Customer Reviews

Larry Flynt: The Right to Be Left Alone

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An astonishing indictment of corporate control over our media. The so-called "conservatives" who have taken away our free speech (and civil liberties) are complete hypocrites, as revealed over and over again. Why are they so afraid of sex? I think it's a control issue, definitely not normal. After all, without sex, no continuation of the species. That's why the sex drive is so very compelling; just look at the entire animal kingdom. By being outrageous, Larry Flynt keeps hammering away at the abuse of our First Amendment rights. His products may be over the top, but he definitely makes his point. I want this documentary available in colleges and repeated often on cable TV.

This is one of the finest biographical documentaries I have ever seen. While it does not focus much on his early life and the building of the buisiness empire id dives deep into his political impact of defending the 1st amendment and exposing government corruption - he caused three key congressmen to resign, including a speaker of the house elect!! There is the comming to Jesus, then the return, the battle with Jerry Falwell and the subsequent college tour together and that little tidbit of finding a copy of Hustler in the hotel room when Jimmy Swagart was caught with the prostitute in Batton Rough LA.

Love him, or hate him, Larry did your fighting for you.

Be grateful. I am.

This is a good video for anyone that wants more detail on the facts of the situation. I strongly suggest it's watching for anyone in any industry that needs this protection.

This biographical documentary chronicles the career of Larry Flynt, from his days as a small time adult business owner in Ohio to wealthy porn kingpin and publisher of America's most controversial magazine.

It begins with some excellent archival footage of Flynt battling the "Ohio Citizens For Decency" back in the 70's. From there Hustler magazine goes nationwide and establishes a lucrative market niche by being the first men's magazine to "show pink". In the 80's Hustler drew the ire of sex-negative feminists and religious fanatics, like Jerry Falwell, through it's outrageous covers, photo shoots and political satire.

Other subjects covered include the death of Flynt's wife, Althea, due to drugs, the near fatal shooting of Flynt by a white supremacist and Flynt's imprisonment in a pyschiatric ward following his refusal to reveal a source to the FBI.

How much you like this doc will probably depend on how much you like Flynt. The doc is very much geared to portray Flynt as a heroic figure, particularly in his bold struggle for upholding the First Amendment. Despite his shortcomings, I generally agree with this assessment of Flynt as a brave and mostly admirable figure. But those who dislike Flynt will likely see this film as biased and unobjective. Personally, I found it worth watching.

I'm not a big fan of Hustler Magazine and really knew little about Larry Flynt, its publisher, other than the Feature Film, which starred Woody Harrelson as Flynt. Hustler is not a magazine I buy, but then no one is forcing me to (and most newsstands have the cover images shielded.

Though this is bio of Flynt (more of a profile than a real biography), it's more that that under the surface. It's an indictment of the commercial news networks since William Paley left CBS.

As Flynt explains in the 74 minute film (which has no narrator), Sex and pornography were around in the middle ages, mostly enjoyed by the wealthy. (A look at 17th and 18th century erotica going at auction, and the many versions of the Kama Sutra being sold must say something about Americans' obsession with sex.). Flynt just tries to push the button. He then takes his money and uses it to fight for the civil rights of those who fight for the First Amendment. It's not all about sex either, though it was Flynt using his money to investigate a variety of our lawmakers who were having affairs. And, as we learned from the well-made film, it was because of Flynt that reporters from the major networks were able to be embedded in the war zones to report on the most recent wars.

How the director was able to unearth some great archival footage amazed me. The documentary starts, and ends with Flynt at Harvard Law School where he was given a Free Speech Award (of course there is also Flynt at the Adult Video News awards too!).

You'll hear a few four-letter words - but not a lot - and there is only one topless female (in a sequence on shooting photos for Hustler). But the most obscene scene in the documentary has nothing to do with sex. It's actual footage of maimed bodies during the war in Afghanistan. After seeing these few moments, you will think twice about whether it's obscene to show cartoons of consenting persons having sex.

Don't let Flynt's name dissuade you, nor should you expect to see lots of naked women. If you liked "The People vs. Larry Flynt", you will like (I hesitate to use the word "enjoy") this DVD.

Steve Ramm