The Subject Is Sex

A curious collection of sexually-oriented short films drawn from the personal collection of Stephen Parr, of Oddball Film + Video, the range of material on The Subject of Sex is certainly broad. On the one hand, there's an amusingly serious, haltingly narrated “scientific” treatise on nudism, as well as a Navy Department instructional film on how to give an enema and a brief public service announcement from the President's Council on Physical Fitness about the health value of the sit-up. At the other end of the spectrum, there are purely pornographic pieces containing sexually explicit scenes (some in the form of feature trailers and advertisements). Between these extremes are a few jiggly commercials, some explicit animated efforts, and the occasional short narrative film (both silent and sound). Perhaps the most historically interesting items are Sally Rand's recreation of the “Bubble Dance” she performed at the Chicago World's Fair in 1934 and an elaborately-produced, full Technicolor version of stripper Lili St. Cyr's “Bubble Bath” routine dating from 1952. Extra features, under the titles “Beefcakes and Cheesecakes” and “Cheap Smut Give-A-Way,” include collages of men and women in various stages of undress dancing and otherwise frolicking. Unfortunately, this ultimately comes across as a sex-related grab bag that has no real sense of focus or purpose. Not recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)