Inside Deep Throat
I checked out the documentary Inside Deep Throat last night. The film doesn’t quite blow me away, but I still found it interesting. It does a good job of cataloguing the making of the seminal adult film Deep Throat, detailing its unpredictable, meteoric rise to mainstream success. It also chronicles the intense efforts of the government to shut the film down.
If there’s any true revelation in the film, it’s how the men responsible for the moral crusade against the porno film still think they’ve won their battle against Deep Throat, while the mere existence of this documentary is proof that they haven’t. I think my favourite quote from the film is when one of the prosecutors comments that he could continue doggedly enforcing the obscenity laws if only they could “get those terrorists to go away.”
This film is not for the prudish or faint-of-heart. Considering the subject matter, it stands to reason that there would be some explicit footage shown, including the infamous scene in Deep Throat that made its star, Linda Lovelace, famous (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, then just skip this movie entirely). Interestingly, none of the footage shown comes off as particularly titillating.
Maybe it’s because the scenes are couched within the documentary format, or maybe it’s just because the film was shot in the 70’s—whatever the case, Inside Deep Throat is not a film that’s meant to excite you. It’s meant to educate and inform you. It does this adequately, if not spectacularly. The film has a definite liberal slant, but it doesn’t come off too heavy-handed. I don’t feel this is a particularly important film, but it’s definitely a good flick if you have any interest in the porn industry or the first amendment.
It’s also worth seeing just to see what Harry Reems looks like these days.
If there’s any true revelation in the film, it’s how the men responsible for the moral crusade against the porno film still think they’ve won their battle against Deep Throat, while the mere existence of this documentary is proof that they haven’t. I think my favourite quote from the film is when one of the prosecutors comments that he could continue doggedly enforcing the obscenity laws if only they could “get those terrorists to go away.”
This film is not for the prudish or faint-of-heart. Considering the subject matter, it stands to reason that there would be some explicit footage shown, including the infamous scene in Deep Throat that made its star, Linda Lovelace, famous (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, then just skip this movie entirely). Interestingly, none of the footage shown comes off as particularly titillating.
Maybe it’s because the scenes are couched within the documentary format, or maybe it’s just because the film was shot in the 70’s—whatever the case, Inside Deep Throat is not a film that’s meant to excite you. It’s meant to educate and inform you. It does this adequately, if not spectacularly. The film has a definite liberal slant, but it doesn’t come off too heavy-handed. I don’t feel this is a particularly important film, but it’s definitely a good flick if you have any interest in the porn industry or the first amendment.
It’s also worth seeing just to see what Harry Reems looks like these days.
posted by Amy at 1:10 AM
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