Even those who consider themselves experts in the subject will find a provocative treasure trove of images and anecdotes in “Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies.” Danny Wolf’s documentary is a breezy, open-eyed, and often encyclopedic compendium of all the ways the cinema has celebrated, exploited, and negotiated the power of the naked body. The film opens with a montage of actors and directors recalling the first movie they ever saw that had nudity in it, and that allows the film, in its early moments, to leap through some of Nudity’s Greatest Hits.
As it moves back in time, one of the documentary’s fascinations is the way it’s constantly juxtaposing big Hollywood movies and European art movies and softcore exploitation films and everything in between. That, of course, is just as it should be. Aesthetically, there’s a world of difference between “Vixen” and “The Virgin Spring,...
As it moves back in time, one of the documentary’s fascinations is the way it’s constantly juxtaposing big Hollywood movies and European art movies and softcore exploitation films and everything in between. That, of course, is just as it should be. Aesthetically, there’s a world of difference between “Vixen” and “The Virgin Spring,...
- 8/19/2020
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Nudity in film has been around as long as the movies themselves — you just have to know where to look. Starting with the hedonistic pre-Code Hollywood all the way through the power-checking #MeToo moment, Danny Wolf’s comprehensive new documentary “Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies” unpacks the political, artistic, and social landscapes that allowed nakedness to happen, or not, on the big screen. , especially those with a predilection for depravity, and should send even the most learned moviegoer home with plenty of material to revisit or discover anew.
“Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies” opens with the idea that Hollywood, way back when, was far less prude than it is now — “the Sodom of the pacific,” one critic says — dating all the way back to D.W. Griffiths’ problematic early movies. But before the Hays Code made nudity in films a moral concern through its censorship guidelines,...
“Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies” opens with the idea that Hollywood, way back when, was far less prude than it is now — “the Sodom of the pacific,” one critic says — dating all the way back to D.W. Griffiths’ problematic early movies. But before the Hays Code made nudity in films a moral concern through its censorship guidelines,...
- 8/18/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
At 130 minutes, Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies has a clear trajectory. Well, make that a clear enough trajectory. Dipping its toes into present-day before going back to the 1880s, Danny Wolf’s documentary wafts through the expected checkpoints: the pre-Code era, the reign of the Hays Code, the introduction of the Motion Picture Association of America. There are but three or four major tent poles in the film’s structure itself. But despite such a wide scope, it manages to lack enough context to form its own argument, or to say much of anything that new.
It’s a bit peculiar too. Wolf, who co-wrote Skin with Paul Fishbein, doesn’t seem entirely focused on the history of nudity itself at first. Instead, he uses the #MeToo movement’s skyrocket from 2017 onward as a sort of framing structure. The first and last five minutes use this context to bookend the picture,...
It’s a bit peculiar too. Wolf, who co-wrote Skin with Paul Fishbein, doesn’t seem entirely focused on the history of nudity itself at first. Instead, he uses the #MeToo movement’s skyrocket from 2017 onward as a sort of framing structure. The first and last five minutes use this context to bookend the picture,...
- 8/18/2020
- by Matt Cipolla
- The Film Stage
As the new documentary “Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies” points out, 2020 is a risky time to make movies that feature female nudity, particularly if it’s of the gratuitous kind. But, as “Skin” doesn’t say but does demonstrate, it’s also a risky time to make movies about onscreen nudity, even if you try to emphasize that it’s a work of scholarship not titillation.
To be sure, the film from writer-director Danny Wolf and writer Paul Fishbein (the “Time Warp” series of docs about cult films) takes a historical approach to the subject of on-screen flesh. It’s a chronological account that makes copious use of authors, critics, academics and even an art historian to talk about the place of the nude in art.
But it also illustrates the points they make with plenty of breasts, bums and penises. And its attempts to deal with...
To be sure, the film from writer-director Danny Wolf and writer Paul Fishbein (the “Time Warp” series of docs about cult films) takes a historical approach to the subject of on-screen flesh. It’s a chronological account that makes copious use of authors, critics, academics and even an art historian to talk about the place of the nude in art.
But it also illustrates the points they make with plenty of breasts, bums and penises. And its attempts to deal with...
- 8/18/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
2020 has been a hell of a year for Danny Wolf. Not only did he have his three part documentary series on cult films (Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films Of All Time) released, he’s now also about to release another in Skin: A History Of Nudity In The Movies. That’s the sort of productivity that you have to salute, especially here in 2020, regardless of when he actually filmed them. The movies are really all quite fun, both entertaining and informative, so when I was given the opportunity to talk with Wolf about his work, tied into the release of his latest doc (my review of which can be found here), it was a no-brainer. He didn’t disappoint, either, detailing the process in a way that makes his achievements even more worthy of commendation. Below you’ll find my conversation with Wolf. We definitely focus on Skin: A History Of Nudity In The Movies...
- 8/17/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
It’s really hard to make a documentary about movie nudity. Even with the best of intentions, one can really easily fall into exploitation and titillation, as opposed to information. Luckily, filmmaker Danny Wolf is up to the challenge, as his doc Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies, is thoroughly entertaining, full of interesting stories, and looks at the naked body on celluloid as a piece of cinematic history, never going for the pure visual aesthetic. The result is a look at part of the industry’s past, present, and future, that’s a great view for anyone who loves the movie industry. Hitting on Tuesday, it’s well worth seeking out! The film is a documentary about, quite literally, the history of movie nudity. Starting off with the silent movie era and going all the way to the present day, the focus is on the how and the why of it all.
- 8/15/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
” The body is meant to be seen. Not all covered up ” – Marilyn Monroe
Skin: A History Of Nudity In The Movies , available On Demand August 18th, explores the history of nudity in film, beginning with the silent movie era through present day. The documentary delves into the gender bias concerning nudity in motion pictures and will follow the revolution that has pushed for gender equality in feature films today. A deep discussion of pre-code Hollywood and its amoral roots, the censorship that “cleaned up” Hollywood and how the MPAA was formed leads into a discussion of how nudity changed cinematic culture through the decades. It culminates in a discussion of “what are nude scenes like in the age of the #Metoo movement?”
Danny Wolf, director of Skin: A History Of Nudity In The Movies , took the time to talk to We Are Movie Geeks about the film.
Interview conducted by Tom Stockman August 11th,...
Skin: A History Of Nudity In The Movies , available On Demand August 18th, explores the history of nudity in film, beginning with the silent movie era through present day. The documentary delves into the gender bias concerning nudity in motion pictures and will follow the revolution that has pushed for gender equality in feature films today. A deep discussion of pre-code Hollywood and its amoral roots, the censorship that “cleaned up” Hollywood and how the MPAA was formed leads into a discussion of how nudity changed cinematic culture through the decades. It culminates in a discussion of “what are nude scenes like in the age of the #Metoo movement?”
Danny Wolf, director of Skin: A History Of Nudity In The Movies , took the time to talk to We Are Movie Geeks about the film.
Interview conducted by Tom Stockman August 11th,...
- 8/14/2020
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A new documentary centered on the history of nudity in the movies, beginning with the silent film era all the way through present day, “Skin” examines the changes of morality over time that encouraged, or prohibited, the use of nudity in movies. The film, directed by Danny Wolf, also emphasizes the political, sociological, and artistic changes that allowed nudity to happen, or not, in the first place. Check out the first trailer below for the film, which hits VOD from Quiver Distribution on August 18.
According to the official synopsis, “‘Skin’ delves into the gender bias concerning nudity in motion pictures and will follow the revolution that has pushed for gender equality in feature films today. A deep discussion of pre-code Hollywood and its amoral roots, the censorship that ‘cleaned up’ Hollywood and how the MPAA was formed leads into a discussion of how nudity changed cinematic culture through the decades.
According to the official synopsis, “‘Skin’ delves into the gender bias concerning nudity in motion pictures and will follow the revolution that has pushed for gender equality in feature films today. A deep discussion of pre-code Hollywood and its amoral roots, the censorship that ‘cleaned up’ Hollywood and how the MPAA was formed leads into a discussion of how nudity changed cinematic culture through the decades.
- 7/12/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Director Danny Wolf's new documentary feature "Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies", from Quiver Distribution will be released August 18, 2020:
"...'Skin' is the definitive documentary on the history of nudity in the movies, beginning with the silent movie era through present day, examining the changes in morality that led to the use of nudity in films while emphasizing the political, sociological and artistic changes that shaped this rich history.
"The film features revealing interviews with actors Pam Grier and Malcolm McDowell...
"...as well as directors Peter Bogdanovich, Kevin Smith and Amy Heckerling.
"Shannon Elizabeth, Diane Franklin, Eric Roberts and Sean Young are also featured..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...'Skin' is the definitive documentary on the history of nudity in the movies, beginning with the silent movie era through present day, examining the changes in morality that led to the use of nudity in films while emphasizing the political, sociological and artistic changes that shaped this rich history.
"The film features revealing interviews with actors Pam Grier and Malcolm McDowell...
"...as well as directors Peter Bogdanovich, Kevin Smith and Amy Heckerling.
"Shannon Elizabeth, Diane Franklin, Eric Roberts and Sean Young are also featured..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 7/8/2020
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
"I wasn't prepared for the entire world picking your body apart." Quiver Distribution has just released an official trailer for an indie documentary called Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies, from Time Warp filmmaker Danny Wolf. The film, which hasn't played at any festivals, is described as the "definitive documentary on the history of nudity in feature films from the early silent days to the present." It features revealing interviews with actors including Pam Grier and Malcolm McDowell as well as directors like Peter Bogdanovich, Kevin Smith and Amy Heckerling. This almost sounds like a doc version of that cringey, creeper site Mr. Skin, but thankfully it's not that bad. Seems to be a way to discuss and examine the evolution of nudity in cinema. Worth a look. Official trailer (+ poster) ...
- 7/8/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Rejoice film fans! Those of you who can’t get enough of cinema, and in particular fans of genre fare, are in for another treat. Two months ago, Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time series kicked off with a first volume centered on midnight movies, followed last month by a horror and science fiction centric second effort. Now, we have the final installment to celebrate. Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp is again focused one two genres, though it never suffers for the split approach. Hitting early next week for cinephiles the world over to enjoy, it’s a documentary that truly celebrates the movies. Who doesn’t need that kind of pleasure these days, especially while cooped up in your home? This is a documentary, part three of three in the Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time series,...
- 6/20/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Film fans, and especially genre fans, are in for a treat today. Last month, Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time series kicked off with a first volume centered on midnight movies. Now, we have the next installment to celebrate. Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All-Time Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi is focused one two beloved genres, which rarely get awards love, but have birthed some of the industry’s best filmmakers. Hitting today for cinephiles the world over to enjoy, it’s a documentary that celebrates movies. Who doesn’t need that these days, especially while cooped up in your home? This is a documentary, part two of three in the Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time series, centering on the allure of cult cinema. This time around, the focus is on horror and sci-fi. The official synopsis is as follows:”The...
- 5/19/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
I’m a sucker for documentaries about cinema. There’s just something about a doc looking inward on its own medium that compels me. Perhaps it’s just the cinephile in me, yearning to learn as much as possible about as many films as possible? That’s a possibility, but it also could just be how fun they tend to be. The new documentary series Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time, is definitely an example of that. Dropping tomorrow, part one of the three part series, Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time Part I – Midnight Madness, dives into just what makes a midnight movie, why they’re so special, and how a cult of fandom has formed around so many of them. It’s a deeply enjoyable experience that I recommend highly for fans of the genre. The film is a documentary, part one...
- 4/20/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
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