THE PEOPLE VS LARRY FLYNT

US, 1997, 129 minutes, Colour.
Woody Harrelson, Edward Norton, Courtney Love, Brett Harrelson, James Cromwell, Miles Chapin, Vincent Schiavelli, Crispin Glover.
Directed by Milos Forman.

A box-office and critical success with many Oscar nominations. Like Boogie Nights at this time, it probed the world of pornography while seeming to make heroes out of people like the hustling, for a time born-again Christian, Larry Flynt. What offended people was the poster (banned, for instance, in Belgium) which had Woody Harrelson as Flynt in a Stars and Stripes loincloth hanging on the cross like Jesus.

The point could be made that mavericks like Flynt were persecuted by self-righteous Christians with double standards, especially in the case of Charles Keating, denounced at the end of the film. This use of the iconography of the cross has been increasingly used by marginalised groups (for example, against capital punishment in Dead Man Walking, Last Dance or, more controversially, to highlight the oppression of homosexuals as in The Garden, The Long Day Closes).

Larry Flynt is hardly an American hero. A hillbilly boy from Kentucky, a young bootlegger, then owner of backwood's strip joints, he shot to fame, or notoriety, with the publication of Hustler magazine, an explicit sex magazine, that eventually led him to the courts of America, to the Supreme Court.

The film of his career and of his eccentric fights for freedom of speech and interpretations of the First Amendment has won awards and Oscar nominations for its star, Woody Harrelson, and its director, Milos Forman. It is a provocative film since it tackles the subject of the public and sexually explicit material and the role of the law in banning such material and in protecting freedoms. Forman has said he would never buy Hustler and was not drawn to make this film until he thought about his life in Communist Prague and the restrictions on freedom.

Perhaps this film works well as a comment on changing standards because it is well-written, directed and performed, but also because of the dilemmas that Forman found in supporting the rights of a person that he did not agree with.

What makes the film more provocative is that Flynt, who seems to have become more flamboyant over the years (and has millions of dollars to support his eccentricities), is his clash with Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority. Flynt satirised him obscenely in an ad and Falwell sued. Flynt and his lawyers countersued for breach of copyright - Falwell had copied the ad to send to followers, but without permission.

The case, which finally went to the Supreme Court, raises issues about legislation in a pluralist society - whose standards are correct and whose standards should be imposed? Flynt said that he produced magazines which were in bad taste. The question rises whether governments can legislate for taste. Issues of hypocrisy in religious people are raised with memories of the scandals in the behaviour of many tele-evangelists and one of Falwell's supporters, Charles Keating, being responsible for one of the US's greatest loan disasters.

The film does not shirk the realities of Flynt's career (which will be distasteful to many audiences). In fact, Flynt refers to himself as a scumbag, pointing out that if the courts protect his freedoms, they will protect ordinary citizens.

The closing title information reminds us that, whatever the pros and cons of the case, both Flynt and Falwell are still doing what they did ten years ago. Provocative look at society's standards and rights.



1. A portrait of Larry Flynt? his life, as child, with his brother, as an adult, his attitudes, sex, pornography, morality? Difficulties, success? Dealing with authorities? His moods? In court? Present? His becoming a champion of free speech and the First Amendment? His injury, Ruth Carter Stapleton and her contact with him, baptism? The attack, his injuries, his loss of faith? The case against Jerry Falwell? In court, misbehaving? The Supreme Court? His keeping silent? The aftermath?

2. The work of the director, his background in Czechoslovakia, migrating to America, the very American tone and themes of his films? His interest in freedom of speech because of his Czech background? The strong cast?

3. The American midwest, producing moonshine, the two boys, getting into trouble? The transition to early adult would? The clubs, the sex, the strippers, the clients? The group of friends and the relationships with each other? The decision to send out the newsletter for the club? Hustler? Discussing the printing, the discussions about the photos, under the counter sales? The returns? The issues of money? Larry’s brother and his caution? Larry, the daring, the models, the graphic photos? His meeting Althea, her work in the club, stripping, talking up to Larry, the bond between them? Her wanting to marry him? The offices, his wealth, the photo of Jacqueline Onassis and the million sales? In court, judges’ reactions, the attempt on his life, the injury, in hospital, the years of pain, the operation and his overcoming the pain, the Supreme Court? Lying on his bed, happy with the result? The only regret in his life, the death of Althea?

4. The issues of the First Amendment, if the amendment could protect him, and he was the worst, then better for all? Issues of sex, nudity, censorship? People’s rights to buy this material? The religious reaction, Charles Keating and his supporting prosecution? The Georgia DA and the deal, Larry preferring to go to court? The case, the judge, the refusal to permit other similar magazines as evidence? The plea to the jury, Isaacman’s speech, his points, the guilty verdict, Larry to prison, his experience there, Althea visiting him? The appeal and his release? Going back to the magazine, the support of his friends? The attack, the years of his injury and pain? Wanting to go off the drugs, Althea and her staying on the drugs, her suicide in the bath, the effect on him? The issue of the advertisement and the attack on Jerry Falwell, issues of humour, public opinion, attitudes towards celebrities and satire? The interrogation about Jerry Falwell? Audience interests, sympathy, the differences between Liberal and British, responses to pornography, rights?

5. The change in Larry, young and confident, inexperienced, the experience of the printing, the newsletter, the refusals, the comparisons with Playboy, his critical attitude towards the articles, his wanting more photos, explicit? The coup of getting the photograph of Jacqueline Onassis? Exploiting it, the sales, becoming a tycoon, his wealth, Althea and her keeping the accounts? The injuries, the dinner with Ruth Carter Stapleton, Althea and her dislike, the discussions, the conversion, the immersion in baptism, coming back to the group, wanting not to exploit women, their reactions?

6. The role of the friends, their constancy with Larry, not always understanding, the caution of his brother, their interventions? Their having to take over when Larry was absent with the injury, his firing them by phone, their decision to stay on, his coming back to the office, the greetings, the continued support?

7. Althea, hiring Isaacman, his age, experience, discussions with Larry, going to court, Larry and his pranks and interruptions, lack of control? The years passing? Isaacman and his growing exasperation, getting Larry out of jail, offering to quit, Larry pleading, the hopeless situations? The final presence in court, the libel case against Jerry Falwell? The decision to go to the Supreme Court, issues of freedom of speech? His strong speech, the attentiveness of the judges, their questions, his answers? His phoning Larry with the result?

8. The role of Ruth Carter Stapleton, President Carter’s sister, her religious beliefs, inviting Larry to the meal, his caution, bewilderment, Althea and her behaviour, Ruth persuading him, converting him, his turning against religion?

9. Althea, her background, stripping, sex, posing, sharing with Larry, the marriage, keeping the accounts, the court and her behaviour, her antagonism towards Ruth Carter Stapleton? The drugs, getting worse, Larry challenging her, her dying? The final images of her in Larry’s imagination?

10. The judges, prejudiced against pornographers?

11. The public, following the cases, interest in Hustler and Playboy in the 70s and 80s, into the 90s?

12. The Falwell case, Jerry Falwell and his condemnations, his leadership of religious groups, the religious Right? Larry and the satiric advertisement? Falwell encouraged by Keating? Deciding to sue, Larry’s antics in the court, the judge and the attempts to question, Isaacman and his work? The guilty verdict?

13. The issue of the cassette with the bribes, the taking of the money, the arrest? The many times in court, the exasperation of the judge and Larry insulting him? Not revealing his sources?

14. The point made by Isaacman that people might not be in favour of Larry, his work, his lifestyle – but, as with many groups, supporting the issue of freedom of speech and the rights from the First Amendment?