so she'll properly suffer when she's left on the brink of orgasm for all eternity. It's one of the great bummers in the history of porn.

The original was the highlight of the first wave of porn chic, and remains one of the best indies ever made in New York City.

Tonight's party at Crobar, however, isn't very chic. It's just another gathering of the typically square hipster press. Free condoms and porn draw a crowd of course, but it's the kind of scene that usually means that I should be somewhere else. At least Savanna deserves the attention, since she's genuinely bright and articulate.

I've been talking to Savanna about The New Devil in Miss Jones for about two years now-it may set the record for post-production in porn. Most adult videos hit the shelves before the starlet's back home with her drummer boyfriend hosing down her face with antiseptic.

The reason for the wait has a lot to do with the high standards of director Paul Thomas. I'm here to interview him, about Vivid's 3-DVD set, which includes the original so you can't go wrong.

"This film," Thomas tells me, "is as good and emotionally true as any X-rated film ever made. It equals or surpasses the original."

That's the confidence that turned the former adult star into the John Cassavetes of porn. Most people in the industry gave up on storytelling after the invention of the Fast Forward button. Thomas insists on dramatic scenes and a leisurely pace. A big company like Vivid likes that attitude, but it hasn't made Thomas a household name for people who shouldn't have households.

Thomas explains, "People will say what the fuck does any of that have to do with me getting off? Here's how: When you're watching a movie, if you're drawn into other people's emotions, your orgasm is better."

That's true, but it's also one of the few things in porn that you shouldn't attempt in real life.

I get home and watch The New Devil In Miss Jones, and I kinda feel like I did about the remake of Dawn Of The Dead. It's a great movie that also succeeds in not pissing me off. Savanna gets to showcase her study of Stella Adler. There's a nice turn by Jenna Jameson that proves she can still be an interesting performer. The film's tone remains oppressive, and nobody enjoys a happy ending.

-J.R. Taylor