You can admire and even appreciate any film — especially a documentary about the porn industry — that's at least a little ambitious. But "Inside Deep Throat" is far too ambitious for its own good.
There are a lot of potentially fascinating concepts in this documentary — such as the alleged mob connections to the producers and distributors of 1972's "Deep Throat." Unfortunately, they are dropped as abruptly as they're brought up, without much in the way of explanation or resolution, so that, in the end, the film feels hollow and superficial. (Also, as you might guess, there are explicit scenes from "Deep Throat" itself, which makes this documentary a bit of a hard sell to anyone who has no interest in the adult-film industry.)
Filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato attempt to explain how "Deep Throat" became, arguably, the most profitable movie in history. (Produced for $25,000, it earned some $600 million worldwide.)
The two men managed to track down the film's writer/director, Gerard Damiano, and its stars Linda Lovelace (who died while the documentary was still in production) and Harry Reems (now a resident of Park City).
Later portions of the documentary examine the efforts to suppress the film's release, which resulted in larger and larger crowds, as well as how Hollywood rallied to support the filmmakers and stars, seeing it as an "artistic-rights" issue. (Among those shown supporting Reems after his obscenity conviction are Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty.)
Unfortunately, just when the film really starts to explore an idea, it moves on to the next one. And the bit about how the adult-film industry has changed since the 1970s was done more effectively in the fictional "Boogie Nights."
Still, some of the interview segments are entertaining, especially those with Dick Cavett and John Waters.
"Inside Deep Throat" is rated NC-17 for full male and female nudity, sex scenes from "Deep Throat," crude sexual talk, as well as use of frank sexual language and other profanity, and some drug content (discussion of recreational use and abuse). Running time: 92 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com