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Golden Age of Porn

1969–84·20 films

Adult films shot on 35mm, shown in real theaters, reviewed by real critics. Actors were celebrities. The mob financed most of it. The line between cinema and pornography briefly disappeared.

The only period where adult films had real scripts, budgets, and production values. Historically unique.

porno chic35mm theatricalmob-financed
Filmography

Mona the Virgin Nymph

1970

Mona the Virgin Nymph

1970

Howard Ziehm

Considered the first narrative adult feature.

Deep Throat

1972

Deep Throat

1972

Damiano

Hardcore goes mainstream. $600M. Mob-financed.

Behind the Green Door

1972

Behind the Green Door

1972

Mitchell Bros

Marilyn Chambers. 'Porno chic' moment.

The Devil in Miss Jones

1973

The Devil in Miss Jones

1973

Damiano

Existential despair as hardcore. Critics called it art.

Forced Entry

1973

Forced Entry

1973

Costello

Vietnam vet as predator. Genuinely harrowing.

The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann

1974

The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann

1974

Metzger

Hitchcock-style thriller as hardcore.

Autobiography of a Flea

1976

Autobiography of a Flea

1976

Sharon McNight

Victorian literary adaptation with real production values.

The Opening of Misty Beethoven

1976

The Opening of Misty Beethoven

1976

Metzger

Often called greatest adult film ever. Pygmalion as hardcore.

Through the Looking Glass

1976

Through the Looking Glass

1976

Middleton

Genuine horror-porn hybrid. Woman seduced by demon through mirror.

Waterpower

1977

Waterpower

1977

Costello

Based on real NYC intruder. Dark, pseudo-documentary.

Debbie Does Dallas

1978

Debbie Does Dallas

1978

Clark/Buckley

Cultural reference beyond porn. Later an off-Broadway musical.

Taboo

Taboo

1980

Kirdy Stevens

Kay Parker. Incest drama. Massive franchise. Culturally notorious.

Talk Dirty to Me

1980

Talk Dirty to Me

1980

Anthony Spinelli

Dorothy LeMay, John Leslie. One of the genre's real films.

Insatiable

1980

Insatiable

1980

Stu Segall

Marilyn Chambers' comeback. Big budget.

Nothing to Hide

1981

Nothing to Hide

1981

Anthony Spinelli

Best-acted adult film of the era.

Roommates

1981

Roommates

1981

Chuck Vincent

Attempt at real ensemble drama.

Amanda by Night

1981

Amanda by Night

1981

Robert McCallum

Genuine noir thriller within adult cinema.

Nightdreams

1981

Nightdreams

1981

Rinse Dream

Experimental surrealist. The era's last artistic gasp.

Café Flesh

1982

Café Flesh

1982

Rinse Dream

Post-apocalyptic sci-fi art film. Genuinely avant-garde.

New Wave Hookers

1985

New Wave Hookers

1985

Gregory Dark

Marks transition to video aesthetic. Era ends.

20 films in Golden Age of Porn