LOS ANGELES—For it's 50th anniversary, Gerard Damiano Sr.'s landmark film Deep Throat—still considered the most profitable motion picture of all time—will enjoy a worldwide theatrical tour shepherded by the director's son and daughter, Gerard Damiano Jr. and Christar Damiano, under their preservation outfit Damiano Films, which they founded with the express purpose of fully restoring their father's most acclaimed works.
The Deep Throat 50th anniversary tour kicks off with a 16mm screening of of the original film and sneak preview of the newly restored ultra high-definition version this Friday, June 10, at New York City's Roxy Cinema Tribeca. That will be followed on Sunday, June 12, with three screenings of the UHD restoration at New York variety venue The Slipper Room. Gerard Damiano Jr., a filmmaker in his own right, and sister Christar will be on hand for both Friday's event and Sunday's first, "World Premiere" screening to conduct Q&As following each.
"We have succeeded in preserving our father's best known film in a complete 4K restoration so that it can be shared not only with his old fans, but with new generations," Damiano Jr. said. "We are excited to present Deep Throat as a theatrical experience, the way it was originally shown, and add in-person talk backs to discuss its impact then, and its relevance today."
This weekend's New York events launching Damiano Films' "Deep Throat @50" world tour are being sponosored by Satisfyer and Penthouse Lingerie. Meanwhile, New York's Museum of Sex is featuring Deep Throat posters and memoribilia from Gerard Damiano Sr.'s personal collection throughout June as part of its exhibit "Porno Chic to Sex Positivity: Erotic Content and the Mainstream."
Future dates for the tour are slated in Bologna, Seattle, Montreal and Berlin.
Made in 1972 for a mere $25,000, Deep Throat has been reported to have earned over $600,000,000 worldwide. It came to define what was known as “Porno Chic” and helped found the adult entertainment industry. Though it was an undisputed cultural phenomenon, the film spurred outrage from conservative Christian groups and anti-porn feminists, and was prosecuted on both the local and federal levels, resulting in many high-profile cases reaching all the way to the Supreme Court. “Deep Throat” became a household term and lent its name to the Watergate informant who brought down then President Richard Nixon. The film has inspired songs, books, movies, musicals and even a rock opera. The acclaimed documentary Inside Deep Throat sought to tell the true behind-the-scenes story, while Lovelace starring Amanda Seyfried offered a fictionalized version. Burt Reynolds also famously styled himself after Gerard Damiano Sr. for his portrayal of porn director Jack Horner in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights.
A documentary on Gerard Damiano Sr. helmed by Damiano Jr. is currently in the works.
For more information about the Deep Throat world tour, and to purchase tickets for any of this weekend's kick-off festivities, visit DamianoFilms.com.
For those interested in booking Deep Throat in their markets, contact [email protected].
