The Back Row (Collector's Set) is a fascinating two-film combination that includes the 1972 classic The Back Row along with the 2001 remake of director Jerry Douglas' (directing under the pseudonym Doug Richards) gay homage to Midnight Cowboy, so viewers can compare and contrast the consistency of the gay urban lifestyle within the changing times. Viewers might wax nostalgically about the halcyon days of yore, but the bottom line is that though time marches on, things really don't change significantly. The 1972 incarnation of The Back Row is a cat and mouse game of cruising and the many aborted attempts for star Casey Donovan and cowboy George Payne to hook-up in the porn theaters, sex shops and t-rooms that comprise the urban environment. As filmmaking goes, this classic is a testament to the creative art prior to the introduction of video, and is storytelling at its finest. It's honest, sincere and totally devoid of the irony that currently runs rampant in today's society. As a documentation of the early '70s, many viewers will be amazed that pierced genitalia is not a nineties phenomenon, despite the current craze. Hot wax, leather and, yes, even condoms, have a deep rooted history within the gay psyche. Construction worker Chris Villette is a total hottie, too. For the 2001 version, director Chi Chi LaRue has stuck amazingly faithful to the original. Scene for scene, character for character, location for location, LaRue has recreated The Back Row for the 21st century, including an updated, nom worthy soundtrack by Sharon Kane. Perhaps the only deviation from the original occurs during the bathroom orgy, when the excessive LaRue couldn't help but to include the ticket seller, increasing the body count by one. Considering the ubiquity of pierced penises both in real life and among porn stars, it's strange that Danny Lopez is cast in the role that originally included the body ornamentation, but that diesn't detract from this fascinating opportunity to contrast porn in a then-and-now environment. The eerie appearance of the twin towers will also help to date the 2001 version for future generations. Cast 1972: D: Doug Richards (a.k.a. Jerry Douglas). Casey Donovan, George Payne, Robin Anderson, David Knox, Warren Carlton, Chris Villette, Arthur Graham, Robert Tristan. Cast 2001: D: Chi Chi LaRue. Kyle Kennedy, Ryan Zane, Chad Hunt, Ethan Richards, Mark Slade, Dante Foxx, Rob Kirk, Danny Lopez, Thomas Bond, Tanner Reeves; Mistress Mona, Billy Hart (Non-Sex Roles)
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