Watch Inside Deep Throat

Inside Deep Throat is a documentary film that explores the making and impact of the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat, which was directed by Gerard Damiano and starred Linda Lovelace and Harry Reems. The documentary is directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato and features interviews with many of the key players involved in the making of the film, as well as cultural commentators and experts.

The film begins with a brief overview of the sexual revolution of the 1960s and early 1970s, which marked a significant shift in attitudes towards sex and sexuality in Western culture. It then moves on to explore the emergence of the pornographic film industry in the United States during this period, which was largely driven by the success of Deep Throat.

Through a combination of interviews and archival footage, the documentary takes a detailed look at the making of Deep Throat, from its conception as a low-budget film shot in a converted dental office to its massive success and subsequent legal and cultural battles. The film features interviews with Linda Lovelace, Harry Reems, and many other members of the cast and crew, as well as commentary from critics, scholars, and cultural figures such as Gore Vidal and Erica Jong.

One of the key themes of the documentary is the controversy surrounding Deep Throat, which was widely criticized for its explicit sexual content and perceived misogyny. The film features extensive footage of protests and legal battles over the film, including the obscenity trial of Harry Reems, which was a landmark case in the history of free speech in America.

Another major theme of Inside Deep Throat is the impact that the film had on American culture and society. The documentary argues that Deep Throat was not just a pornographic film, but a cultural milestone that helped to usher in a new era of sexual openness and experimentation. It explores the ways in which the film influenced mainstream culture, from fashion and music to politics and the feminist movement.

Throughout the documentary, there is a strong focus on Linda Lovelace, who became a central figure in the cultural debates surrounding Deep Throat. The film explores Lovelace's complicated relationship with the film, which she later claimed was made under duress and was a form of abusive exploitation. The documentary also examines Lovelace's post-Deep Throat career and her involvement in the anti-pornography movement, which became a major force in American politics during the 1980s.

Alongside its exploration of the making and impact of Deep Throat, Inside Deep Throat also offers a wider commentary on the changing attitudes towards sex and sexuality in America over the past half-century. The film argues that Deep Throat was a product of its time, reflecting and contributing to the shift towards greater sexual liberation and individualism that characterized the era.

Overall, Inside Deep Throat is a fascinating and provocative documentary that offers a detailed and nuanced exploration of one of the most controversial and influential films of the 20th century. Combining an impressive array of interviews and archival footage with incisive analysis and commentary, the film offers a compelling portrait of a cultural phenomenon that continues to shape American attitudes towards sex and sexuality to this day.

Inside Deep Throat is a 2005 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 64.