Martin Hewitt: Actors & SKIN

Although actor Martin Hewitt originally envisioned a Shakespearean career, after appearing along side Brooke Shields in 1981's Endless Love, his career to a decidedly different direction.  Although he appeared on television throughout the rest of the 80's, including a brief sit-com role along side Endless Love co-star James Spader, success on the big screen wasn't in the cards.

Carnal Crimes (1991)

Elise is young and beautiful, her husband is no longer interested in having vanilla sex with her. But then, she meets the mysterious photographer Renny and experiences unknown measures of lust and passion.

Despite his good looks, and being a talented actor, Hewitt found his career following the similar pattern of other up and coming young actors who starred alongside female 80's sex symbols. So many actors who co-starred along with Brooke Shields, Bo Derek and others found themselves never able to repeat their early success.  Even actor Leonard Whiting, who was also directed by  Franco Zeffirelli, never repeated the success he had playing Romeo. 

Crime Lords (1991)

'Two ex-cops find themselves alone in their fight against the largest crime syndicate in the world - the Crime Lords. The action takes us from the streets of Los Angeles to the back alleys of Hong Kong in this buddy movie.'

By the time the 90's rolled around, Hewitt was mostly doing television guest spots and appearing in a half a dozen softcore, often straight to video releases.    After he career sputtered to an end, he briefly returned to acting, appearing in episodes of ER and JAG in the early 2000's.  To help pay the bills, Hewitt began a career as a home inspector in the 1990's, and although his agent still called about the occasional role, he was usually too busy with his business' to risk leaving his job for part.

'I really don't miss it my Hollywood career. I've got my own company. I live in a great area. I have great kids. I surf every other day. I've got it all as far as I'm concerned.'

Martin Hewitt

You can download a clip from Crime Lords on SendSpace HERE:

Although I could not get the sound to work, you can download the clip below on SendSpace HERE:

Night Rhythms (1992)

'A radio talk show host is accused of murdering one of his fans while on the air and he must go on the run to somehow prove his innocence.'

It's ironic that Hewitt, the softcore male version of Shannon Tweed, co-starred along side Tweed in his last softcore film Night Rhythms.  Hewitt only has a brief butt scene in the film, darkly lit with blue light.  Check out Hewitt in Secret Games & Secret Games II: The Escort, (featuring one of my favorite Hewitt nude scenes) Below HERE:

Night Fire (1994)

Martin Hewitt in Endless Love

'Just because you're fucking my sister doesn't mean you're part of the family.'

Keith Butterfield (James Spader)

I think we were all Ann (Shirley Knight) in Endless Love when she crept down the stairs and caught her daughter Jade, (Brooke Shields) having sex with her boyfriend David. (Martin Hewitt)  In part, Ann appeared turned on, especially seeing David's beautiful butt thrusting by the light of the fire.  Of course Ann also had to be a bit disturbed, given her daughter Jade was only 15 in the film. 

Shields would have been the same age as her character as her 16th birthday was just months before the film's release in the summer of 1981.   Hewitt, who was cast after a high profile talent search, would have been about 23 years old, playing 17 in the film.  While enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, CA and working as bartender and valet car park/parking lot attendant, Hewitt saw an ad for an open call for a film directed by Franco Zeffirelli and beat out 5,000 actors, including Tom Cruise and Timothy Hutton, for the male lead.

I was only a little kid when the film first came out in 1981, and it was over 10 years later that I discovered it on VHS.  I really don't remember watching the entire film, but scanned for any and all skin scenes featuring the beautiful Hewitt.  It was only in the last decade or two that I sat and watched the film from beginning to end when it aired on one of my cable's movie channels. 

The movie is both better and worse than I remember.  Based on a novel by Scott Spencer, is almost like a 'fast food' version of Splendor in the Grass.  The story certainly holds your interest, but the casting of Shields ultimately fails,  preventing the movie from really being able to pull the viewer in.  The film also featured Jami Gertz, James Spader, (with a great head of hair) and marks the film debut of Tom Cruise. The story however is compelling, and film has some great performances by the adult actors, especially Shirley Knight. 

Reports are that Knight begged Zeffirelli to cast anyone but Shields, suggesting a number of actress's from Jodie Foster, Roseanna Arquette, Linda Blair and even Debra Winger.  It's reported that Meg Ryan was actually close to being cast before they decided on Shields. Shields has stated she was still a virgin when the film was made and was uncomfortable with the way director Franco Zeffirelli pushed her for more during many of the scenes.  Just like in The Blue Lagoon, most of Shields sex scenes were filmed with a body double. 

I'm guessing Zeffirelli may have been more focused on casting the male lead.  Not only does David have the most dramatic scenes, Zeffirelli has a long, and sorted, reputation with the young, good looking actors that he's worked with.

I've written before about the different versions of the film that were released. (HERE:)  The DVD and blu-ray versions have edits that cut out several views of Hewitt's beautiful butt.  You can see much more of Hewitt's backside in the still above, much more than int he actual scene below.  The film was originally given an X rating, forcing the director to make cuts to the nude scenes.  It would be amazing if that version was ever released.

Check out Hewitt's 1990's Softcore appearances on the next page HERE: & HERE:

Endless Love....Again?

When checking my blogger stats, I always know that when my 2012 Blast From The Past feature with actor Martin Hewitt comes up near the top, that Endless Love was playing on some television channel somewhere. The movie was quite memorable, but not so much due to story or acting. Martin was certainly memorable, but I think the most famous part of the movie was the theme song sung by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross.

Not sure if the song will be part of the re-make, but for some reason Universal pictures has decided the flick needs revisiting. Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde are taking on the main roles in a film due in theatres next Valentines day. Although Pettyfer didn't get the best press for Magic Mike, he did stand out in a few movies (Beastly, I Am Number Four) which were mostly, except for his performance, were quite forgettable.

Endless Love was actually an interest story, with a decent foundation, and all the ingredients to make a great romantic tragedy. Will be interesting to see what can be done with the material in the hands of capable actors and a good director.

Pettyfer in Magic Mike

Martin Hewitt:

Martin Hewitt in Endless Love (1981)

The Male Nude in Cinema: 1991

I was still in Jr High in 1991 and spent most of my weekends hitting the movies with my friends.  I saw everything, including most of the movies I'm featuring here.  Some of the biggest, and hottest box office stars of 1991 included Robin Williams, Michael J. Fox, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Costner and Robert De Niro and Harrison Ford.  Believe it or not, Charlie Sheen also made the list thanks to his previous roles in Navy Seals and Major League and his 1991 film Hot Shots.

Coming off 1990's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, actor Kenau Reeves was also at the top of his career, and the top of the box office in 1991.  Keanu was in four films in 1991 including the sequel Bill & Ted's Bogus Adventure as well as Providence, Point Break and My Own Private Idaho.  The film became a cult classic and is considered a landmark film in New Queer Cinema, an early 1990s movement in queer-themed independent filmmaking.

My Own Private Idaho

Two best friends living on the streets of Portland as hustlers embark on a journey of self discovery and find their relationship stumbling along the way.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Although The Silence of the Lambs won the Academy Award for best picture, the highest grossing film of 1991 was Terminator 2, Judgement Day.  Like the first film, the terminator landed on earth in his birthday suit, but star Arnold Schwarzenegger, had a lot more clout in the business, and showed much less nudity than he did in the first film in the franchise. (see HERE:)  No frontals in Judgement Day, but actor Robert Patrick gives us bit more butt when T-1000 makes his arrival. 

1991 was a hot year for erotic thrillers.  Many made short appearances in the theatre before quickly hitting the shelves of local video stores.  Shannon Tweed was the softcore queen, so much so, I devoted a theme day to uncovering some of her hottest co-stars. (HERE:)  So many familiar actors dropped their pants in erotic thrillers.  In 1991 alone, Tom Skerritt, Andrew Stevens, William Katt, James Brolin, Gregory Harrision, Wings Hauser, Scott Valentine and Marc Singer.

Inner Sanctum

Martin Hewitt in Carnal Crimes & Crime Lords

If Shannan Queen was the prince of softcore, Martin Hewitt became the prince.  It's a crime that after his 1981 debut in Endless Love that Hewitt didn't become a bigger star.  Movie roles were scarce after his turn in Endless Love and Hewitt spent most of the rest of the 80's working on television.  By the time the nineties rolled around, Hewitt made the move to softcore films, with 1991 marking the first of a string of films he made in the early to mid-nineties.

Crime Lords

Two of his first were 1991's Crime Lords and Carnal Crimes.  Both were initially released on VHS, and I don't think Crime Lords ever made a transfer to DVD.  I did find a grainy copy on Youtube which provided the brief clip above.

Carnal Crimes:

If Looks Could Kill

So, actor Richard Grieco was not nude in 1991's If Looks Could Kill, (aka Teen Spy) but his scene in his tighty whities was a scene, incredibly memorable to me.  I remember being with a group of friends, and fighting hard to hold in my excitement, and to hid my erection, during the scene.  Good thing for big tubs of popcorn. 

-Check out more moments of Male Nudity from 1991 in the post below-