It’s the last book from Joe Bob Briggs, and for his final outing in the publishing world, he follows up “Profoundly Disturbing” with the equally excellent “Profoundly Erotic.” The final book reviews a series of erotic movies, all of which aren’t exactly pornographic or erotica per se. They’re instead very adult films that deal with sexual politics and the undertones of sexual repression. As usual Joe Bob Briggs is as insightful and informative as ever, and it was ultimately a breezy read to finish.
Mr. Briggs has his turn at some of the more unique erotic movies ever created, including one of my favorites “Kitten with a Whip.” He explores how the movie was a career disaster for then starlet Ann-Margret, and how it’s an underrated gem. I tend to agree. He also discusses the surprising popularity it’s garnered with the Gay community, and how Margret’s character is often depicted as a heroine by them. Briggs labels the film as a thriller version of “Lolita,” and I’d definitely consider it as a double bill with the Kubrick film, if only because it’s about two very desirable young girls that take a hold on two middle of the road men, that find it hard to loosen their infatuation with them. Margret is a sexual dynamo in “Kitten with a Whip” and it’s nice to see Briggs speak of it with such respect.
One of the best chapters is Briggs’ exploration of “The Immoral Mr. Teas,” one of the first Russ Meyer films that introduced porn to the mainstream. It’s a harrowing feat, but Briggs squeezes in Meyer’s fifteen volume, one thousand page biography in to five pages, discussing his background with filmmaking, and his utterly unusual obsession with breasts. “The Immoral Mr. Teas” is a very influential if goofy skin flick, but one that was trademark Meyer, who loved enormous breasts right until his death. Briggs explores other really interesting films about sex, including the Rudolph Valentino silent film “The Sheik,” and the tonally inconsistent but compelling “Looking for Mr. Goodbar.” Briggs goes out on a very high note, making “Profoundly Erotic” a thought provoking look at films that delve in to areas of sex but aren’t exactly pornography or erotica. Joe Bob never fails to impress.