Inside Deep Throat
This fascinating documentary by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato examines the goings-on behind the porn film that grew to become an icon: Deep Throat. Released in 1972, the film made more money than its producers anticipated and ignited a sexual and social revolution. Features interviews with the movie's stars, Linda Lovelace and Harry Reems, plus commentary by director John Waters and writers Norman Mailer and Gore Vidal. The film is also narrated by Dennis Hopper.
Member Reviews
Disturbing - Drew777
I thought this documentary was well done. First off, the subject matter could easily lead to a perfectly acceptable crappy documentary.
The first half you are cheering for the little film that becomes huge, all the stars are hanging out hob-knobbing (sorry, couldn't resist the pun)
Then there's this part about half way through where the dark side comes out and everyone's life falls apart.
Really far more poignant than just a film about a dirty movie.
DrewThe Most Profitable Movie Ever! - TheShamus
Inside Deep Throat starts out by advising that the X-rated movie, "Deep Throat" was the most profitable movie ever made. It costs $25,000 to make, and has generated over $600 Million in revenue.
Inside Deep Throat sets out to look at every aspect related to "Deep Throat" including the actors/actresses, the politicians, the filmakers, the distributers, the law enforcers, etc.
This documentary is extremely well produced by Imagine Entertainment (Ron Howard's Production Company).
My wife, who is not a fan of pornography, found the documentary to be interesting. There is some explicit imagery in portions. It is indeed necessary. A majority of people who watch this documentary have likely not seen the original X-Rated movie ... and they do not need to. This documentary carries itself.
This movie was at a time when the performers were nieve. They thought porno stardom would cross over to mainstream stardom. We know now, that does not happen. They never thought they would be put in jail for "acting" in a movie. Harry Reems was originally sentenced to 5-years in prison for a movie he was paid $250 for. How could Reems and others invision how portions of society would polarize against X-rated performers.
It's fun to see what the people look like now. By listening to Linda Lovelace's sister, it would be easy to understand why she wanted to leave home. The people involved in the film were fathers and mothers, and grandfathers. Others look like the slimey characters you might imagine.
There are prosecuters and judges who give their modern recollection of going to see the film (sometimes with their spouses).
You could not find a better piece of fiction. This documentary is littered with celebrities including a curious interview with Dick Cavett (who claims he has still not seen the original movie).
Great documentary.
/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\Mouth Wide Open - eoguy
Inside Deep Throat is not just the story of this one "dirty movie," but of the culture on which it was unleashed, the extent to which it changed or affected people, the debatable placement of the line between "decency" and censorship, and the extravagant pipe dreams of the porn industry in its earliest days.
In its attempt to show all sides of the story -- including recent interviews with the likes of politicians and prosecutors who went after the film soon after its release -- the film becomes a somewhat forced statement on the defense of art. Nevertheless, that statement underscores the rationale behind those who produced and watched it, while at the same time highlighting the dismissive attitude of its detractors toward such arguments. The one particularly problematic element is that of the film's star [fellatio] performer, Linda Lovelace.
Due to an untimely death, the closest we can get to seeing her perspective -- a particularly key perspective in this story, one would think -- is a series of clips from long lost interviews and interviews with her family and old friends. We see how she went from perfectly willing porn star to anti--porn activist and back to posing for Playboy in her fifties, but unfortunately there is never any way to get any sort of current "big picture" outlook on her part. Given that she's dead, there's no way around that, but the film still suffers because of it. B
Member Reviews
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Disturbing - Drew777
I thought this documentary was well done. First off, the subject matter could easily lead to a perfectly acceptable crappy documentary.
The first half you are cheering for the little film that becomes huge, all the stars are hanging out hob-knobbing ...The Most Profitable Movie Ever! - TheShamus
Inside Deep Throat starts out by advising that the X-rated movie, "Deep Throat" was the most profitable movie ever made. It costs $25,000 to make, and has generated over $600 Million in revenue.
Inside Deep Throat sets out to look at every aspect related ...Mouth Wide Open - eoguy
Inside Deep Throat is not just the story of this one "dirty movie," but of the culture on which it was unleashed, the extent to which it changed or affected people, the debatable placement of the line between "decency" and censorship, and the extravagant pipe ...