I loved Brad Armstrong's "Eternity", far more than a Stormy Daniels vehicle but a tribute to romantic novels and their eroticism, even in a XXX context. As usual, I diverge from the industry consensus, as male lead Randy Spears' one-note villain earned him awards but for me heavily detracted from the film's overall effectiveness.
That's because unlike porn critics and organizations like AVN I bring a film buff/historian's POV to the table when watching Adult Cinema. Armstrong is not cranking out mindless junk but rather attempting with some success to create explicit sexual movies that play just like mainstream films.
So as this story of a romantic heroine from the 1800s plays out I am reminded of the classic British movies of the 1940s from Gainsborough Pictures -fabulous period pictures with memorable heroines and dashing villains and a romantic sensibility never approximated by any other movie company before or since. Their best work in this vein is typified in "The Wicked Lady" and "The Man in Grey", both with James Mason and surviving as classics, though the Studio is also associated with many mainstream winners including Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes".
But instead of a multi-dimensional, fascinating villain Randy Spears plays dastardly Sir Adam Dalton on one-note, an irritable and irritating tyrant who marries Stormy's character Silvia after first arriving to seize her home and lands as a ruthless creditor.
Stormy has a dual role, also playing namesake Silvia's great-great granddaughter on her wedding day 200 years later in the 21st Century. Film unfolds narrated by the great Veronica Hart as the latter-day mom, presenting Stormy with the family locket and relating the tragic but inspiring tale of her ancestor, a legend that will live on "for eternity".
Armstrong's well-written script hits all the cliches and heart-tugging elements of romantic fiction, and creates tremendous identification with Stormy, perfect for a star vehicle for his Wicked Pictures. Cast as her loyal hand maiden is fellow Wicked contract star "jessica drake" (her usual lower case billing) and a bevy of beauties is skilfully woven into the 2-1/2 hour picture for sexual stimulation of the target audience.
Brad's skill at piloting such a project is evidenced throughout (other than his blinders as to the central Spears performance, which Brad in the "Making of" featurette on the 2nd DVD in the deluxe release package is aimed at winning industry awards, almost as if a fix was in (hint, hint). Shot in 35mm, it features lavish locations, beautiful costuming and wigs for the ladies, romantic photography by house d.p. Francois Clousot, and well-executed mainstream elements as in sword-fighting, a duel with pistols and a wonderful trained horse for Stormy to ride. Hart's NonSex participation adds immeasurably to the class of the picture.
An interesting sidelight is related by Brad, in that he spent many years planning this project, first conceived as a Stephanie Swift vehicle set in Spain and later fashioned for another Wicked superstar, before Stormy ever entered the Adult biz. Daniels proved to be a fine choice, utterly lovely (and sexy as always) and good enough to overcome the handicap of battling such a cardboard male lead.
