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Inside
Deep Throat
Genre: Documentary
Rated: Unrated
Directed by: FENTON BAILEY, RANDY
BARBATO
Produced by: BRIAN
GRAZER, FENTON BAILEY, RANDY BARBATO
Starring: LINDA
LOVELACE, HARRY REEMS
Released by: Universal Pictures
and Imagine Entertainment
In
Short: "Inside Deep Throat"
offers an in-depth look at the politics of a
cult classic. |
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Inside
Deep Throat
Straight
Talk about Taboos
By
Cherie Saunders
Produced
by Brian Grazer (“Beautiful Mind,” “8
Mile”), “Inside Deep Throat” plunges
audiences into the unique political and sexual climate
of the early 1970s that helped turn a $25,000 pornographic
film into a $600 million cultural phenomenon. It is directed
by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (“Party Monster,”
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”), and features commentary
from most of the filmmakers involved in the original 1972
film, including director Gerard Damiano, production manager
Ron Wertheim and assistant cameraman-turned-leading man
Harry Reems.
Be
forewarned---a fair amount of clips from the racy original
are used as reference points for the current re-examination,
including the pivotal scene with star Linda Lovelace that
gave the movie its title. Bailey and Barbato’s focus,
however, remains on the colorful parade of personalities
who take us down memory lane, as well as enlightening
segments detailing the mob-financing, FBI raids and legal
action surrounding the film’s release.
“Deep
Throat’s” revolutionary role in the politically
conservative Nixon-era is also explored through segments
highlighting its intrusion into pop culture. The documentary
is at its most engaging when the spotlight is on “Deep
Throat’s” two stars. Lovelace died in a car
crash in April 2002, and Reems was charged by federal
prosecutors with “conspiracy to transport obscenity
across state lines” in the government’s ridiculous
attempt to discourage future actors from shooting porn
flicks.
Adding
extra insight and perspective on “Deep Throat”
are esteemed authors, filmmakers and social critics representing
all sides of the debate on the sexual revolution and battle
for First Amendment rights. Among them are Alan Dershowitz,
Gore Vidal, John Waters, Norman Mailer, Erica Jong, Camille
Paglia and Hugh Hefner. Narrated by Dennis Hopper, “Inside
Deep Throat” offers an impressive historical perspective
on one of the most profitable films of all time.  |
