Both Ways (1975) User Reviews

Kind of unique in a few ways, but very Dreary.

[onnanob2 · 2/10 · 11 March 2002]

Both Ways was kind of unique for a hardcore porno movie when it was released in 1976. For one thing, it's lead female star was disco singer Andrea True, of the Andrea True Connection ("More More More".) Andrea already had a few other porno films under her belt by this time, but it was still a strange novelty that a singer with a top 10 hit was doing explicit sex scenes in movies. Another kind of unique feature is that this hardcore film actually had child characters that were played by children in some of the non-sex scenes. The male bisexual theme of the movie was unique for its era, and the sex scenes were totally explicit. Both Ways is the story of a bisexual husband (Gerald Grant, who also played a bisexual husband in the much better, softcore film "Score.")He wants to try going both ways, but his wife (Andrea True) does not like his bisexual desires. POSSIBLE SPOILERS: The husband is overcome by his attraction for men during a wife swapping scene, & reaches out to touch the other husband. That moment in the film expresses the awkwardness such a situation would have when the other husband realizes our main male character is touching him. Eventually the husband (Gerald Grant) meets a gay fellow, & they then have their rendezvous. Things then become much more complicated between the husband, his wife and their children. Finally in the end the husband ends up murdering the gay fellow during an argument. I might have made this movie sound more interesting than it is, but Both Ways is a dreary hardcore movie that leaves a lot to be desired! The plot itself is muddled, & the characters are uninteresting. The acting is not very good, and neither is some of the photography. The explicit sex scenes are not very erotic. Overall the movie is just not well crafted.

Interesting 70's porn on bisexuality

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 10 August 2016]

Seemingly content husband and father Donald Wyman (a fine performance by Gerald Grant) has a difficult time finding a balance between his domestic life with sensual, yet frustrated wife Janet (a touching and credible turn by Andrea True) and his secret affair with hunky gay lover Gary Littleton (an excellent portrayal by Dean Tait).

Writer/director Jerry Douglas handles the engrossing story in a smart, thoughtful, and sensitive manner, astutely captures the complexities of romantic relationships, and doesn't wrap things up at the conclusion with a fake happy ending. Moreover, Douglas also makes nice use of various neat locations that include a marina, Yale University, and a Greenwich Village gay bar. The solid acting by a capable cast holds this movie together: The three leads all do sturdy work in their roles, with sound support from Katherine Miles as uptight housekeeper Pauline, Jake Everett as snoopy antiques dealer Irwin, Bill Morgan as obnoxious loudmouth Hank, Darby Lloyd Haines as kooky swinging neighbor Louise, and Neil Scott as Donald's adorable son David. The sex scenes are reasonably hot and explicit. Hal Jordan's groovy, yet melodic score does the tuneful trick. Ken Savitt's pretty cinematography provides a pleasing bright look. Well worth seeing for Golden Age adult cinema aficionados looking for something different.