Watch Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

"Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood" is a fascinating documentary film from 2017. Directed by Matt Tyrnauer, the movie explores the life of Scotty Bowers, a former Marine who became a Hollywood pimp, supplying stars and other industry figures with sexual partners during the 1940s and 50s. The movie is based on Bowers' memoir, "Full Service," and features interviews with the now-95-year-old Bowers himself, as well as with biographers William Mann and David Kuhn, who have extensively researched Hollywood's hidden histories.

The documentary is a revealing look at the sexual mores of Hollywood's Golden Age, and the ways in which Bowers and others facilitated it. Bowers himself is a charismatic and engaging subject, recounting stories of his time with stars such as Spencer Tracy, Cary Grant, and Katharine Hepburn. He also discusses his own sexuality, which he describes as fluid, and his relationships with men and women.

In addition to Bowers' firsthand accounts, the movie includes interviews with friends and family members, as well as archival footage and photographs. The film provides a detailed portrait of a man who was at the center of Hollywood's underground sexual culture, but who remained largely unknown until late in life.

But the movie doesn't just focus on Bowers' stories. It also delves deeper into the broader context of Hollywood's culture at the time. It examines the ways in which the Studio System enforced strict codes of behavior and morality on its stars, while at the same time allowing powerful producers and executives to engage in their own illicit activities.

The film also explores the darker side of Bowers' work, including the ways in which he and others exploited vulnerable people, such as struggling actors and actresses, and the risks inherent in the type of work he did.

Overall, "Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood" is a fascinating and entertaining documentary that offers a unique glimpse into a little-known aspect of Hollywood's past. The film is both a celebration of Bowers' life and an indictment of the systemic injustices that allowed his work to thrive. It's a captivating and thought-provoking look at a bygone era, and a testament to the power of storytelling to shed light on hidden histories.

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 67.