PHILADELPHIA - Video-on-demand site HotMovies.com has signed an exclusive deal with Bissco Films to feature the porn classic Johnny Wadd.
The 1971 feature was the first to star adult film legend John Holmes in the hard-boiled detective role that gave him his famous porn nickname. AVN Hall of Famer Bob Chinn, a UCLA film school graduate who discovered Holmes, wrote and directed the movie to showcase Holmes' 12 1/2-inch talent.
"HotMovies was an easy choice as the right partner to bring this amazing classic to a huge audience on the web," Chinn said. "I know we've found the right home, and it'll be exciting to see it online for the first time ever. They've done such a great job with the restoration, it's looking even better than it did when it was first shown on the big screen in 1971."
Last year, Chinn found an original 16mm print of the long-unavailable film in his personal archives. VCX restored the film for DVD release with a new wet-gate transfer and extras, including a mini-doc with the director discussing the history of the film and his association with Holmes.
The Johnny Wadd disc scored a 2009 AVN Award nomination for Best Classic Release. A dedicated theater on HotMovies.com will stream the movie and all of the DVD extras.
"There is no bigger industry legend than John Holmes and this is the film that launched him into superstardom," said James Cybert, director of business development for National A-1, parent company of HotMovies. "We're thrilled at the chance to partner with Bissco Films to offer this amazing piece of porn history."
