Search - Heavy Petting on DVD

Noblsavaj is an idiot

V. Barlow | austin, tx United States | 08/01/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First off, Spalding Gray is just one of the many interviewees in this zippy, fun look at teen sex issues in the '50s. This documentary doesn't purport to be a Spalding Gray film so your comment regarding him is totally irrelevant.

Secondly, this was an important though often overlooked film (released the same year as Michael Moore's "Roger and Me") that did much to reinvigorate the documentary format that has since become so popular, challenging and yes, entertaining today.

Lastly, I don't even know where to start with your comment that "These are times when we should use our money on necessary culture." WTF is that? Who decides what parts of the culture are necessary? That's the most blatantly fascistic comment I've heard from a preening social elitist like yourself in a long time. Get off my InterWebs!!!

In conclusion, I highly recommend this well-crafted and entertaining film to all documentary enthusiasts, young filmmakers and those who enjoy unnecessary bits of culture."

The long, long trailer

crazycatlady | Hillsborough, NJ USA | 12/15/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you're a fan of those vintage sex-education films of the 1950s and '60s, this should be right up your alley. The
documentary itself, consisting of (very) short clips of such films, is interspersed with talking-head interviews with
various celebrities and others who experienced the sexual culture of the era firsthand. This format becomes rather tiresome,
as the interviewees ramble on about their disappointing dates, clumsy sexual experiences, and so on. Some of the off-the-cuff
remarks by such interviewees as William Burroughs and Abbie Hoffman are nearly inaudible; some subtitles would have been nice, but unfortunately they're not available on the DVD. If anything, the
film feels more like a trailer for the excellent bonus DVD that accompanies this set.

That bonus DVD is the real find here. It consists of ten sex-oriented films, ranging from the '40s through the '60s,
each of which are fascinating to watch. Several films on the subject of venereal disease, aimed at high-school students,
are included, as well as a selection of army training films on the same subject (warning--the army films are extremely,
but necessarily graphic). The most memorable, however, may be the hysterically overwrought, hammily acted selections
made in the mid-'60s by an organization calling itself the Citizens for Decent Literature, "Perversion for Profit" and
"Printed Poison," which concern themselves with the evils of pornographic magazines and trashy sex novels. These two have
to be seen to be believed for their unintentionally hilarious acting and their fear-mongering tactics against skin
magazines and pulp sex paperbacks of the era. (Films such as these probably did more to promote such prurient materials
than discourage them). These films are an interesting historical look into the sexual attitudes of the time.

So, consider HEAVY PETTING merely an introduction to the real prize--the bonus DVD. Three stars--two stars for the
documentary, four stars for the extra films.



"

This film is very funny, but the extras disk is really great

S. Rumpl | US of A | 01/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The clips are crazy... some seem like they were recreated.... I love the scene where the father slaps his teen daughter in the face for wearing a slip in the living room!!! Uh, dad, do we have a problem here? These characters interviewed are totally on target. Ginsberg's story of the girl with big breasts is classic. So watch it!

I was equally enthralled by the longer interview takes with Ginsberg, Burroughs, David Byrne, Spalding Gray, etc. And the VD films from WW2 are amazing... ."