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Roughie

1963–1970 · 10 films catalogued

Mid-60s American sexploitation that stopped being fun on purpose.

A short and unpleasant American cycle sitting between the nudie-cutie and the hardcore era.

The nudie-cutie (roughly 1959 to 1963, invented by Russ Meyer's The Immoral Mr. Teas) was harmless: nudity plus comedy, no threat. The roughie kept the nudity, replaced the comedy with violence and coercion, and shot the result in grimy black and white on New York and Los Angeles streets for almost no money.

The people

Michael and Roberta Findlay, Joseph W. Sarno, Doris Wishman.

What they are worth

Very little as entertainment. Something as record: they preserve a lot of mid-60s urban America that no other camera was pointed at.

The cycle ended around 1970, when hardcore became legally viable and there was no longer any reason to imply what could now be shown.

Where to start

All 10 →
Poster for The Immoral Mr. Teascult

The Immoral Mr. Teas

1959 · USA · 62m

Historically pivotal, formally inert. Watch ten minutes and read about the rest.

Poster for Supervixens▶ watchcult

Supervixens

1975 · USA · 106m

Meyer's biggest hit of the decade, and his cartoon violence at its most cartoonish.

Poster for Vixen!▶ watchcult

Vixen!

1968 · USA · 72m

The one that made the money and triggered the obscenity fight.