DEEP THROAT (USA 1972)
Linda (Linda Lovelace) does never have a climax at sex. A doctor finds out the reason: Linda's clitoris is placed in her throat. Linda begins with extensive oral sex and finally achieves happiness.
The plot of this film is inventive, but DEEP THROAT is not only the best known, but also the qualitatively worst among porn classics. Due to the chance to be accidentally the first porn which was provided with a relative high budget of 25,000$ (alleged sponsored by the mafia) and which was accordingly shot and marketed professionally, DEEP THROAT won a lot of fame. Finally, the benefit was comparatively high: The film brought in more than 600 millions Dollars.
The genesis of the film rocked the boat repeatedly and still lets it appear in a doubtful light. Main actress Linda Lovelace, who lost her life aged 53 in 2002 by a car accident, shall be forced to sex on camera. Lovelace, who became a protagonist of the anti-porn-movement in the 80ies, wrote after her exit of the porn industry that it would be a crime to screen the film these days, because each person who watches that film, would also look on a rape. This is repeatedly controverted from other fanciers of the branch. Linda's appearance in the film appeals in any case very loose, and signs of violence at her body which adversaries of the film want to have seen, are obscured.
In about 10 days of film shooting accrued trashy, historical important but at most amusing junk porn, which is only few sexy. Quality of stagecraft exists curiously enough at Linda only, and also Harry Reems who was impended by 5 years of arrest for his debut, acts at least blithe the character of the loopy doc. The music is betimes funky but with a clumsy air; porn scenes are without any esprit and largely ragged.
The ability of director Gerard Damiano related to DEEP THROAT is far away from those of THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES, MEMORIES WITHIN MISS AGGIE and WATERPOWER. Even Damiano himself regards his most famous film as not succeeded.
The brisance of the film was not owed to its quality, but alone to its social explosive power, which could fully develop in the social climate of the 70ies. DEEP THROAT respectively the tender subject oral sex were topic talk of the day, and after even the NEW YORK TIMES reported over the new PornChic, people from all social stratums stood in line for a ticket. The well-known feminist Camilla Paglia comment in the documentation INSIDE DEEP THROAT (USA, 2004) about the scandal film as follows: "DEEP THROAT was a milestone in the history of modern sexuality. For the first time, civil women of the middle-class went to porn cinema. He has really broke down traditional conventions."
Various disputes with the justice and as well the American government under Richard Nixon, which not only tried to forbid the film by hook or by crook but also the often cited Golden Age of Porn, were the consequence. Watching porn had something rebellious and many highly ambitious directors had only one thing in mind: Sharing in this revolt and shooting the best porn in the world. Despite of its mediocrity, we finally owe a lot to this film.
Direction: Gerard Damiano
Actresses/actors: Linda Lovelace, Harry Reems, Dolly Sharp, Bill Harrison, William Love, Carol Connors, Bob Philips, a.o.
Run: 60 min.
