June 12th, 1972, Deep Throat was released to the paying public. One of the first pornographic films to be release in a movie theater, Deep Throat was hit with massive controversy and banned in twenty three states. Before it's release, the sexual revolution was exploding; with films of The Graduate, Last Tango in Paris and Midnight Cowboy. Hard core sex was still stuck in the closet, only allowed in educational films, Deep Throat change all that becoming the highest grossing, adult independent film ever made.
Even before it's release, the world of sex and politics were clashing heads. Towards the end of Richard Nixon's first term, his commission on pornography, which sought to find if pornography was damaging for people, failed to find conclusive answers; answers they didn't want. On re-election for another term, Nixon smashed head first to clean up smut; it was the easiest way to boost political image. Theaters were raided; police film seized and signs taken down, yet still failed to stop people seeing the film; forbidden fruit. Deep Throat was dramatically different from other pornographic films. Deep Throat had a story line; as farcical as it was, witty dialog and changed the notion on oral sex.
Sex, politics, censorship and who to blame has always been a hot topic in movie making; my eye looks at Michael Winterbottom's film 9 songs, which was nearly banned in Australia for its depiction of actual sex on screen. What can and can not see is always a thin line to cross, as Deep Throat dare to take, allowing people to see "smut" on their own accord. As you think the blame for any film would fall at the directors feet, the terrible twists of actor Harry Reems taking the fall; while director Gerard Damiano and actress Linda Lovelace both on immunity.
With so many facets to explore of censorship, sex and politics, Inside Deep Throat doesn't really dig that deep. This only really scratches the surface, not reaching the storming undercurrent this film caused. It feels a lot of information was stepped over, not really delving into Linda's life in the aftermath, as too with Reems tormented life, brief glimpses of his struggle of drug and alcohol abuse. The feminist movement is pushed aside, basically shown irrelevant.
Deep Throat stopped people wearing trench coats to theaters and change the pornographic industry forever, becoming the highest grossing industry, yet Inside Deep Throat, needed to go that whole lot more deeper.
Even before it's release, the world of sex and politics were clashing heads. Towards the end of Richard Nixon's first term, his commission on pornography, which sought to find if pornography was damaging for people, failed to find conclusive answers; answers they didn't want. On re-election for another term, Nixon smashed head first to clean up smut; it was the easiest way to boost political image. Theaters were raided; police film seized and signs taken down, yet still failed to stop people seeing the film; forbidden fruit. Deep Throat was dramatically different from other pornographic films. Deep Throat had a story line; as farcical as it was, witty dialog and changed the notion on oral sex.
Sex, politics, censorship and who to blame has always been a hot topic in movie making; my eye looks at Michael Winterbottom's film 9 songs, which was nearly banned in Australia for its depiction of actual sex on screen. What can and can not see is always a thin line to cross, as Deep Throat dare to take, allowing people to see "smut" on their own accord. As you think the blame for any film would fall at the directors feet, the terrible twists of actor Harry Reems taking the fall; while director Gerard Damiano and actress Linda Lovelace both on immunity.
With so many facets to explore of censorship, sex and politics, Inside Deep Throat doesn't really dig that deep. This only really scratches the surface, not reaching the storming undercurrent this film caused. It feels a lot of information was stepped over, not really delving into Linda's life in the aftermath, as too with Reems tormented life, brief glimpses of his struggle of drug and alcohol abuse. The feminist movement is pushed aside, basically shown irrelevant.
Deep Throat stopped people wearing trench coats to theaters and change the pornographic industry forever, becoming the highest grossing industry, yet Inside Deep Throat, needed to go that whole lot more deeper.