Inside Deep Throat examines the social, political, and personal ramifications of the iconic pornographic film Deep Throat. The film is humorous, fast paced, and very entertaining. It contains interviews with a variety of colorful characters including several former industry insiders who now look like your best friend's crazy great aunt and uncle. There is nothing quite like learning about the sexual revolution from a group of septuagenarians. Also included are commentary by figures such as Hugh Hefner, Erica Jong, and John Waters, archival footage from the era, and of course scenes of the "talent" which made the film famous. All this, set to a background soundtrack of 70s funk and disco music.
The film places Deep Throat (perhaps with a bit of exaggeration) at the the heart of a cultural war which involved diverse groups such as the Nixon administration, Christian conservatives, feminists, freedom of speech advocates, the porn industry, and even the mob. Many of those involved in the making of the film saw Deep Throat as a crux in the history of pornography, a moment when porn was on the verge of crossing over into the mainstream. They look back upon their participation sentimentally, almost mourning the eventual failure of this movement and the backwards progress made regarding censorship and the hyper commercialization of the porn industry. This aspect represents a contradiction in the film. Whereas in the beginning the filmmakers interviewed seemed to regard Deep Throat as an utterly ridiculous and poorly made film, by the end they talk about their work as if it were art of the highest form.
Inside Deep Throat also takes a look at the darker side of the making of this film, albeit a brief one. Ties with the mob and the eventual turnaround of star Linda Lovelace are addressed but not delved into. It is likely the filmmakers did not want to break with the humor and light attitude of film for too long; a decision which upped the entertainment factor but somewhat compromised the film's role as a documentary.
Stylistically, this film reminded me of Who Killed the Electric Car? and This Film is not Yet Rated. Both of these films share Inside Deep Throat's fast based upbeat style, humor, and catchy soundtrack and all three were extremely entertaining. I do have to say, however, that the most entertaining aspect of the film had nothing to do with its style. For me what was funniest was the reaction of the male audience to poor Andrea "More More More" True. How do you like that?