This Is America (1977) User Reviews

An entertaining mondo shockumentary!

[Sorsimus · 5/10 · 23 September 2002]

One of the more entertaining mondos, This Is America is well worth a look. Focusing on the bizarre activities of the American people it "documents" phenomena from the Indianapolis 500 to satanism and from peculiar sexual practices to drive in religion.

Although some of the documentary material does not seem that real, every minute is entertaining. Groovy seventies atmosphere is a big plus.

Released on video in Finland in the early eighties.

entertaining and shocking sometimes

[trashgang · 6/10 · 26 June 2012]

Very obscure shockumentary about America in the seventies. And it is indeed shocking to see for example the Indianapolis 500 how unsafe it was back then. They had to restart the race a few times due explosions and people dying due cars exploding into the public or drivers dying in crashes. It's really weird to see how the announcers says that the race had to continue even after a few death.

We move on to miss all nude, the worth says it all. Girls walking fully naked on stage to become miss all nude. Then we have some males dancing on stage almost naked to attract and enjoy the females watching, a thing that was exploited in the nineties (The Chippendales).

Then we see the sex massages and whorehouses in the US. failed actresses and students selling their bodies to earn cash. Typical seventies style.

Then we have adults having therapy to have the ultimate sex. You know, having naked sessions at a therapists place. It was really a time of sexual liberation. Looks like yoga done naked.

Over to the golden age of porno, we see 42nd street of course and the Oscars for porn thespians. Funny to see. Looks a bit like a convention.

And then the making of hotdogs where it is explained what's in it and you really don't wanna know. It's really anti-fast food.

Forward to wrestling and female wrestling to topless mud wrestling.

All entertaining but still some things will be shocking for some like the tattooing of a man's his cock. Also the responsibility at the Indianapolis 500 is unbelievable and shocking because you really see the cars exploding in public. Naturally it moves towards the problems of America back then, the highest procent of alcoholics and suicides. Not that we see the act done but still, weird to hear and see.

Even as it clocks in at almost 2 hours it is really entertaining (the drive -in church) due the narrator. But as obscure as some footage is so obscure is this tape. Out there on Video City Productions VHS.

Gore 1/5 Nudity 2/5 Effects 0/5 Story 5/5 Comedy 0/5

Crazy

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 6 June 2020]

Also known as Jabberwalk, you have to love any mondo movie that starts with "America the Beautiful" being destroyed by The Dictators and then explains that demolition derbies are the top sport in the U.S.

Drive-in churches. Satanic masses. Mud wrestling. Fast food. If the world of America in this movie was true, I'd feel a lot better about our future.

Writer/producer/director Romano Vanderbes made two of these movies, as well as America Exposed, which I'm certain shocked the hell out of people in Finland.

There's a scene with a nude competition and adult stars CJ Laing - who was in Barbara Broadcast - and Bree Anthony appear. You can also see the all female band Isis and a young Arnold getting his pump on at Gold's Gym.

Funeral parlors where you can just drive on in? Dildo factories? Dungeons? This Is America has all that and yes, so much more. It's exactly the type of mondo you'd hope would be in this kind of sleaze. It lives up to that and way, way more.

This was America

[haildevilman · 9/10 · 15 July 2006]

The rampant nudity is the only thing that keeps this off TV.

It's still a great American entry into the Mondo film parade.

The 70's time period is obvious even before the bits start. Emphasizing the free-sex days and sudden popularity of radical religions make it dated. But how many watching this were wishing there was an Adult club still nearby?

The drive in mass and Satanic rituals seem almost ordinary by todays standards. The child preacher was a good laugh too. The over the top response of the old ladies getting blessed made it even funnier. And of course there was the cocaine church. That needs to be seen to be believed. Snort your offering then put 100$ in the offering plate?

Only in America.

Then there was the owner of a sex-gag company showing penis shaped erasers and suggesting you put one on the end of your secretary's pencil for a joke. Nowadays? Instant sexual harassment suit.

Only in the 70's.

Then the woman's group showing how to please the husband. Being male, I kind of liked that.

In Japan, this was released on video as the third installment of the Shocks series.