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For many people Radley Metzger’s 1976 film ‘The Opening of Misty Beethoven’ was the greatest adult film of all time. It had everything – a witty script, great cast, international locations, and was made by a talented filmmaker.
And it had the enigmatic Constance Money. Hers is one of the iconic roles in the golden age of adult film.
She was an unlikely star; unlike other actresses in the industry, she made very few films – and two of those, she says she appeared in without her consent, when Radley Metzger re-used footage of her that was shot for Misty Beethoven.
So how does she remember the ‘Misty Beethoven’ experience?
The truth isn’t pretty, and she has outspoken and shocking thoughts on the subject.
After ‘Misty Beethoven’, Constance Money continued to surprise. She managed a hunting lodge in Alaska, appeared in a famous Playboy feature – the first X-Rated actress to do so, and featured in the Blake Edwards film ‘10’ with Julie Andrews. She lived with adult film actor, John Leslie, for a number of years, had a complex relationship with Jamie Gillis – her Misty Beethoven co-star, had a son, and made a surprising comeback for one film in the 1980s.
But what happens to your life when you are still remembered for that one film made forty years ago?
On this episode, for the first time Constance Money speaks about her life, in and out of films.
And in another first for the Rialto Report, we also speak to her father. What is his view of what happened?
This episode running time is 81 minutes.
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Constance Money photos:
Constance Money Playboy pictorial
Constance Money Playboy pictorial
Constance Money Atom Video contest
Constance Money Playboy pictorial
Constance Money Playboy pictorial
Constance Money Playboy pictorial
Constance Money Playboy pictorial
Super cool to finally hear an interview with Constance. Nice!
This is a quite outstanding piece of radio (forgive me, I still consider podcasts to be ‘radio’ – I’m old school). The interview treats a sensitive subject with immense care, and it is never uncomfortable and is ultimately uplifting. 82 minutes of enlightenment. Highly recommended.
Constance was my wet dream for 4 years. One of the most gorgeous women of the golden age. I would have cut off my limbs to be her slave. I could have populated a small city with the times she made me have a “happy ending.” Give her all my love and blessings!!!!!!!!!
It’s about time Constance Money was featured – she was the star of the no. 1 adult film of all time. It’s good to hear her voice – she’s a class act then and now. Such a magnetic figure on screen. I wish she’d broken into the big time.
Thanks Constance / Suzie for many happy memories.
This was definitely a holly grail interview. Constance Money was huge and the world always wondered what had happened to her (as with most adult film stars from the golden age). She sounded very bubbly and fun, same with her dad.
Think I remember Jamie Gillis doing a commentary with Gloria Leonard when Misty Beethoven was released on DVD like 15 years ago. He told the story how Radley gave Constance her name. Ms. Money confirmed that story on this Podcast..
Thank u Mr. West. You’ve delivered gold, again.
epic.. maybe the best ever.. i remember her carrying her son in a pack up and down the hill from Leslie’s house , all over mill valley..the best mother ever..
Thank you for your wonderful work
I love the Rialto Report. I listen to every episode. I re-listen to half of them. They are fascinating people handled brilliantly by all interviewers. But, I have to say that Ms. Money was the only off-putting interviewee. There was something innately self-centered and facile about her. I think she used the Rialto Report as a vehicle… to pose. I won’t be re-listening to this one.
Great interview as always. Did I hear towards the end that she said her Dr. Dad was millions in debt?
At last! So many questions answered, such blunt, honest insight into the people and industry, it’s refreshing. So many interviews gush love for everyone the interview is tainted due to their insincerity expressed. Perhaps time made most forget the dark, seedy side.
Constance, or Suzie, was at the top of all interviews so far, and many are 5-star.
It did give birth to a new question, was her son by John Leslie? It seems implied but never stated. Does anyone know?
You are capturing history, Ashley. Keep up the fine work for these performers of yesteryear. I await your next interview.
This is in a way the Holy Grail of interviews on this peculiar, wild, outlaw, commercialized, compromised yet honest, at times brutally honest culturally significant industry, call it adult, porn, adult or other reductive labels. it is most interesting to hear the full account of it, rather than a gushing love fest, or conversely, a simple minded condemnation of the industry. The truth is somewhere in the middle. This was by all accounts an ordinary though highly intelligent girl who entered a strange world and worked for arguably one of the all time great filmmakers in any genre, Radley Metzger, who himself was dealing with the contradictions of the adult genre and it is crucial to get such a view. Like all of the interviews on this exceptional site because of the emotional intelligence of the interviewers, April or Ashley, the truth will surface. An invaluable part of American oral history of the Sexual Revolution of the 1970s in all of its glories and all of its flaws. Bravo!
EXCELLENT ALL ROUND! xo, H.
Terrific interview. You guys continue to impress me with your intrepid research and strong interviewing.
Again, a superb interview by the Rialto Report team. I have never read or heard an interview with Constance Money; this particular report was eagerly anticipated. Loved the music, and how it tied into what Constance said in this report. Great job, Ashley!
I am saddened to hear that CM was not treated properly, regarding payment for her film appearances, and certain business choices that didn’t work out (taking a percentage for Anna Obsessed instead of a flat fee). So many of the Golden Age adult film stars are facing financial challenges and uncertain futures in their later years.
I fervently hope that Constance surmounts these challenges, and that things will go smooth an easy for her.
Finally we get to hear her side of the story!
Just finished listening today and echo everyone’s comments above. One major question for me, who is the soprano singing the Casta Diva at the end of the show? The clip was a little too short for me to identify the voice though I’m inclined to think that it is not Maria Callas.
Well identified! The track is Casta Diva, and it is Maria Callas.
Another slice of American life,the one no so very far
removed from the underground life that so many
still lead….Crossing over from conservative white
picket fence world to the shadows…
And told so matter-of-factly,thereby packing the
appropriate punch by which we have come to be spoiled .
We expect similar spoilage from RR in future.
A classic witty articulate persona!! Really enjoyed this one.
Great one AW~
L)
Beautiful woman..where is she in 2016
What a racist woman. I was very apalled by her negative comments about african-americans. I was a fan of hers but not anymore! This lady has no filter whatsoever. Also it appears as if she never enjoyed being in the business anyway.
Don’t mean to be a dick, Sue, but Jamie and Metzger were directing you. You were supposed to subservient and scared in these scenes. They had to create that environment on and off screen to get the proper reaction out of you. They succeeded and that’s why the movie was so powerful. You signed up for Misty Beethoven and not Mister Rogers. The only mistake they made was not to build you back up after the main event. Men in the military worldwide have to be broken down and built back up in order to defend their nations. Happens all the time. If you just went through the motions, Misty would just be another run-of-the -mill porn in which you would have been squeaking, “Omigod, omigod, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” Same shit happened to me years ago when I was in this terrifying performance art piece. The director grabbed me out of my apartment in the middle of the night and dragged me to this ghetto. I was tired, disoriented and scared out of my wits, but the end result was a success. Anyway, powerful performance out of you and smart direction behind the scenes. Hence, a classic.
Does it really matter if a pimp is Black or White??? Both have destructive tendencies. Some individuals (Sue Jensen included) need to express some degree of humility and filter offensive racial comments.