Susan Granger’s review of “Inside Deep Throat” (Universal Pictures)
With chilling contemporary relevance, this fascinating film not only demonstrates the cultural impact of a tawdry cinematic phenomenon but documents your rights as a United States citizen. More than 30 years after the release of “Deep Throat,” actor Harry Reems is finally starring in a major studio release, as this compelling documentary by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato examines how the notorious porn-comedy launched major Fifth Amendment court battles that almost landed Reems in jail. It began in Florida when the actor who was cast as a comic doctor failed to show up for work. So Reems, a member of the crew, was recruited by director Gerard Damiano and paid $250 to play opposite Linda Lovelace, a woman whose clitoris is in her throat. Sexually explicit, “Deep Throat” quickly became the flashpoint for an unprecedented social and political firestorm amid the sexual revolution. The New York Times called it “porno chic,” validating it as mainstream viewing. According to Camille Paglia, it was the first time that respectable, middle-class women went to X-rated theaters, breaking down traditional codes of decorum. Made for $25,000, it grossed $600 million, making it the most profitable film ever. Combining the facts with social commentary by Norman Mailer, Erica Jong, Gore Vidal, Alan Dershowitz, even Reems’ prosecutor, Larry Parrish, the filmmakers attempt to draw a timely parallel between the repressive Nixon era of 1972 and Bush’s conservative mandate in 2005. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Inside Deep Throat” is an informative, wickedly entertaining 8, questioning, once again, whether the government should be involved in sex and art. If you’re into “hot-button” freedom-of-expression issues, this is a must-see.
