On Thursday, September 2, 1999, my friend Tim and I saw John Waters live and in person at a local cineplex here in Austin. He did about a one hour spoken presentation and then retired to a local club called Antones where he chatted with visitors and took pictures and signed autographs. Even local website Czar Harry Knowles showed up for the event.

After getting autographs, Tim and I decided to take in the Johnny Holmes story at a midnight showing at the Alamo Draft House. We joked about seeing Waters and Wadd as a double bill. And how Waters and Wadd would be a great name for a law firm or a private detective agency. "Waters and Wadd, please hold." Wadd, of course, was the name of a character played by porn star Holmes in many of his 70's cheapie erotica films. Everyone knows the name but many of us have not ever seen the films. And while a documentary solely regarding Holmes work in porno would be ample reason for a 2 hour movie, filmmaker Cass Paley knows there is much more to the story here.

Holmes real life eventually began to emulate his screen work in some ways. And in the mid 70's, when cocaine entered the scene, Holmes spiraled out of control eventually involving himself with hoodlums, cops and a multiple murder triggered by revenge before going to prison for a short stint. That's not the capper however, Holmes life ended when he died of AIDS in the mid-80's. Through interviews with those who knew him in the porn industry, including his co-stars like Kitten Navidad and Ron Jeremy and his manager and director, Paley begins to weave the story of what Holmes' films and career were like. We also get a unique insight into what made Holmes tick. But the kickers in these early segments are interviews with his first wife, whom Holmes never acknowledged publicly. She gives outstanding testimony in the film while her face remains shrouded in shadow. 

Also shown are pictures of John as a young man including some of his early work in porn where he is youthful and clean-shaven. Holmes looks surprisingly cute and gawky, and this helps serve to remind us that while Holmes may be best well known for his work in porno films which featured his ungodly long penis (somewhere between 12 and 14 inches), it was his unassuming and rather unthreatening nature in these early films which helped to make him a star. Holmes may have been a cocksman, and even a bit of a good amateur actor, but what made him a legend, other than his penis size, is that men (the main purveyors of porn) were not threatened by him. Instead of making others feel inadequate or belittled, Holmes persona created an aura of an "aw-shucks" mentality about his unique appendage. Holmes, until much later in his career, never used his size against anyone else; it was always used for pleasure and fun. But drugs entered the scene and so do cops enter the film. Holmes, they claim, was an informant for the L.A. vice squad who helped them raid porno shoots and drug scenes. Holmes himself apparently did no drinking and no drugs until late in his career. Here is where the unruly nature of Holmes life begins to be exposed and we see him on a path to destruction when he begins to do cocaine, drink heavily and even takes in a 15 year old girl as his mistress whom he soon begins to prostitute for drug money. Holmes begins to steal as well. 

Paley uses every technique available to tell the story, interviews with those involved in the story; interviews with erotic film historians; interviews with Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed "Boogie Nights," somewhat based on Holmes' life. Paley uses clips from Holmes' film work without making the film pornographic really. While Holmes' cock is shown, there is never any penetration shown or oral copulation either. The film would probably get an NC-17 rating, but it is not truly pornographic in it's visuals. 

Paley also uses filmed interview segments that Holmes did during his career where we get to see Holmes spin his wild yarns about his life and his career. His manager does an interesting rap about how Holmes would sometimes confuse reality with the lies they made up to promote his career. and we begin to glean the unique person that Holmes was. While Paley's film, at 2 hours, is a bit long, there is just so much information to cover that one could not really edit much here. Those who go to see the film hoping for a clip-fest of Holmes fucking women (and the occasional man) will surely be disappointed. But those adventurous enough to hear the story of a man in decline, a story of where all the sex and drugs led, the true "Boogie Nights" so to speak, will be highly entertained. Paley has created THE document on Holmes' career and life and it is a dark, deep, tangled, weaving of a tale. You will walk away surprised and enlightened. 

Notes: Shown as part of the 1999 Austin Gay and Lesbian Independent Film Festival although the homosexual content of the film is very fleeting.

Personal Notes: The Alamo gave out 14 inch tickets for the film. 

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