The Meat Rack

The pre-condom era find The Meat Rack is an intriguing drama about the sordid life of a young bisexual man "d" into male prostitution. First seen hitchhiking to San Francisco and immediately being picked up by a salivating older man, the curly-haired, tight-jeaned J.C. proves to be an interesting case study of alienation and sexual denial/confusion. Much like Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy and Joe Dallesandro in Flesh, J.T. embarks on a fees-paying sexual odyssey, hooking up with a variety of clients, all of whom are seen in less than flattering light. J.T.'s only glimmer of happiness is offered when he falls in love with innocent Jane; but like all such urban tales of life on the fringe, his happiness is only fleeting. A little heavy-handed in the moralistic "woe is me the homosexual" angle, this time capsule is nonetheless watchable and, at times, eye-opening.