In attempting to document the evolution of adult cinema in the 1970s and 80s, I present a collection of clips spotlighting performances, production values, directorial achievement, well-written scripts, and memorable music from films of the period.

If a film is represented by three clips, it is of the highest caliber and should be seen by all adult film fans; it also has the potential to cross over and be appreciated by strangers to or opponents of the genre.

If a film is represented by two clips, it is one of the best adult films made. It's almost a masterpiece, but misses a few beats here and there.

If a film is represented by one clip, it is a great film worth checking out. Sometimes the sheer volume of nudity and explicit footage keeps clips from certain films short, but generally a one-clip film is at least a noteworthy classic.

My intent is not to push YouTube standards, but to show how good this much-maligned genre could be.