ReelBob: ‘Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies’ ★★★½
By Bob Bloom
“Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies” is a kaleidoscope of how Hollywood dealt with nudity in the movies and how the industry adapted to changing mores in American society and culture.
This documentary also focuses on the gender bias of nudity in which the display of topless and/or naked women was more acceptable than showing male genitalia.
As “Skin” shows, among the earliest images to demonstrate the potential of the motion picture camera were those of naked women and men undressing or doing simple tasks.
The film moves chronologically from the silent era, in which some nudity was tolerated, to the pre-Code, early-talking era in which innuendo, double entendres and a swift glimpse of a bare breast were slipped into a feature to the puritanical Production Code — brought about by pressure from several groups, most notably the Catholic Legion of Decency — which forced the movie studios to self-regulate their product.
“Skin” stays within a study of the mainstream movie industry, smartly ignoring the “stag” and porno films as well as the independent, states’ rights exploitation films that dotted the national cinematic landscape.
The movie interviews some film historians, movie critics and performers — including Malcolm McDowell, Sean Young, Pam Grier, Mariel Hemingway, Mamie Van Doren and Kevin Smith — who discuss various aspects and ramifications of the use of nudity on screen.
The film traces the gradual erosion of the Production Code, the change in the nation’s moral climate and the influence of much-freer European movies on Hollywood.
“Skin” also examines the formation of the ratings system of the 1960s, which ushered in the G, PG, R and X-rated movies and how, when the adult film industry co-opted the “X” rating, Hollywood revamped its system and created the NC-17 rating.
The movie touches upon the inequities of that system as well, in which nudity and language trumped sequences of violent images.
Finally, “Skin” looks at the impact of the #MeToo movement and nudity and how safeguards for actresses who are asked to or do perform nude scenes have taken hold in the industry.
The documentary, written by Paul Fishbein and Danny Wolf, and directed by Wolf, is a thorough, entertaining and 110-plus year historical excursion not only through the movie industry by through Americans attitudes about skin and sex.
It is an eye-opening and enlightening journey. And you can view it on demand beginning next Tuesday, Aug. 18, on YouTube.
I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.
SKIN: A HISTORY OF NUDITY IN THE MOVIES
3½ stars out of 4
Not rated, graphic nudity