The X-Rated Adventures of an Exploitation Filmmaker

By Stanley Long

The first thing one should note when picking up this particular book, and I knew it when I purchased it, the X-Rated of the title in no way reflects what an X-rating means today. Actually, today the exploitation films of Britain's Stanley Long would hardly garner him more than a PG-13 rating (here in Canada) or the equivalent of the next rating up from PG in the U.S. In the Prologue of the book, Long and his co-author Simon Sheridan quote one of his actors, Christopher Neil who characterizes Long's movies "like Carry Ons with the bra off." (If you're not familiar with the Carry On Gang films, and you love comedy, seek them out, especially those that starred Sidney James as part of the ensemble cast).

During the 1960's and 1970's in London, photographer Stanley Long got involved in filming men's stag films and from there exploitation films that featured broad comedy and lots and lots of pretty women in various stages of dress. This, of course, was also a time in England when hardcore adult films could get you in trouble with the authorities, so sex comedies were the rage of the day, although real sex was not featured anywhere in them (although he did point out that some foreign distributors might take his and other's films and cut hardcore sex scenes into them for their countries release). Long, who pointed out, he was never interested in that side of the business, describes his exploits in this industry and his dealings with the countries censors.

X-Rated: Adventures of an Exploitation Filmmaker is a fun read for film buffs. I knew the Carry On Gang films and some of the old British TV shows, but for the most part, a lot of the individuals he was talking about, I had no idea who they were. This was fine, as it's Stanley Long's honesty in the book that makes it an endearing read. While he points out he was successful in his endeavors and was rewarded with wealth, he never once pretends he was more than what he was - a simple exploitation filmmaker who worked on a tight budget and turned out movies to appeal to the masses; he is proud of his accomplishments, but knows he's not going to be named among the film industry's greats either in Great Britain or in America - ever.

If you're into film, it's worth picking up; if not, there's probably not enough familiarity with the British industry of that time and the films, to justify reading it. And definitely not enough dish to make up for that.