That's Sexploitation!

"This documentary reveals the untold story of American cinema's gloriously sordid cinematic past."

2013 2h 16m EN

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 24

Documentary

Synopsis

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Before the advent of modern-day pornography, a vast and rapidly-paced world of smut peddling was the norm, complete with its own secret history. This documentary reveals the untold story of American cinema's gloriously sordid cinematic past. Starting in the 1920s, expert exploiteer David F. Friedman and Henenlotter navigate us through more than five salacious decades of skin flicks. It's the true story of dirty movies, traced in elegant detail from the bizarre locations where these nudie shorts were screened to the ongoing legal battles fought by their promoters. And of course there are the stories of the innovators themselves, people who often risked their own security and livelihood to make these films, believing in some way that what they were doing wasn't a 'bad' thing - and that it could rake in some dough.

“This documentary reveals the untold story of American cinema's gloriously sordid cinematic past.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Frank Henenlotter
Himself
David F. Friedman
Himself
Gal Friday
Herself
Albert Cadabra
Himself
Bettie Page
Self - Burlesque Performer (archive footage)
Brigitte Bardot
Self (archive footage)
Tempest Storm
Self - Burlesque Performer (archive footage)
Lili St. Cyr
Self - Burlesque Performer (archive footage)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Frank Henenlotter
Writers: Frank Henenlotter, Donald A. Davis, David F. Friedman
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 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 13 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Frank Henenlotter and David F. Friedman and Gal Friday carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "This documentary reveals the untold story of American cinema's gloriously sordid cinematic past.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0228933 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

Only 24 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Frank Henenlotter directs. Frank Henenlotter cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 13 years ago.
2Editor Frank Henenlotter shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
3Frank Henenlotter and David F. Friedman and Gal Friday carry the top of the cast.
4Marketing tagline: "This documentary reveals the untold story of American cinema's gloriously sordid cinematic past.".
5IMDB entry: tt0228933 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
6Only 24 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.