A.C. Stephens - Der König der Schmuddelfilme

Dad Made Dirty Movies (2011)

*** (out of 4)

If you're unfamiliar with who Stephen C. Apostolof is then you'll want to check out this 58-minute documentary, which will give you a quick look at his life and career. The documentary starts off by telling us about his early life and how he eventually made it to Canada and then to America. From here we learn how he got into the movie business and how everything fell into place for him to make sexploitation movies.

DAD MADE DIRTY MOVIES is basically presented by Apostolof's children and former wife as they discuss who the man was as well as try to sell him as someone who should be worshiped like Edward D. Wood, Jr.. If you're looking for a ground-breaking documentary or even a definitive one then this here certainly isn't it but at the same time there's no doubt that this here is entertaining enough.

The movie is at its best when the films are being discussed. If you're familiar with the director's work then you know that ORGY OF THE DEAD, written by Wood, is his most popular film and that one gets a lot of attention. We also see some of his other sexploitation movies as well as getting some discussion on why hardcore films pretty much put an end to the director's career.

The film could have benefited from running a lot longer and I think a few more historians on hand would have helped. It was fun getting to hear from his family members who recall what it was like living with the man and figuring out what type of movies he was making.

This one follows the life of Bulgarian sixties "Sexploitation" film maker Stephen C. Aposterof, who made his way to the 'States via Paris and Canada and managed to get Republic interested in his anti-Communist film, launching him on a career of sixteen millimeter nudie movies of which ORGY OF THE DEAD is the best known. The arrival of 35mm. hard core wiped him out.

Lots of clips, with well shaped near naked young women, are interspersed with home movies and interviews with family members and associates, including Ted V. Michels. There's also accounts of working with Ed Wood who Aposterof's son feels got all the so bad glory that his dad should have shared.

They make the man sound like the prototype of the Burt Reynolds character in BOOGIE NIGHTS.