| Revision as of 22:33, 2 April 2005 editAxelBoldt (talk | contribs)Administrators44,507 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 23:31, 2 April 2005 edit undoAxelBoldt (talk | contribs)Administrators44,507 edits better external link; more on Linda's relationship with her husbandNext edit → | ||
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| == Porn Chic == | == Porn Chic == | ||
| On June 5, 1972, the movie received a glowing review by ] in his ]. | |||
| Together with '']'' which was also released in 1972 and widely shown in mainstream theatres, ''Deap Throat'' started a brief period of ']' when it was considered cool in some circles to go see porn movies, even in company. Already in 1973, the movie was marketed on videotape, although consumer ]s were not common until around 1977. The movie was featured at the ] in 1973. | Together with '']'' which was also released in 1972 and widely shown in mainstream theatres, ''Deap Throat'' started a brief period of ']' when it was considered cool in some circles to go see porn movies, even in company. Already in 1973, the movie was marketed on videotape, although consumer ]s were not common until around 1977. The movie was featured at the ] in 1973. | ||
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| Estimates of total revenue have varied widely. One FBI source puts it at $100 million, but numbers as high as $600 million have also been cited, whicyh would make the movie the most profitable of all time. Michael Hiltzik of the ''Los Angeles Times'' argues for a lower number, pointing out that the movie was banned in half the USA, and may only have been shown in one theatre in each of a few large cities. With a ticket price of $2.05, box-office takings of $600 million would require every man, woman and child in the USA to have seen it one-and-a-half times. Since there was no mass ] market until around 1977, video-tape sales cannot have contributed to revenue, although ] cine sales may have brought some revenue during the mid-1970s. | Estimates of total revenue have varied widely. One FBI source puts it at $100 million, but numbers as high as $600 million have also been cited, whicyh would make the movie the most profitable of all time. Michael Hiltzik of the ''Los Angeles Times'' argues for a lower number, pointing out that the movie was banned in half the USA, and may only have been shown in one theatre in each of a few large cities. With a ticket price of $2.05, box-office takings of $600 million would require every man, woman and child in the USA to have seen it one-and-a-half times. Since there was no mass ] market until around 1977, video-tape sales cannot have contributed to revenue, although ] cine sales may have brought some revenue during the mid-1970s. | ||
| ⚫ | == Linda Boreman's allegations == | ||
| ⚫ | In her first two biographies, ] (real name Linda Boreman) characterizes making the film as a liberating experience; in her third and fourth (written after making the acquaintance of ]), she charges that she was coerced to perform by her abusive husband Chuck Traynor who received $1200 for her acting. | ||
| ⚫ | In 1986 she testified before the ]: "Virtually every time someone watches that movie, they're watching me being raped." And in the Toronto Sun on March 20, 1981: "It is a crime that movie is still showing; there was a gun to my head the entire time." While the other people present on the set did not support the gun charge, both Traynor and Damiano confirmed in interviews that he was very controlling of her and would also hit her on occasion. | ||
| == Trivia == | == Trivia == | ||
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| The movie's title gave rise to the name "]" for ]'s secret informant in the ]. | The movie's title gave rise to the name "]" for ]'s secret informant in the ]. | ||
| Linda's husband Chuck Traynor was also billed as production manager of the movie. At one point he was considered as an actor, but he could not maintain an ]. After Linda left him in 1974, he would get involved with porn star ]. | |||
| ⚫ | == Linda Boreman's allegations == | ||
| ⚫ | In her first two biographies, ] (real name Linda Boreman) characterizes making the film as a liberating experience; in her third and fourth (written after making the acquaintance of ]), she charges that she was coerced to perform by her abusive husband Chuck Traynor who received $1200 for her acting. |
||
| ⚫ | In 1986 she testified before the ]: "Virtually every time someone watches that movie, they're watching me being raped." |
||
| == Obscenity litigation == | == Obscenity litigation == | ||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * {{imdb title|id=0068468|title=Deep Throat}} | * {{imdb title|id=0068468|title=Deep Throat}} | ||
| * | * , very extensive | ||
| * | * | ||
| * , Time Magazine, March 29, 2005 | * , Time Magazine, March 29, 2005 | ||
Revision as of 23:31, 2 April 2005
Deep Throat is a US pornographic movie released in January 1972, written and directed by Gerard Damiano and starring the erotic actress Linda Lovelace. It was shown in many mainstream movie theatres and is likely the most successful and influential pornographic film of all time.
Description and plot
The movie, 62 minutes long, is intended to be funny with highly corny dialogues and songs, fireworks going off and bells ringing during orgasm, and the following plot: a sexually frustrated woman (Linda Lovelace "playing herself") asks her friend Helen (played by Dolly Sharp) for advice; after a sex party didn't provide any help, Helen recommends that Linda visit a doctor (played by Harry Reems). The doctor notices that Linda's clitoris is located in her throat; she then goes on to work as a therapist for the doctor and perform a particular technique of oral sex—also known as "deep throat"—on various men, until she finds the one to marry. Meanwhile, the doctor has sex with his nurse (played by Carol Connors). The movie ends with the line "The End. And Deep Throat to you all."
The various explicit scenes of oral, anal and vaginal sex acts led to an X rating by the MPAA film rating system.
Porn Chic
On June 5, 1972, the movie received a glowing review by Al Goldstein in his Screw magazine.
Together with Behind the Green Door which was also released in 1972 and widely shown in mainstream theatres, Deap Throat started a brief period of 'porn chic' when it was considered cool in some circles to go see porn movies, even in company. Already in 1973, the movie was marketed on videotape, although consumer VCRs were not common until around 1977. The movie was featured at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973.
Unlike Behind the Green Door, Deep Throat's fame does not primarily root from its explicitness but from the fact that it set some of the main conventions of modern pornography: a synopsis made up of different segments of graphic sex, attached with a minimal plot.
Two lesser known hardcore porn movies had been released previously in the US: Mona in 1970 and School Girl in 1971.
Production and revenue
The scenes involving Linda Lovelace were shot in Miami over 6 days; the scenes involving Carol Connors were shot in New York City.
The movie was produced by Louis "Butchie" Peraino (listed as "Lou Perry"), with most of the production cost of $22,500 coming from his father Anthony Peraino and his uncle Joe "The Whale" Peraino, both members of the Mafia, specifically the Colombo crime family. Damiano, who had rights to one-third of the profits, was forced out by the Parainos shortly after the movie's success had become apparent. The Mafia would put pressure on theatre owners, generally demanding 50% of all proceeds and sending out spies to verify ticket sale numbers.
Estimates of total revenue have varied widely. One FBI source puts it at $100 million, but numbers as high as $600 million have also been cited, whicyh would make the movie the most profitable of all time. Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times argues for a lower number, pointing out that the movie was banned in half the USA, and may only have been shown in one theatre in each of a few large cities. With a ticket price of $2.05, box-office takings of $600 million would require every man, woman and child in the USA to have seen it one-and-a-half times. Since there was no mass VCR market until around 1977, video-tape sales cannot have contributed to revenue, although Super-8 cine sales may have brought some revenue during the mid-1970s.
Linda Boreman's allegations
In her first two biographies, Linda Lovelace (real name Linda Boreman) characterizes making the film as a liberating experience; in her third and fourth (written after making the acquaintance of Andrea Dworkin), she charges that she was coerced to perform by her abusive husband Chuck Traynor who received $1200 for her acting.
In 1986 she testified before the Meese Commission: "Virtually every time someone watches that movie, they're watching me being raped." And in the Toronto Sun on March 20, 1981: "It is a crime that movie is still showing; there was a gun to my head the entire time." While the other people present on the set did not support the gun charge, both Traynor and Damiano confirmed in interviews that he was very controlling of her and would also hit her on occasion.
Trivia
The director is listed as "Jerry Gerard", a pseudonym for Gerard Daminao. Damiano also makes a short non-sex appearance during the party scene; the score lists him as "Al Gork".
Co-star Harry Reems originally was hired to serve on the production crew for $200, but then agreed to appear in the film although that meant he would receive only $100 for his performance.
The movie's title gave rise to the name "Deep Throat" for Bob Woodward's secret informant in the Watergate affair.
Linda's husband Chuck Traynor was also billed as production manager of the movie. At one point he was considered as an actor, but he could not maintain an erection. After Linda left him in 1974, he would get involved with porn star Marilyn Chambers.
Obscenity litigation
In various communities, the movie was shown to juries to determine whether it was obscene according to the Miller test; the outcomes varied widely. In 1976, there was a series of federal cases in Memphis, Tennessee, where over 60 individuals and companies, including the Parainos, director Gerard Damiano and actor Harry Reems, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute obscenity across state lines. This was the first time that an actor had been prosecuted on obscenity charges, and the defendents received considerable support from outside circles. Nevertheless, convictions were obtained, but they were overturned on appeal on a technicality. The Perainos and some other major players connected to organized crime (though not Damiano and Reems) were tried again, convicted and given short prison sentences.
Documentary
A 2005 documentary film, Inside Deep Throat, relates the film's production history and examines its effects on American culture. Among other things, it features recent interviews with Damiano and Reems; in the opening sequence, Damiano admits that the movie wasn't that good.
External links
- Deep Throat at IMDb
- Luke Ford's collected notes on Deep Throat and Linda Lovelace, very extensive
- Interview with FBI agent Bill Kelly who investigated the obscenity case
- That old feeling: when porn was chic, Time Magazine, March 29, 2005
Further reading
- Legs McNeil, Jennifer Osborne and Peter Pavia: The Other Hollywood: The Uncensored Oral History of the Porn Film Industry