Playback was originally created for broadcast on late-night cable
TV.
Charles Grant plays a senior executive trying to put together a major
telecommunications merger. That is putting a strain on his marriage to
interior designer Tawny Kitaen. Meanwhile, ambitious Shannon Whirry is
trying to steal the merger and seduce Grant as well. Whirry hires PI Harry Dean Stanton to get some dirt on Grant
and his wife, and
succeeds. The two
attended a sex fantasy club, and made a tape of themselves, which Whirry
gets her hands on. The PI also photographs Grant's horny boss pawing Tawny, and Whirry shows
Grant the photos. Things look black for the home team, but
truth will out.
Given its made-for-adult-cable origin, Playback has an interesting cast,
including George Hamilton and
Harry Dean Stanton, who is predictably excellent in his small role. Tawny
looks great, even after her seven year absence from films; and Shannon is appropriately evil. Unfortunately, the
film has neither enough story nor enough flesh to merit a look. Only
Shannon Whirry or Tawny Kitaen completists will want this, and even
they will be rewarded with minimal nudity.
To make matters worse, this is only available in a German Language
Region 2 PAL!! Unless you have to own every obscure nude scene from
Tawny or Shannon, this is one to skip.
If you are not familiar with our grading system, you need to
read the
explanation, because the grading is not linear. For example, by
our definition, a
C is solid and a C+ is a VERY good movie. There are very few Bs
and As. Based on our descriptive system, this film is a:
