Impulse Pictures apparently restored “The Chambermaids” from a nearly destroyed theatrical print, and boy does it show. Despite the attempts to keep it pristine, “The Chambermaids” still looks like it was carried over from a projector. But for folks that appreciate the faux grindhouse aesthetic, it might add to the experience. What’s more entertaining is the inadvertent comedy, bad acting, really bad sound looping, and shadows of crew members during certain scenes. “The Chambermaids” is only seventy minutes long and wastes absolutely no time establishing its plot. Or what little there is.
After the title card, we meet Mary Ellen and Sally, both of whom are bored and decide the best way to remedy the tedium is by sleeping with the residents of the hotel. Surely enough in the next scene, there’s many a frolicking and hardcore sex to be had. The plot basically takes a back seat, but then it’s only just a catalyst for the repeated hardcore sex that ensues. They’re bored, so they decide to romp around with the guests. What else do we need? “The Chambermaids” is a fairly routine and humdrum seventies stag film, with some gorgeous women, and hairy men rolling around in bed, and much of the narrative only introduced to bring us in to the closing title card.
What little narrative there is involves a comical mix-up between the hotel managers’ wife and a resident, and a sub-plot about a wife having trouble arousing her husband. The film ends on an overlong double take of a dumb founded male character when he realizes he’s slept with the hotel managers’ wife. It’s a comical shot, but not for the intended reasons. Valerie Marron is very voluptuous and is looks very good in most of her scenes.
It’s also a real kick to see busty Valerie True (singer of disco classic “More, More, More”) engage in a lesbian three way, and flash her very appealing body for the second half of the movie. True looks dynamic on-screen and she’s the highlight. “The Chambermaids” is Impulse’s best attempt to restore a nearly lost adult film, and it’s worth a watch if only for the really bad filmmaking style.