Plot Analysis Summary
The documentary examines the 1972 film's distribution, cultural context, and impact through archival material and interviews.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A Film and Its Era
The documentary introduces the 1972 film and places it within the Golden Age of Porn. It frames the subject through the film's place in American society.
Key Events
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The Documentary Frames Its Subject — The documentary examines the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat and its effects on American society.
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The Golden Age Context — The documentary places Deep Throat at the forefront of the Golden Age of Porn.
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The Film Reaches Theaters — The documentary describes the distribution of Deep Throat to theaters.
Location: Movie theaters
Theater Distribution Network
The account describes hand-delivered prints and the process of counting moviegoers and collecting theater cash profits. It names this arrangement checkers and sweepers.
Key Events
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Prints Delivered by Hand — The film explains that prints were hand-delivered to theaters.
Location: Movie theaters
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Attendance Is Counted — Employees counted moviegoers at theaters showing the film.
Location: Movie theaters
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Cash Profits Are Collected — The documentary says employees collected theater cash profits after counting attendance.
Location: Movie theaters
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Checkers and Sweepers — The film identifies the counting-and-collection process as sending checkers and sweepers.
Location: Movie theaters
Evidence and Testimony
Scenes from the original film and news from the period are combined with archival and recent interviews. The documentary brings in legal perspectives and commentary from people connected to or discussing the film.
Key Events
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Archival News and Film Scenes — The documentary combines scenes from Deep Throat with news from the period.
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Archival Interviews Enter the Account — The film incorporates archived interviews with people involved in or commenting on the subject.
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Recent Interviews Add Perspectives — Recent interviews provide additional perspectives on the film and its impact.
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Legal Perspectives Are Included — The documentary features a prosecutor and a defense attorney for one of the actors.
Business and Social Debate
Interview material includes Mafia money collectors as well as other participants and commentators. These perspectives contribute to the documentary's examination of the film's effects on American society.
Key Events
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Collectors Discuss the Business — The documentary includes interviews with Mafia money collectors among its varied sources.
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Public Commentary Broadens the Debate — Interviewees involved in or commenting on the film discuss its wider social significance.
Assembly and Rating
The filmmakers assembled the documentary from approximately 800 hours of interview and archival footage. Explicit excerpts from the original film resulted in different ratings for the theatrical and edited versions.
Key Events
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Hundreds of Hours Become a Film — The filmmakers compiled the documentary from approximately 800 hours of interviews and archive footage.
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Explicit Excerpts Shape Its Rating — Explicit excerpts led to an NC-17 rating; an edited version received an R rating.