Inside Deep Throat (2005)

More than 30 years after Deep Throat's provocative debut, this documentary examines the legacy that the most profitable film of all-time left on society.

Directors:

Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato

Writers:

Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato

Stars:

Dennis Hopper, Gerard Damiano, Linda Lovelace

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Hopper	...	Narrator (voice)
Gerard Damiano	...	Himself
John Waters	...	Himself
Larry Flynt	...	Himself
Erica Jong	...	Herself
Ruth Westheimer	...	Herself (as Dr. Ruth Westheimer)
Dick Cavett	...	Himself
Camille Paglia	...	Herself
Linda Lovelace	...	Herself (archive footage)
Hugh M. Hefner	...	Himself (as Hugh Hefner)
Bill Maher	...	Himself
Norman Mailer	...	Himself
Charles Keating	...	Himself
Alan M. Dershowitz	...	Himself (as Alan Dershowitz)
Larry Parrish	...	Himself

Storyline

In 1972, a seemingly typical shoestring budget pornographic film was made in a Florida hotel, "Deep Throat," starring Linda Lovelace. This film would surpass the wildest expectation of everyone involved to become one of the most successful independent films of all time. It caught the public imagination which met the spirit of the times, even as the self appointed guardians of public morality struggled to suppress it, and created, for a brief moment, a possible future where sexuality in film had a bold artistic potential. This film covers the story of the making of this controversial film, its stunning success, its hysterical opposition along with its dark side of mob influence and allegations of the on set mistreatment of the film's star. In short, the combined events would redefine the popular appeal of pornography, even as more cynical developments would lead it down other paths.

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Plot Keywords:

deep throat | mob | oral sex | porn industry | politics | 

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Taglines:

It was filmed in 6 days for 25 thousand dollars. The government didn't want you to see it. It was banned in 23 states. It has grossed over 600 million dollars. And it is the most profitable film in motion picture history.

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for explicit sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 2005 (Russia)

Also Known As:

Dentro de Garganta Funda

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$88,709 (USA) (11 February 2005)

Gross:

$653,621 (USA) (15 April 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment, HBO Documentary Films, World of Wonder

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film discusses how Deep Throat was actually distributed to theaters. Prints would be hand-delivered and employees would count heads of moviegoers and then collect the cash profits from the theaters. This process was known as sending "checkers and sweepers".

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Goofs

Early in the film, an unseen projectionist starts the film and we can see the projected image through the projection room window. He carelessly allows the leader to show on the screen. A frame marked "FOOT" is shown. Unless he is running the film backwards, this is wrong. The beginning of a film is marked "HEAD".

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Quotes

Erica Jong: It was based on the idea that all a man had to do was put his penis down a woman's throat and thrust and the woman was as satisfied as the man. Well, guess what?

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Connections

References The Last Samurai (2003)

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Soundtracks

"More Tingles"
Performed by Chris Joss
Courtesy of Cristal Productions
By Arrangement with Peace Bisquit

User Reviews

A slick, brilliantly made, important cultural document.

Review by: Todd David Schwartz, Arts & Entertainment Correspondent for "The Paul Mitchell Show," a newly launched, nationally syndicated talk radio program. INSIDE DEEP THROAT gets Four Stars (highest rating). DEEP THROAT, released in the early 1970's, is considered the first major porn film. It became, to say the least, quite a "cause celeb." This documentary, INSIDE DEEP THROAT, explores the impact of the film on society, and shows how sex, culture, politics, and morality all collided to explosive effect. INSIDE DEEP THROAT is an utterly fascinating cinematic experience, amazingly thorough, ceaselessly entertaining. I grew up during the time depicted in the film (over 30 years ago), but for those of you young 'uns who weren't around then, this will prove particularly eye-opening. The filmmakers were able to gather an impressive group of big-names to throw in their two-cents worth on the subject: Norman Mailer, Camille Paglia, Erica Jong, Dick Cavett -- names, again, that may be unfamiliar to those of you who weren't around during the time of DEEP THROAT's release. My only complaint about the film (an admittedly minor one) is that the filmmakers don't spend more time delving into allegations made by Linda Lovelace (DEEP THROAT's star) in her book ORDEAL, where she essentially claims that she was forced at gunpoint to perform in the film by her husband/manager Chuck Traynor. ORDEAL is quite a juicy read. It was originally released by a major publishing house, but has long been out of print. INSIDE DEEP THROAT certainly mentions the book, and shows how Lovelace did a turn-around and became an unexpected spokeswoman for anti-porn feminists. But the documentary generally leaves unexamined just how accurate ORDEAL's claims may have been. In the documentary, Hugh Hefner pontificates grandly about DEEP THROAT's cultural impact. NOT mentioned in the film is the allegation Lovelace makes in ORDEAL that, at the height of her popularity, she was invited up to the Playboy Mansion where Hef tried to get her to have sex with a dog, while people stood around and watched. Rather exploitive of you, Mr. Hefner, is it not? (Assumimg the allegation is true.) Also in the book and not mentioned in the film, is Lovelace's wild sexual relationship with entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. Not only did Davis have Lovelace demonstrate her deep throat fellatio technique on him (according to Lovelace), but Davis performed fellatio on Lovelace's hubby Chuck Traynor! I would have personally liked to see the film examine the book's allegations a little more closely. As it is (and as I indicated earlier), the film IS impressively thorough with the information it does provide, and it's presented with tremendous flair. INSIDE DEEP THROAT is rated NC-17 for a reason: The film includes an explicit scene from DEEP THROAT of Lovelace performing the fellatio technique for which the porn film was named and for which she became famous. Including this scene was a smart and important choice on the part of the filmmakers. It would have been a cop-out to have people sitting around talking about one of the primary reasons why DEEP THROAT became a must see, without actually showing it.