Saucy!

[greedyneedygirl 4,129]

Over the last few weeks I have watched a two-part programme broadcast on Channel 4 here in the UK, (see review in the following link). It might well be still available to watch on stream.

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/jul/28/saucy-secrets-of-the-british-sex-comedy-review-a-cheeky-look-at-cinemas-wild-sexploitation-craze

 

Whilst I welcome any documentary that attempts to deal with the subject of sex and pornography, this programme falls short of what I believe to some of the central issues regarding the Obscenity Laws and what was effectively censored in comparison to Europe. In the second episode, David Sullivan discussed his part in the industry and the role of Mary Millington in his films and publications. Millington was a great campaigner against censorship and managed a chain of shops called ‘Private’ that opened across the country. However they were trading in false promises, using the covers of Color Climax and Private magazines to lure customers into ‘soft-core’ magazines that had to comply with the obscenity laws in England. This was not covered in the programme, although some Director’s of the films discussed did say that they filmed ‘two versions’, one for the UK and a more Hard-Core version for Europe where the laws were much more liberal in relation to pornography. Of course people like Sullivan could get away with selling the ‘bootleg’ magazines, because he knew that no one would dare complain to Trading Standards.

 

Having said that, the programmes were entertaining enough and were nostalgic for that kind of ‘Oooh you are awful..” film, somewhat exemplified by the Carry-On and Confessions films, like a smutty seaside postcard. 

[gldenwetgoose 21,051]

I think I saw part of that - and very interesting it was.   As a kid back in the Benny Hill / Carry On era, I never really questioned whether there was more to the industry, and more going on under the surface.

(I always wondered what all those leggy beautiful women saw in Benny Hill though - a paycheck I guess)

[Carb0nBased 617]

On 8/21/2024 at 3:45 PM, greedyneedygirl said:

Over the last few weeks I have watched a two-part programme broadcast on Channel 4 here in the UK, (see review in the following link). It might well be still available to watch on stream.

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/jul/28/saucy-secrets-of-the-british-sex-comedy-review-a-cheeky-look-at-cinemas-wild-sexploitation-craze

 

Whilst I welcome any documentary that attempts to deal with the subject of sex and pornography, this programme falls short of what I believe to some of the central issues regarding the Obscenity Laws and what was effectively censored in comparison to Europe. In the second episode, David Sullivan discussed his part in the industry and the role of Mary Millington in his films and publications. Millington was a great campaigner against censorship and managed a chain of shops called ‘Private’ that opened across the country. However they were trading in false promises, using the covers of Color Climax and Private magazines to lure customers into ‘soft-core’ magazines that had to comply with the obscenity laws in England. This was not covered in the programme, although some Director’s of the films discussed did say that they filmed ‘two versions’, one for the UK and a more Hard-Core version for Europe where the laws were much more liberal in relation to pornography. Of course people like Sullivan could get away with selling the ‘bootleg’ magazines, because he knew that no one would dare complain to Trading Standards.

 

Having said that, the programmes were entertaining enough and were nostalgic for that kind of ‘Oooh you are awful..” film, somewhat exemplified by the Carry-On and Confessions films, like a smutty seaside postcard. 

It's a shame what happened to her. Dead at 33 of an overdose, clearly very famous in her short life but still tragic.