Inside Deep Throat

Back in the heady days of 1972, an adult film became a cause celebre for a nation and turned buying a ticket into an act of revolution.

Made for a paltry 25,000 US dollars (£13,700), Deep Throat was released at the moment America's mood swung towards sexual liberation and equal rights.

Newspaper and magazine articles extolled the film as a cultural phenomenon, creating a huge demand for this hardcore titillation which follows a woman called Linda on a quest for sexual gratification.

Celebrities flocked to screenings and the film's star, Linda Lovelace, was propelled into the media spotlight.

Religious leaders and political figures were disgusted by this sudden acceptance of depravity and demanded action, President Nixon declared war on smut and Deep Throat was banned in 23 states.

But the controversy only served to increase public appetite for the film.

Today, Deep Throat is regarded as one of the most successful films of all time, grossing more than 600million US dollars (£329million).

Filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato relive the social and political firestorm in this documentary.

Leading man Harry Reems is colourfully described as being able to "get an erection at the sound of the camera".

But Lovelace only appears in archive footage, having famously denounced the film by claiming that "everyone who watches Deep Throat is watching me being raped."

Inside Deep Throat includes snippets of the porn classic (justifying the 18 certificate).