Nights in White Satin

My review was written in September 1987 after watching the movie on HBO.

"Nights in White Satin" is a tedious romantic trifle, which if it were released theatrically would have the fans chanting "More plot!'. As is, it preemed late-late night on HO, ahead of its destined home video release.

Meager storyline has fashion photographer Walker Jordan (Kenneth David Gilman ) becoming obsessed with street waif Lisa (Priscilla Harris, who looks like a plain-Jane version of Cyndi Lauper). He has her move into his apartment, becoming one of his astants. They fall in love, she becomes a hit model, they part and happy ending reunites them.

Cornball material is merely an excuse for director-editor Michael Barnasrd to pour on technique that smacks of music videos and "Miami Vice". Beneath the flashy visuals and hit songs soundtrack is nothing. Even the film's ostensible theme, that of Gilman torn between his crass but lucrative glamor shoots and his real desire to do realistic photo studies of street people, is identical to the plot tag of earlier film-to-paycable effort (though a comedy) "Perfect Timing".

The Moody Blues theme song by Justin Hayward finally plays late in the picture to accompany rooftop jazz ballet turn by Harris, but most viewers will have nodded off by then. Cast is extremely bland, nudity minimal and other hits by the Thompson Twins, the Knack and Pat Benatar thrown in arbitrarily.