LOS ANGELES—AVN Hall of Fame director Paul "P.T." Thomas' highly anticipated revamp of adult classic Behind the Green Door debuts Tuesday on Vivid.com, with subsequent premieres on DVD Sept. 24 and on VividTV Oct. 1.
The New Behind the Green Door is based upon an original screenplay exploring the sexual side of human nature in much the same way as the iconic character Marilyn Chambers portrayed in the original. It was shot in the same San Francisco locations as the pioneering 1972 film and includes footage of Chambers throughout as part of its dramatic tension.
Produced by brothers Artie and Jim Mitchell, Behind the Green Door—to be included as part of the updated version's two-disc DVD set—was the first adult film to include an interracial sex scene, and is considered one of the iconic greats of the era, along with Debbie Does Dallas, The Devil in Miss Jones and Deep Throat, all of which have previously been remade by Thomas.
The movie generated headlines when it was revealed that Chambers was the same beautiful blonde model seen smiling and holding a freshly diapered baby on millions of boxes of Ivory Snow laundry detergent on grocery shelves across the country. Millions of boxes were recalled, but those that remained became collector’s items.
Chambers’ daughter, McKenna Taylor, appears in a non-sex role in bonus footage included with the new movie. “I was very close to my mother and will always be proud of her," Taylor said. "It’s amazing to see what started my mother’s legacy come to life again and to have a new generation be introduced to it through this movie.”
Along with reigning AVN Male Performer of the Year James Deen, the new movie stars Brooklyn Lee as Hope, who goes on an erotic journey as she desperately tries to find her birth mother.
“I was in complete disbelief when I learned that I got the role,” Lee said. “I wanted it so badly and I poured my heart into it. Marilyn Chambers was an all-American beauty and truly one of the greats. I felt deeply honored to be entrusted with the reboot of the role that essentially defined her career. I can only hope she would be proud.”
Commented Thomas, “This movie was in my DNA. I truly yearned to direct it for decades and was happy beyond reason when it happened.”
“We wanted to complete our set of remakes of all four of these classic movies in great style and we think Paul Thomas has captured the erotic heat of the original in his new version,” added Vivid founder/co-chairman Steven Hirsch.
Additional cast members include Johnnie Keyes, a star in the original making a special appearance, along with Dana DeArmond, Penny Pax, Bailey Blue, Mia Lelani, Ash Hollywood, Brandy Aniston, Chanel Preston, Chastity Lynn, Presley Hart, Richie Calhoun, Jon Jon, Hershel Savage, Nat Turnher, Prince Yahshua, Michael Vegas, Eric Swiss, Karlo Karrera and Steven St. Croix.
