"The Seven Minutes" is a film by director/producer Russ Meyer, the same guy who brought us films like "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" and many other boundary-stretching pictures, I really expected this movie to be much sleazier that it actually was. Sure, there is a lot of adult content by 1971's standards...much of it seemingly over-the-top. But there also is a very good story buried underneath the nudity and unusual language...one possibly worth seeing.
When the story begins, some vice cops arrest the manager of a book store for selling a book they considered obscene. However, the prosecutor and his friends don't see much reason to pursue the case. After all, times have changed and the crime is only a misdemeanor.
Unfortunately for the poor bookseller, a huge political insider's son is accused of rape...and they decide to try an interesting defense. The District Attorney agrees to blame the book for the sexual assault! While this seems insane, back in the 1970s some folks did believe obscenity could cause rapes. More unfortunate is that seemingly EVERYONE is now lock-step behind the prosecution and the defense attorney is stymied again and again because he's one man fighting a huge machine. Does he stand a chance or will the manager be a scapegoat to be tossed to the wolves, so to speak?
Underneath the Meyer excesses (there is a lot of adult material in the film for a 1971 release), the story actually is very good and has some merit. It fights for First Amenment rights and also exposes a LOT of hypocrisy...which isn't surprising since the novel it's based on was by Irving Wallace.
I think this film is well worth seeing, but remember...it's an adult film. I wouldn't show it to your mother, kids or Father O'Malley if he stops by for a visit!
When the story begins, some vice cops arrest the manager of a book store for selling a book they considered obscene. However, the prosecutor and his friends don't see much reason to pursue the case. After all, times have changed and the crime is only a misdemeanor.
Unfortunately for the poor bookseller, a huge political insider's son is accused of rape...and they decide to try an interesting defense. The District Attorney agrees to blame the book for the sexual assault! While this seems insane, back in the 1970s some folks did believe obscenity could cause rapes. More unfortunate is that seemingly EVERYONE is now lock-step behind the prosecution and the defense attorney is stymied again and again because he's one man fighting a huge machine. Does he stand a chance or will the manager be a scapegoat to be tossed to the wolves, so to speak?
Underneath the Meyer excesses (there is a lot of adult material in the film for a 1971 release), the story actually is very good and has some merit. It fights for First Amenment rights and also exposes a LOT of hypocrisy...which isn't surprising since the novel it's based on was by Irving Wallace.
I think this film is well worth seeing, but remember...it's an adult film. I wouldn't show it to your mother, kids or Father O'Malley if he stops by for a visit!