deep throat

THE FLICK: A lesser reviewer might not have had the courage to write about the misleadingly titled Deep Throat Special Edition. But I feel compelled to give this release from NY After Midnight (actually a division of cult faves Blue Underground) some face time for a couple of reasons. One, to clear up the misconception that this is actually a version of the Linda Lovelace pornographic landmark. It’s not. And two, because this is actually a fascinating time capsule of public-access history. Part of the Midnight Blue Collection (the cover claims this is volume one), the DVD includes several episodes from the public access program created by Screw magazine founder Al Goldstein, which aired on Manhattan Cable for several decades. Or at least most of it did. The content of each program pushed the vague limits of what the FCC allowed on cable TV, sometimes to the breaking point, forcing the program to delete the visual portions of the show that went too far. After you’ve watched the first 5-minutes of so you’ll wonder how any of it aired (unless, of course, you still live in New York where a mutant version of the show still exists) considering the crude sexual banter and exhibitionist porn star guests. The selected episodes all revolve around folks involved in the cultural event that was Deep Throat, a film that almost managed to make porn mainstream and to this date has earned over 600 million dollars. The Carol Connors segment is the most sexually explicit, and in fact, never aired in its entirety. Connors played the second tier “naughty nurse” in the film but never received the notoriety of Lovelace (although she is the mother of American Beauty actress Thora Birch). Host Al Goldstein lives out a series of verbal fantasies with her on-camera in explicit detail, which got the episode banned by Manhattan Cable execs. But Midnight Blue fights back by comparing the segment with previous naughty bits that the cable company did give their stamp of approval...tit for tat, if you will. Other Deep Throat alumni include director Gerard Damiano, a former beauty store owner whose cut of the film’s profits were “bought out” by his business partners, members of the local crime family. Chuck Traynor, the infamous manager/husband of Lovelace who was rumored to have coerced her into performing the startling sex act that brought her worldwide notoriety. And co-star Harry Reems, who actually did some hard time thanks to the federal government for distributing the film in certain parts of the country. Reems in particular seems quite prophetic is his assessment of the porn industry in ’82, where he predicts home video and cable will become the primary outlets rather than theatrical venues. He’s now selling real estate in Park City, Utah if you’re looking for some choice scenic property. The episodes are of 3⁄4” tape quality, just perfect for that late-night TV vibe, with vertical hold rolls from time to time. “Pop-up” text added to the episodes provides instant (and often hilarious) facts about the interview subjects. And the show also includes all the local commercials inserted during its broadcast run. We’re talking swinger clubs, escort services, adult book stores and an invention called the “orgasmotron,” in all its cheesy 70’s glory. It’s not hard-core porn, but it’s as close as the FCC would allow. A kinky time capsule unearthed from a New York that no longer exists, The Deep Throat Special Edition is full of political posturing by **ck film pioneers who might not have changed the world, but certainly changed the face of erotic cinema. THE FEATURES: The only extras are audio-only interviews with Reems and Damiano, totaling about 18 minutes. Muddled and muffled, if you’ve made it this far you might as well give those a listen, too.