Inside Deep Throat

"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."

2005 1h 30m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 149

DocumentaryHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“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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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Dennis Hopper
Narrator (voice)
Peter Bart
Self
Warren Beatty
Self (archive footage)
Carl Bernstein
Self
Norman Mailer
Self
John Waters
Self
Gore Vidal
Self
Hugh Hefner
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Fenton Bailey
Writers: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 33% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 21 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Fenton Bailey, shot by David Kempner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by David Benjamin Steinberg. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jeremy Simmons shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Dennis Hopper and Peter Bart and Warren Beatty carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Fenton Bailey directs. David Kempner behind the camera. David Benjamin Steinberg scores. Jeremy Simmons cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Shot for just $2.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
3Earned back only 33% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
4Released 21 years ago.
5Directed by Fenton Bailey, shot by David Kempner. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by David Benjamin Steinberg. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Jeremy Simmons shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Dennis Hopper and Peter Bart and Warren Beatty carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "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.".
10IMDB entry: tt0418753 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.