One of the troubles with most XXX-rated tapes is that they spend about zero minutes on establishing character and mood, mat's one of the reasons why this tape is soexceptional. Memories of Arthur Penn's Little Big Man are bound to flood back to you as you watch the Old Prospector (Randy West) tell of his encounter, in '38 — 1838, that is — with the white goddess they call Ky-rie, Soft Warm Rain. From the opening shots of the desert, through the beginning of the old man's tale, up to the first sex scene in an Old West equivalent of the hot tub, director Eric Edwards holds your interest.

Of course, it gets a little much when none of these "Indian" maidens look like actual Indians. Could it be that the legendary "Waters of Life" turn everyone into Caucasians? "You ask too many questions," says one of the women, and promptly distracts him — and us — with her body. But why does it happen in what looks very much like a cheap Mexican motel room?

I think each man in the great AVN audience has probably had the fantasy of a woman who slips into his motel room, closes the door behind her, glances furtively in both directions, and then says "Make love to me or 1 will die." Well, that's the basic plot here, and the actors grab it and run. Most impressive is Sheri St. Clair as the Indian girl Tamali, looking and sounding fine atop West, while Tracey Adams gets her invigoration the girl/girl way. Still, you know the two of them will come together before the tape ends. And the young, talented Siobhan Hunter is a real treat along t he way.

OK, so Soft Warm Rain is a little talky. So what? It's unusual, and the bouncing show up often enough so that you don't forget this isn't MPAA rated. If you're looking for "Wham-Bam-Thank-You-Ma'am," go somewhere else. But if there's a bit of the artist in you, check this out.