Hoping to penetrate the legacy of “Deep Throat,” the 1970s pornographic film that caused a stir in the United States government, the new documentary “Inside Deep Throat” aims to explore the original film’s place in popular culture and its lasting influence.
Brandishing a NC-17 rating, “Inside Deep Throat” will not please every viewer, but the films’ underlying tone concerning the 1970s sexual revolution and a biased stance towards the adult film industry makes this film worth viewing.
Beginning with a history of “Deep Throat,” and an introduction of the original cast of the film, “Inside Deep Throat,” chronicles the six-day filming of “Deep Throat” through stock footage and current interviews with cast and crew, then delves into the controversial charges that the films’ actors and crew broke obscenity laws by creating a film that many view as the first widely seen hardcore sex film.
With the prodigious title of most profitable film in history, “Deep Throat” grossed more than $600 million off a starting price of $25,000 and received harsh criticism for its graphic depictions of sex and fellatio.
Essentially split into two acts, “Inside Deep Throat,” challenges views of the First Amendment with a mild form of point/counter point argued between supporters and opponents of the amendment.
At points “Inside Deep Throat” appears to defend “Deep Throat” by using archived interviews of Harry Reems claiming his subsequent obscenity trial for acting in the movie violated his right to express art. However, the film also attempts to create a balanced perception of what the movie did to the lives of the actors in the movie.
Among the interviews is archived footage of Linda Boreman better know by her screen name Linda Lovelace, the female lead in “Deep Throat.” Boreman’s objection to the film later in her life and comments made by her friends and family depict a woman who’s life was spent reliving her choice to appear in the adult film.
Members of 70s feminist movements against pornography offered an opposing view to a statement “Deep Throat’s” director said in the documentary. Gerard Damiano defended his film saying it was art used to propel the sexual revolution. Damiano added that current stigmatism over the adult industry came from an over-saturation of the market by individuals interested in creating cheap adult films. Damiano said that after filming “Deep Throat” he thought a merger of Hollywood films with pornographic content would become mainstream.
Co-directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, who both co-directed “Party Monster,” in 1998, ” Inside Deep Throat” uses multiple strategies to keep the audience interested in a film that can easily be seen as pornographic. Awkward pauses and injected humor keep the movies’ tone from becoming overly serious. The off-color remarks by former cast members and several celebrities, including Hugh Hefner and Dr. Ruth Westheimer, keep the film from becoming too heavy.
Though not truly a balanced documentary, “Inside Deep Throat’s” attempt to contrast obscenity charges against the First Amendment seems to rely heavily on the cast and crew of “Deep Throat” but does adequately describe the movie’s impact.
At the end of the movie, current adult film stars are asked if they have ever seen “Deep Throat” or knew who Linda Lovelace was. The overwhelming answer is “no.” This can be seen as a blatant attack on the industry but feels right for a movie that asks the question “Do we know our history?”
Overall, Bailey’s and Barbato’s use of humor and time period music create a film that appropriately deals with a subject matter that could have been tactlessly approached. Instead, the audience will be left with a thankful movie experience.
