The recently released film on the life of tragic porn-star Linda Lovelace is a huge disappointment. While it does show some of the very real violence and terror which took over this woman’s existence, simultaneously: the makers of the movie have Amanda Seyfried, the very physically beautiful star, bounce around topless. The real Linda was not a particularly pretty woman: she had a rather square and mannish looking face. When the porn industry went main-stream in the mid to late-1970s, after her breakthrough film “Deep Throat,” Linda was rather unceremoniously left behind. “Lovelace” is really more of an exploitation film, banking on the expected desire of the public to see Seyfried naked, rather than a serious expose.
A far better effort was made way back in 1988: the PBS Frontline documentary, “Death of a Porn Queen,” detailing the short life of 80s porn star Shauna Grant who committed suicide in 1984 at age 20. Without nudity, or salacious details, the program tells the story of Colleen Applegate, a small-town girl who went to Hollywood with dreams of stardom, but ended up getting swallowed by the ruthless sex industry; found a dubious fame as a model and actress in pornography; failed to find happiness or love; became hooked on drugs; then, shot herself in the head and died. This is accomplished through interviews with Colleen’s family, friends, and coworkers; and from the words of Colleen herself. This portrait of Colleen is, all at the same time, endearing, depressing, and horrifying.