Polissons et galipettes

A program of short pornographic films, most from the 1920s, but one from around 1905, made to be shown in the waiting rooms of higher-class French brothels.

Being a fan of silent film and porn, I was really interested to go see this when it screened tonight (to a shockingly large crowd) at the Seattle International Film Festival. Going in, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect--definitely some nudity, probably some posing in long strings of pearls and funny hats, some dancing around, maybe a bit of simulated sex. But no, this was full-on hardcore pornography, with close-ups and money shots and everything. I wouldn't say it was all overly arousing. But it was fascinating, and somewhat informative.

The women were mostly good-looking, but not in that sleek modern way. They had bulges where modern porn stars don't, they had hair growing in places and in amounts that wouldn't be fashionable today. (Although I have to say I'm getting a bit weary of the modern no-hair look.)

But what was cool about most of these films was that the people involved seemed to be having such a good time. There was a weird sort of innocent charm about the films. They didn't feel dirty so much, even though there was lots of perverse goings on--lots of nuns, a bit of bestiality (involving nuns), prostitution, some peeing, etcetera. But there was nothing cynical or ironical about them, and I appreciated that. It was all in good fun. It was almost like watching some of the really early Chaplin films, except with penetration.

I was highly surprised at, and happy about, the amount of lesbianism. Almost every one of these films contained some lesbianism, often involving lesbian nuns. I was surprised because I sorta thought lesbianism was more of a modern fixation. But I guess some things are timeless. There was also a brief, small snippet of male oral homosexuality (and the one dude looked really uncomfortable and unhappy about it, and he practically leaped up and back over to the woman when the gay part of his scene was over).

The highlight of the program, the one that got the crowd screaming and clapping, was a sick and twisted and hilarious animated film about a little man with a giant detachable penis running around and sticking it into things, cows, donkeys, etcetera, and sword-fighting. It was way better than the Disney stuff from the 20s.

The films were edited together in a clever way to keep it all from getting repetitive and uninteresting. Definitely worth my $8.50.

8/10

I found this movie to be very interesting. What did i expect when i saw it, honestly i don't know. But all in all i find that it gives a brilliant look into early movie-making and the mentality of the old folks.

Having seen this thing, i have to say it is amusing, relieving and a bit shocking and even disgusting to know that our great grandparents generation was as horny as we are :D The apparent openness about both homosexuality and bestiality is shown in this movie is quite amazing, today no one would even imagine mixing porn genres in such a way, but it seems like "back in the day" they wished to cater to all audiences at once.

This is, by all means, pornography. But it is also a very interesting and fascinating look at a time gone by, both in movie history and history in general.

I'm not a porn historian but I find this compilation of shorts black and white and mute feature really timeless and can't be bought by money. I can't really imagine more than 100 years porn (one clip form 1905) still good (good in every way), watchable and enjoyable.

One the most interesting scenes are the homosexual parts. Like I said earlier that I'm not a historian, but as far as I know, gay porn and gay themes in short or full features around 1950's still consider as taboo. So I think this is a long risky step ahead era at the times which is completely great!

Actually, I don't think this is a porn anymore. It's treasure, an eternal antique timeless golden in history of world.

Check out this porn! It still works (whatever working means in this context). These movies are most explicit, but they are far away. Time-wise and in every other aspect - save the the explicitness. The protagonists almost loose their fake beards and there is a lot of fake spanking. And this really looks innocent to us even though it is certainly not from a more innocent period. Female private parts are rubbed, dogs lick them and those of men (!), gay porn mingles with straight porn - you would not expect this around 1920-1930, but that may be because you would not expect that for contemporary (that is post-1960s) porn. But then, what do we really know about the public display of sex at all? What do we know besides the fact that porn belongs to the era of the technical reproduction of reality and because of that of course starts before 1960? These 12 clips are mysterious, as is any porn: Nobody talks about it but it is everywhere. These secret movies are now exposed to a broader audience - but what does that mean? I don't know, watch it and leave a comment here...