The Devil in Miss Jones (
1973The year 1973 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces his second wife, Barbara Blakely. Blakely would later marry actor/singer Frank Sinatra....
) is a pornographic film, written, directed and produced by
Gerard DamianoGerard Damiano was an American director of pornographic films and producer/director of the 1972 cult classic Deep Throat.-Biography:...
and starring
Georgina SpelvinGeorgina Spelvin, born Michelle Graham on March 1, 1936, is a former American pornographic actress who is best known for her appearance in the classic film The Devil in Miss Jones.-Before Devil:...
. It is widely regarded as a "classic" adult film, released during the so-called
Golden Age of PornThe Golden Age of Porn or porno chic refers to a brief modern period in the history of pornography, approximately from the late-sixties to the early-to-mid-1980s...
. Damiano made the film after his 1972 success with
Deep ThroatDeep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and starring Linda Lovelace ....
. Along with
Deep Throat and
Behind the Green DoorBehind the Green Door was a 1972 theatrically-released feature-length pornographic film, which is widely considered to be a "classic". It was the first hardcore pornographic film widely released in the United States. It was the first feature-length film directed by the Mitchell brothers and starred...
, the film is associated with the brief period known as Porno chic. It went on to spawn numerous remakes and sequels.
Georgina Spelvin
At 36 Spelvin was relatively old for a porn star when she made the film. Her role in
TDIMJ was typical of her career, as she often played celibate spinsters who have a sexual awakening, then become sex fiends (eg.
Sleepyhead). She also meets a tragic end in several of her other films. The film also marked the first time she used the moniker Georgina Spelvin, a reference to
George SpelvinGeorge Spelvin, Georgette Spelvin, and Georgina Spelvin are the traditional pseudonyms used in programs in American theater. The reasons for the use of an alternate name vary. Actors who don't want to be credited, or whose names would otherwise appear twice because they are playing more than one...
.
Plot
Georgina Spelvin plays Justine Jones, a lonely,
depressedMajor depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
spinsterThe term "spinster" was originally intended to indicate a woman who spun wool, thereby living independently of a male wage. These women were invariably single and, due to the medieval fear of unmarried women, became correlated with their pagan sisters as witches...
who decides that
suicideSuicide is the intentional killing of one's self. Many dictionaries also note the metaphorical sense of "willful destruction of one's self-interest"...
is the only way out of her routinely dull existence. While lying in the bathtub, Justine slits her wrists, dying quietly as the tub fills with her blood.
Because she has lived a 'pure' life, Miss Jones finds herself in limbo. There she meets Mr. Abaca (John Clemens), an
angelAngels are spiritual beings found in many religious traditions. They are broadly viewed as messengers of God, sent to do God's tasks. Traditions vary as to the precise nature and role of these messages and tasks...
, of sorts, who informs her that she does not qualify for entrance to
HeavenHeaven may refer to the physical heavens, the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the universe beyond. This is the traditional literal meaning of the term in English...
because she has taken her own life. Angry that this one indiscretion has left her with only the options of limbo or
HellIn many religious traditions, Hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife, often in the underworld. Religions with a linear divine history often depict Hell as endless...
, she begs Mr. Abaca to let her "earn" her place in
HellIn many religious traditions, Hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife, often in the underworld. Religions with a linear divine history often depict Hell as endless...
by being allowed to return to earth and become the embodiment of lust. After an intense session of pain and pleasure with a menacing man who goes only by the title of "The Teacher" (
Harry ReemsHarry Reems is the stage name of one of the best-known porn stars of the 1970s and star of the 1972 cult classic Deep Throat.-Early life and career:Harry Reems was born Herbert Streicher to a Jewish family in Bronx, New York on August 27, 1947...
), Justine has a few bizarre and sexually deviant encounters, the last of which is a graphic
threesomeGroup sex is sexual behaviour involving more than three participants at the same time. The main focus of this page is group sex among humans, however group sex also occurs in other animal species - e.g...
.
However, just as she's enjoying her new life of lust, the brief time Justine was given to fulfill herself runs out and she is faced with the eternity of Hell. At first, Miss Jones is horrified at the pain she will be forced to endure, but Abaca is quick to dispel the common human myth of Hell and promises Justine that she will be "quite comfortable..."
Justine, now a raging sex addict, then finds herself confined to a small room with an impotent, sexually disinterested man who is more interested in catching
fliesTrue flies are insects of the order Diptera , possessing a single pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax....
than her. She desperately begs the man for sex, but he simply asks her to be quiet while he listens to the buzzing of his imaginary insects.
Trapped in her own private hell, Miss Jones is left screaming in agony for all eternity, thirsting for a
climaxIn general, a climax is a point of greatest intensity or force in an ascending series; i.e., a culmination...
she will never achieve by her own means.
Box office
It was given an X rating by the MPAA. The film premiered at the 57th Street Playhouse in New York City. In many theaters it was shown after
Deep Throat as part of a double bill.
TDIMJ broke the box office record for a pornographic film. It was more commercially successful than both
Deep Throat and
Behind the Green Door, and successfully competed against mainstream films. It took $7.7 million at the box office, making it the seventh most successful film of 1973, just behind
Live and Let DieLive and Let Die may refer to:*Live and Let Die , a James Bond novel by Ian Fleming*Live and Let Die , a 1973 film starring Roger Moore loosely based upon the novel*Live and Let Die , the soundtrack album of the 1973 film...
and
Paper Moon-Video:*Paper Moon , a 1973 American motion picture comedy directed by Peter Bogdanovich*Paper Moon , a 1974–1975 series on the ABC television network-Music:*Paper Moon , an indie rock band from Winnipeg, Canada...
.
Critical reception
As with the other films of the Porno chic era, it was reviewed by the film critics of mainstream newspapers. The films review in
VarietyVariety is a weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the Daily...
said that, "With
The Devil in Miss Jones, the hard-core porno feature approaches an art form, one that critics may have a tough time ignoring in the future", and compared its plot to Jean Paul Sartre's play
No ExitNo Exit is a 1944 existentialist play by Jean-Paul Sartre, originally published in French as Huis Clos...
. The review went on to say, "Damiano has expertly fashioned a bizarre melodrama", and described the opening scene as, "a sequence so effective it would stand out in any legit theatrical feature." It finished by stating, "Booking a film of this technical quality into a standard sex house is tantamount to throwing it on the trash heap of most current hard-core fare."
According to Peter Michelson there is, "a relatively small corpus of [pornographic] films - e.g.,
Deep ThroatDeep Throat is a 1972 American pornographic film written and directed by Gerard Damiano and starring Linda Lovelace ....
,
Devil in Miss Jones,
Behind the Green DoorBehind the Green Door was a 1972 theatrically-released feature-length pornographic film, which is widely considered to be a "classic". It was the first hardcore pornographic film widely released in the United States. It was the first feature-length film directed by the Mitchell brothers and starred...
- that have a minimal but still sufficient artistic interest to distinguish themselves from the rest of the genre",
Other critics have described it as, along with
Deep Throat, one of the "two best erotic motion pictures ever made".
William FriedkinWilliam Friedkin is an American film director, producer and screenwriter best known for directing The Exorcist and The French Connection in the early 1970s...
has called it a "great film", partly due to it being one of the few porn films with a proper storyline. It was one of the first films to be inducted into the
XRCO Hall of FameXRCO Hall of Fame lists some of the most notable adult entertainment works and workers. The list is managed by X-Rated Critics Organization and inducted annually during the XRCO awards.-Actors:* 1985 John C...
.
Sequels and remakes
In 2006,
VCXVariable charge X-linked protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the VCX gene.-Further reading:...
employed
Media BlastersMedia Blasters is a corporation in New York City that was founded by John Sirabella and Sam Liebowitz that acquires films that they translate, package, and dub. They are most well known for anime and live action Asian films for home video release...
to digitally re-master the film from the original 35mm film into a "Definitive Collectors Edition" 2-Disc set on DVD. This latest revision has been repackaged and supposedly has the best picture and audio quality of any original Devil In Miss Jones release. The DVDs contains the remastered feature, audio commentary with director
Gerard DamianoGerard Damiano was an American director of pornographic films and producer/director of the 1972 cult classic Deep Throat.-Biography:...
, a lengthy in-depth interview with Georgina Spelvin, the original trailer, the cable TV version, and a photo gallery.
The Devil in Miss Jones 2
(1982,
VCA PicturesVCA Pictures is an American pornographic film production and distribution company. The company was founded by Russ Hampshire, and was fomerly a major player during the 'Golden Age of Porn'. Throughout the 70's and 80's VCA produced big budget, plot-oriented feature films...
)
Starring:
Jacqueline LoriansJacqueline Lorians was a pornographic actress during the 1980s. Her performance in Beauty and the Beast won her the 1989 AVN Award for Best Supporting Actress, Video....
,
Georgina SpelvinGeorgina Spelvin, born Michelle Graham on March 1, 1936, is a former American pornographic actress who is best known for her appearance in the classic film The Devil in Miss Jones.-Before Devil:...
,
Jack WranglerJack Wrangler was an American actor of gay and straight adult film, theatrical producer, and director. Open about his homosexuality and adult film work throughout his career, Wrangler was considered an icon of the gay-liberation movement.In 2008, a feature-length documentary film, Wrangler:...
, Anna Ventura, Joanna Storm, R. Bolla,
Sharon MitchellSharon Mitchell is the Director of the Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation, which she set up in 1998. She used to be an erotic actress, with a pornographic career spanning over two decades.- Adult film career :...
,
Ron JeremyRonald Jeremy Hyatt , usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American pornographic actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog", he was ranked by AVN at number one in their "The 50 Top Porn Stars of All Time" list...
written by Ellie Hayward and Henri Pachard; directed by
Henri PachardHenri Pachard was the pseudonym of American pornographic film director Ron Sullivan . His other aliases included Jackson St. Louis and Crystal Blue....
).
A satirical take-off on the original, its title track was sung by
Johnny HartmanJohn Maurice "Johnny" Hartman , a Chicago-born baritone jazz singer who is remembered for his smooth performances of jazz ballads, best known for his work with John Coltrane. Their 1963 album John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman is a jazz classic, and the recording "Lush Life" was inducted into the...
.
The Devil in Miss Jones 3: A New Beginning
(1986, VCA Pictures)
Starring
Lois AyresLois Ayres is an American pornographic actress.Ayres was recognized for her contributions to the adult industry by being inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame.-External links:*...
, Jack Baker,
Careena CollinsCareena Collins is an American porn actress, who began performing in 1985 at the age of eighteen.- Awards :*1996 XRCO Award – Best Anal Sex Scene – The Bottom Dweller 33 1/3*1996 XRCO Award – Best Male-Female Scene – Kink...
,
Vanessa del RioVanessa del Rio is an American retired pornographic actress.-Early years:Vanessa del Rio was born and raised in Harlem, New York, the daughter of immigrants from Cuba and Puerto Rico and of mixed African and Spanish background.-Career:Del Rio began appearing in adult films in 1974 after a strict...
,
Amber LynnAmber Lynn is an American pornographic film actress and exotic dancer. She entered the adult film industry in 1984, after her friend Ginger Lynn Allen...
, Kari Foxx,
Tom ByronTom Byron is an American pornographic actor and director. He is of Italian descent...
, Jennifer Noxt, Chanel, Keli Richards Peter North, Mark Wallice, Paul Thomas.Kevin James had a non-performing role.
Written by Gregory Dark and Johnny Jump-Up; produced and directed by
Gregory DarkGregory Dark is an American film director, film producer, music video director, and screenwriter. Dark is one of the few adult film-makers to successfully transition into mainstream Hollywood film-making...
).
It won 'Best Film' at the 1987
AVN AwardsThe AVN Awards are movie awards sponsored and presented by the American adult video industry trade magazine AVN to honor exceptional performance in various aspects of the creation and marketing of American pornographic movies. They are called the "Oscars of porn"...
.
The Devil in Miss Jones 4: The Final Outrage
(1986, VCA Pictures)
Starring: Lois Ayres, Jack Baker, Patti Petite,
Kristara BarringtonKristara Barrington is a former American pornographic actress. Her Eurasian appearance allowed her to switch between playing Asian and European roles...
, Keli Richards,
Krista LaneKrista Lane is a former pornographic actress who achieved prominence as a lead during the mid to latter part of the 1980s.-Awards:*1987 AVN Award – Best Couples Sex Scene – Blame it on Ginger...
, Tamara Longley,
Erica BoyerErica Boyer is a retired pornographic actress. She is a member of the AVN Hall of FameShe has been stated as being bisexual....
, Paul Thomas, Ron Jeremy, F.M. Bradley and Kevin James. Written by Gregory Dark and Johnny Jump-Up; produced and directed by Gregory Dark. Parts 3 & 4 together won 'Best Classic
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
' at the 2000 AVN Awards.
The Devil in Miss Jones 5: The Inferno
(1995, VCA Pictures)
Starring
Juli AshtonJuli Ashton is an American pornographic actress and television host.- Education :After Ashton graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Spanish and History, she taught Spanish at a junior high school for a year.- Adult film career :In 1994, she moved to Florida, and began appearing...
, Rip Hymen,
Tammi AnnTammi Ann is a former American porn star.She debuted in around 1993 and left the adult film industry in 1998. She made around 200 adult movies during her career.-Awards:...
, Nicole Lace, Vanessa Chase, Ariana, Rowan Fairmont, Barbara Doll,
Rebecca LordRebecca Lord is the stage name of a French pornographic actress who has been active since 1993. After moving to the U.S., she achieved popularity in the porn industry there.-Early years:...
, Serenity, Tom Byron, Dave Cummings, Mark Davis
written by Selwyn Harris; produced and directed by Gregory Dark.
The Devil in Miss Jones 6
(1999, VCA Pictures)
Starring
Stacy ValentineStacy Valentine is a former American porn star.Adopted by her parents in Tulsa, Oklahoma and married at a young age, Baker posed for Gallery magazine's "Girl Next Door " amateur photo contest. She won the contest, and parlayed this into a follow-up spread in Hustler magazine...
,
ViccaVicca is a Russian glamour model and former contract porn star for VCA Pictures and Private Media Group. Vicca is noted for her onscreen performances with her girlfriend, fellow Russian actress Nikita Gross, and for being December 1998's American Penthouse Pet of the Month and 2001 Penthouse Pet...
, Nikita,
Randy SpearsRandy Spears is a well known pornographic actor, having appeared in well over 720 features. Sometimes credited as Greg Ory or Greg Slavin....
,
Juli AshtonJuli Ashton is an American pornographic actress and television host.- Education :After Ashton graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Spanish and History, she taught Spanish at a junior high school for a year.- Adult film career :In 1994, she moved to Florida, and began appearing...
, Dizzy,
Tina TylerTina Tyler was a prolific Canadian pornographic actress, director and is the current director of publicity for Sin City Films...
, Lacey Ogden, Peris Bleu, Anita Cannibal, Scotty Schwartz
written and directed by Antonio Passolini
It won 'Top Renting Release of the Year' at the 2000 AVN Awards.
The New Devil in Miss Jones
(2005,
Vivid EntertainmentVivid Entertainment Group is the world's largest adult video producer, featuring a popular catalog of VHS and DVD titles and internet content. In 2006 it was described by Reuters as one of the handful of studios that dominate the U.S. porn industry....
)
Starring:
Savanna SamsonNatalie Oliveros, better known by her stage name Savanna Samson, is an American pornographic actress.-Early life:Oliveros was born in Rochester, New York.She was trained in ballet throughout her childhood and teen years...
,
Jenna JamesonJenna Jameson is an American entrepreneur and former pornographic actress, who has been called the world's most famous porn star and "The Queen of Porn."...
,
Roxanne Hall__notoc__Roxanne Hall is an English adult film actress. She entered the adult film industry in 1994 at the age of around 18, and has since appeared in over 400 films....
,
Angelica SinAngelica Sin is a pornographic actress.-Biography:After graduating from college in 1996, Sin moved to Fort Lauderdale to dance at a strip club there. She says she entered the adult film industry in 1998, doing her first scene with Jenna Jameson.Sin has acted in more than 300 productions, including...
,
Rachel RottenRachel Rotten is an American pornographic actress. Rotten’s career began when she and boyfriend, Rob Rotten, sent their photos out to various adult film agencies. She worked exclusively with her boyfriend. She did her first lesbian scene with Jenna Jameson in "The New Devil in Miss Jones"...
,
Vicky VetteVicky Vette is the stage name of a porn star and nude model. She attributes her stage name to her love of classic Corvettes and their curves reminiscent of a woman's body...
, Dick Smothers Jr.,
Nick ManningNick "Nasty Nick" Manning is an American pornographic actor, director, sex expert
and former print fashion model.- Biography :...
,
Tony TedeschiTony Tedeschi, birth name Peter Vincent Iannotti, is an American pornographic movie actor.Raised Roman Catholic, and graduate in 1982 of private catholic high school Bishop Hendricken ....
, Georgina Spelvin; written by Dean Nash and Raven Touchstone; directed by Paul Thomas and edited by
Sonny MaloneSonny Malone is a film editor who has won two AVN Awards , in 2005 for The Masseuse and in 2006 for the 2005 remake of the classic the Devil in Miss Jones starring Jenna Jameson and Savanna Samson...
In AVN Awards 2006, the remake dominated the film categories, winning Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Film, Best Supporting Actress and Best All-Girl Sex Scene. The film cost $250,000 to produce, which, according to New York Times film reviewer Mireya Navarro was "Vivid's most expensive (production) yet" and one of the most expensive pornographic productions of all time.
Georgina Spelvin, the star of the original film, then nearly 70 years old, here takes a non-sexual role as a cleaning woman and mentor to the new Miss Jones.
External links