The Biography of Russ Meyer, King of the Sex Film

McDonough persuasively argues that Russ Meyer, creator of such epic
films as Super Vixens and Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! is the father
of the modern porn industry, a pop cultural icon in his own right, and
something of an auteur who may be appreciated more by film historians
of the future than he is now. Meyer achieved technical excellence in
low-to-no-budget productions that reveal his "oddly passionate vision
of the world," says McDonough. In so doing, Meyer was "a pioneer who
represents what's most seductive and what's most repulsive about
the USA." McDonough proceeds to compare Meyer to, among others, Elvis
(seductive and repulsive, after all) and incorporates vivid, well-
referenced anecdotes and observations from Meyer's friends, associates,
and stars, including most notably, perhaps, movie critic Roger Ebert
(coconspirator for Meyer's crowning achievement, Beyond the Valley of
the Dolls) and porn-parodist director John Waters. Four Meyer movies
have been among Variety's 100 all-time top grossers. McDonough would
have us acknowledge that Meyer is gross (German for great) for more
than boffo BO.

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