Inside Deep Throat Movie Review

Cast: Gerard Damiano, Linda Lovelace, Harry Reems, Dennis Hopper (narrator)
Director: Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato
Screenplay: Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato
Genre: Documentary/Adult
Rated: R 18+ sexual activity, sexual themes
Running Time: 86 Minutes

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.

Synopsis:
It was a $25 000 movie that became a $600 million phenomenon.

It caused an administration to declare war on freedom.

It turned buying a ticket into an act of revolution.

Generally considered the most profitable motion picture of all time, the 1972 adult film 'Deep Throat' was more than a titillating curiosity and a huge moneymaker. Now, some 30 years later, 'Deep Throat' examines the chasm between the modest intentions of the movie's makers and the unforeseen legacy they inadvertently created.

My Verdict:
'Inside Deep Throat' is lightweight documentary on the infamous movie "Deep Throat" released in 1972, starring Linda Lovelace. The documentary blends archival footage with present day interviews of those involved in the movie, including the director, Gerard Damiano. The filmmakers collected about 800 hours of interviews and archive footage and condensed this into 90 minutes of what is basically a review of the movie-making process and the impact it had when released, and what an impact that was.

Put together in a very short time and on an incredibly small budget, "Deep Throat" has become one of the most profitable movies ever and continues to provide a source of conversation, not the least of which is admitting one has actually seen the movie. This is where the movie broke new ground having so-called prudes lining up desperate to see what all the fuss was about and sending the purists desperately trying to have it banned.

Meanwhile, as the movie was released, the documentary reveals that most of the profit from its phenomenal success was actually being syphoned off to fund criminals and their activities via a process know as "checkers and sweepers". Prints of the movie were hand delivered and headcounts were taken at cinemas and the cash profit was collected with serious repercussion for those cinema owners who did not comply. What the documentary fails to reveal is where this money really went and it does feel like a vital piece is missing.

Original footage is shown, including a graphic and infamous moment with Linda Lovelace's character and the reason how she became known as 'Deep Throat'. Damiano also reveals that the title at one stage was going to be 'The Sword Swallower'. Of course, Lovelace later went on to recant her voluntary involvement with the movie and she tells her side of the story.

A relatively harmless exposé of one of histories truly infamous movies, 'Inside Deep Throat' is a fairly innocuous peek into the behind-the-scenes action of a movie that caused a moral revolution in the USA.

Rating : ***½

Christina Bruce