Him (film)
Encyclopedia
Him was a pornographic feature film
produced for gay audiences. The film focused on a young gay man who developed an erotic fixation with the life of Jesus Christ. The film was virtually unknown until 1979, when it was cited in the book The Golden Turkey Awards
, where it was listed as the "Most Unerotic Concept in Pornography."
At this writing, no print of the film has been located. It was cited among the most sought-after lost films by the online magazine Film Threat
.
Several Internet sites have attempted to debunk Him as a hoax, owing to authors Harry and Michael Medveds' admission that one of the films referenced in the pages of The Golden Turkey Awards
was fabricated. However, the real hoax was Dog of Norway, a fictitious movie illustrated with a photograph of the Medveds' pet dog. Reviews of Him from Screw magazine, Variety
and The Village Voice
have also been uncovered, along with several newspaper advertisements for its New York theatrical run. In addition, at least one person has gone online to confirm seeing the film during its Boston release.
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
produced for gay audiences. The film focused on a young gay man who developed an erotic fixation with the life of Jesus Christ. The film was virtually unknown until 1979, when it was cited in the book The Golden Turkey Awards
The Golden Turkey Awards
The Golden Turkey Awards is a 1980 book by film critic Michael Medved and his brother Harry Medved.The book awards the fictional "Golden Turkey Awards" to films judged by the authors as poor in quality, and to directors and actors judged to have created a chronically inept body of work...
, where it was listed as the "Most Unerotic Concept in Pornography."
At this writing, no print of the film has been located. It was cited among the most sought-after lost films by the online magazine Film Threat
Film Threat
Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André...
.
Several Internet sites have attempted to debunk Him as a hoax, owing to authors Harry and Michael Medveds' admission that one of the films referenced in the pages of The Golden Turkey Awards
The Golden Turkey Awards
The Golden Turkey Awards is a 1980 book by film critic Michael Medved and his brother Harry Medved.The book awards the fictional "Golden Turkey Awards" to films judged by the authors as poor in quality, and to directors and actors judged to have created a chronically inept body of work...
was fabricated. However, the real hoax was Dog of Norway, a fictitious movie illustrated with a photograph of the Medveds' pet dog. Reviews of Him from Screw magazine, Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
and The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
have also been uncovered, along with several newspaper advertisements for its New York theatrical run. In addition, at least one person has gone online to confirm seeing the film during its Boston release.
External links
- Andrew SullivanAndrew SullivanAndrew Michael Sullivan is an English author, editor, political commentator and blogger. He describes himself as a political conservative. He has focused on American political life....
commentary on the film: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/03/him.html - Blog article on the film, featuring original reviews and promotional materials: http://obscurityandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/02/lost-movie-detective-him-1974.html